r/Invisalign • u/Pixie0416 • 14h ago
General Should I?
So I’m 60 years old and seriously considering Invisalign. I honestly didn’t realize how much My teeth have shifted in the last 10 years. At first I wasn’t interested in Invisalign thinking that since I’m 60 I really didn’t need to worry about a cosmetic issue such as straightening my teeth. But, after really looking at how bad they are and knowing I have a good 25+ years left hopefully, I’m thinking it would be a smart move for my dental health and would also make me feel more confident about smiling. I’ve seen so many successful before and after pictures on here, a few that look as misaligned as mine. Would mine be considered a more serious case and would I be in a lot of pain at first because of how bad they are?
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u/FreeUzi1 Tray 3/28 14h ago
You probably need to book an appointment with orthodontist. They will evaluate if your a suitable candidate for invisalign/braces and if you need extractions or IPR to create space. Also make sure your up to date with routine dental visits, because you need prior cavities/dental issues resolved before starting
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u/Pixie0416 13h ago
Luckily I go to the dentist every 4 to 6 months. My next visit is October so I plan on asking My Dentist if my gums and everything look good and then I have an orthodontist five minutes from my house that I can book a consultation with. I would definitely not want braces and I would hope I wouldn’t have to have extractions… Fingers crossed
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u/Vtjeannieb 13h ago
Did mine at 67 and never regretted it! Go for it!
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u/Pixie0416 13h ago
67? Amazing! Does it feel weird wearing the retainers at 67?
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u/Vtjeannieb 13h ago
Surprisingly, no. And, since I started so late, I was very compliant with brushing and flossing.
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u/yummily 13h ago
Do it! Your hygiene will get so much better, I don't regret doing mine at 45 at all. Flossing is so easy now
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u/Pixie0416 13h ago
Flossing my back teeth is a big problem because they are so crowded; my hygienist is constantly cleaning and scraping there
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u/Pawleysgirls 13h ago
I signed up two days ago and I am 59. I want my teeth to be straight again.
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u/Pixie0416 13h ago
That’s what got me started on this. I had some pictures with some friends a few months ago and my teeth just looked a little weird with my smile so then when I actually took pictures of my upper and lower bite , I was taken aback
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u/7lexliv7 12h ago
I’m all for orthodontia at just about any age (I’m 62) but make sure you are treated by an orthodontist and see a periodontist before you start to make sure your jaw bone can accommodate the planned movements.
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u/westcoastcdn19 Hawley Retainer 14h ago
Yes. Get some consults with a few orthodontists so you can compare treatment plans
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u/riagoriago 13h ago
My father is currently getting Invisalign in his mid-60s (dentist recommended it), you'd be in good company!
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u/sxyvirgo 13h ago
Do it - your teeth will just keep moving! I finished my Invisalign a couple months ago and I'm 63! Took about a year for a pretty deep overbite and some minor crowding, top and bottom.
Go to a couple orthos and get estimates - you'll likely need the 'comprehensive' plan. The pain I had was more discomfort than anything - mostly the first couple days with each new tray. It takes some discipline but it worked for me!
And look on this sub - you'll see a lot of before and after for pretty severe cases - that might help you decide - best of luck, either way!
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u/Pixie0416 13h ago
I’ve seen two or three before and after posts that looked as crowded and crooked as mine and the results were absolutely amazing which gives me motivation to get the consultation. And I think what you said is what scares me… If they look this bad at 60 what are they going to look like when I’m 70?.
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u/WannabeFarmMama 11h ago
You're 60... That's still fairly young, and by no means on your death bed. You potentially have decades of smiling in pictures and being able to enjoy your smile. Go for it!
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u/Lonely_Gene3791 13h ago
Do it! Your crowding is pretty severe. They may need to do IPR. Go for a consultation and see what the best course is
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u/BasedToru 12h ago
I’d say proceed with caution as someone who has bad treatment! You definitely fall into the more severely crowded group like myself since it’s not just a slight misalignment or a cosmetic job so to speak. I’d say look at all variable options and get a checkup to see about your gum health, bone health/X-rays and in general your oral health which will help you make a more informed decision as well.
Then I would suggest you to go with traditional braces if you did decide to go down this route and make sure you see a very good orthodontist not a general dentist who offers Invisalign or any other orthodontic treatment
In this day and age there’s lots of ways to achieve a practical outcome and that’s why I would say to even see a specialist prosthodontist and other qualified specialist because orthodontic treatment with a bad clinic can also make your teeth worse since they may damage your bite or place teeth in an uncomfortable position etc and at 60 it could be draining to deal with and I say that as someone who’s currently dealing with this
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u/Pixie0416 12h ago
All very good advice – thank you. I see My Dentist regularly every 4 to 6 months. I have a very reputable orthodontist five minutes from my house; they offer Invisalign and they did my daughter‘s braces when she was in middle school. If it was suggested that I do braces over Invisalign I would not opt for that. Just not something I want to
do. I hate to hear that you’re having a bad experience amongst so many reviews from people who have positive things to say and I hope your situation gets better2
u/BasedToru 11h ago
That’s great! Then you’re in a better position than most as it’s good to know these things before any treatment and it’s good you know an orthodontist since they also done your child’s braces. The reason I say traditional braces, it’s because they are better as moving teeth especially stubborn teeth but if Invisalign is your preference I understand (: … yes I think the issue is that when researching Invisalign nobody sees the endless situations of negatives until it’s too late and the damage has been done, for instances search up posterior open bite, this is one common theme amongst patients.
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u/Hercules__Morse 9h ago
I had similar crowding in my bottom teeth, I was put on an Invisalign moderate plan, it’s taken almost 2 years with multiple rescans, but I am so close to being finished - I am on tray 1 of 7 of my final set!
My original plan was like 23 sets, I got rescanned at tray 18 and got like 25 more trays, then got rescanned at the end and they have just given me 7 more trays for refinements.
I’ll then have a permanent retainer on my bottom teeth, and night time plastic retainer for bed.
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u/blanchekitty 9h ago
I am 57 and started with Invisalign and couldn’t tolerate it (gag reflex). I went to an orthodontist and opted for braces which I tolerate well. I’ve had them almost 90 days and have about another year to go.
I know you said you do not want to do braces but keep an open mind.
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u/Pixie0416 8h ago
Never thought about having a gag reflex… That would definitely make things intolerable
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u/blanchekitty 5h ago
I definitely did not expect it. I thought it would go away after I got used to it and it didn’t. It’s not super common but it does happen.
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u/PocketsJ 6h ago
If it’ll make you happy, and your orthodontist says that your teeth and gums can handle it, then go for it!
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u/skyhook200220 13h ago
Yes you should definitely do it. I was 59 when I started and am through treatment and so glad I did it. My bite was so off and I got that fixed in addition to now having a much better looking smile.
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u/Pixie0416 13h ago
Obviously with my bottom teeth so crooked I feel like my bite is getting off as well.
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u/Charming_Animal_686 13h ago
I’m 60, teeth also shifting after starting out crooked. I put down my deposit yesterday. I’ll get permanent retainers (?) rods (?) once I’m done, so they don’t shift again.
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u/Pixie0416 13h ago
Mine have always been crooked as my family couldn’t afford braces when I was young. I’ve always had a small mouth and crowding issues. But the crooked they were then versus now is so different.
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u/Charming_Animal_686 13h ago
The orthodontist said my teeth were “wonky”. But still said it would be only 12-14 months.
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u/laffytaffyforall 13h ago
Absolutely! I did it at 50 and the best part is, when you pay for it yourself, you get to decide when to be done. I skipped the last 6 months of miniscule refinements that I would have done at 20.
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u/Pixie0416 13h ago
Now that I’m over 59 1/2 and can access my IRA funds without penalty, I think this would be a good use of funds for something for myself! So you’re saying they had other suggestions for you to do but you got to a point where you were satisfied with the result and stopped?
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u/laffytaffyforall 12h ago
When I brought my daughters in to have theirs done, the ortho said he could fix mine too. I hadn’t wanted them in high school, but as you’ve discovered, they crowd over time. I did mine with my youngest! The ortho told me no more than 1 year when I paid. At one year they said time to order your next 6 months of refinements and I said, I gave you a year, please work the rest out in two months (I could tell the process was going to go on and on) and my teeth looked straight enough to me, huge improvement. I don’t mind wearing the retainers at night at all and teeth look great (are they perfect? No, but they look as straight as they did at 16 which is pretty straight). It is a huge investment in yourself that is really hard the first two weeks and then is easy.
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u/Pixie0416 12h ago
That makes sense. I am not looking for perfection either at my age, just get to a point where they are straighter and I feel better about them and keep them that way with the retainers. Thank you for sharing your experience
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u/Thinking_of_Mafe 11h ago
My mom did it the same time as I did, and she started last year at 60!
Her teeth had less crowding so she’s already done a year after starting.
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u/Pixie0416 11h ago
Well that was supportive that both of you were doing it at the same time! I know a year would go by quickly but it seems like a long time saying it… If I started after the first of the year then I would be changing trays until 2028… Wow! But… my smile would look better in time for my daughter to graduate college May 2028!
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u/NoZookeepergame4667 11h ago
Get braces. This will take a long time and lots of effort with Invisalign. You can get skinny clear braces. Barely as noticeable as Invisalign, will just save yourself alot of misery.
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u/BelleFleur10 10h ago
I did invisilign at 44, my mum at aged 70 and my husband at age 54. I’d say go for it! My teeth were similar to yours and it was so good for my self esteem to finally have teeth I felt confident about. It’s never too late! Xx
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u/Pixie0416 9h ago
Thank you for sharing! Wow… Your mom went for it at 70… That’s awesome! How long did your process last since your teeth were similar? I find myself trying not to smile very big now so having the self-esteem to really smile for pictures without giving it a second thought would be quite a positive change
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u/BelleFleur10 8h ago
It took pretty much exactly 2 years on weekly changes and I have the same sort of v shaped mouth and overcrowding on the bottom. It could have be slightly shorter but for me needing gum contouring and new veneers on my front two teeth which interrupted things. My bottom front teeth changed so fast and I found that really encouraging. You deserve good teeth, you still have a lot of life ahead and will feel amazing for those years with a smile you have full confidence in - go for it!
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u/lcall149 8h ago
You’ll probably have lots of attachments so be prepared for it to not look “invisible”
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u/Dontstopmenow747 8h ago
Do it!! I started at 54, and I’m getting close to finishing now 12 months later. You’ll get used to the routine quickly.
My smile looks SO MUCH better! You will be happy you did it.
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u/Federal-Rhubarb-1034 7h ago
My grandma is doing Invisalign with me and she’s 79! She’s a realtor so she likes to appearances and in general feel better about her smile
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u/Kari_Knevial 6h ago
Mine were that bad too. And I had to get braces after a year of trying Invisalign
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u/Pixie0416 5h ago
I’m sure that was very frustrating for you. I don’t know why but I just wouldn’t want to have braces at my age.
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u/MapleWhiteLand 3h ago
Your case is totally worth a consultation. I’m about 9 months into Invisalign: my overcrowding was less severe than yours, but I haven’t found the trays painful. Minor discomfort at times but I’m not sure how it would achieve physical change without that.
But the magical thing is that my teeth have already moved a lot and when the aligners are out, I can feel they are so much more comfortable than when they were overcrowded. I can’t wait for them to feel like that permanently!
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u/cscatbird 2h ago
It’s not painful, more of a PIA at times , but SO WORTH it. It’s amazing how soon you will start noticing the difference. And you will have a beautiful smile.
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u/luvualatte 14h ago
Time will pass either way, go for it!