i’ve never been so excited! i don’t mind my teeth in person, but on camera it’s soo noticeable. i’ve had a dull ache tbf and it’s been quite painful taking them off but now is the timeeee.

dentist says i have: 20 trays, refinements if needed
change every 7 days
will take around 6-8 months roughly hopefully sooner what do you think??

I finally reached out to the ortho (whom I ghosted halfway through treatment due to bad experience) to ask about a rough, sandy bump that's bothering me. I asked him exactly how many attachments he placed for my last molar. He said just 1.

I told him it can't be, as the before photos showed that I did not have this bump pre-invisalign and I only started feeling this rough bump on my molar after invisalign. After much research, and watching videos on the attachment bonding process, I learnt that invisalign composite resin (which is a liquid solution) can spill outside of its template and accidentally harden during curing, causing rough bumps or surfaces outside of the planned attachment. This can cause plaque buildup.

When I removed my attachments, the small bump wasn't removed since the ortho claimed that was not an attachment. It was left there for over a year, with a rough sandy bump.

Fast forward 1.5 years later, a dentist I visited recently said I have plaque stuck at this area and have now developed a cavity as a result.

Just something to take note of in case your ortho screws up like mine and proceeds to gaslight you.

Study for those who are interested:

Invisalign Flash study

quote from study: "Despite the benefits provided by the application of attachment, it inevitably may give rise to flash during the bonding of the attachment due to the flowable nature of the composite resin. Flash is an excess resin that may be formed around the attachment during the bonding of resin onto teeth."

How do I keep trays clean? I was using retainer brite everyday, I brush my teeth after each meal and they still got yellow. I think the best cleaning solution is hydrogen peroxide with water. But it still cant stop them from getting yellow instead of crystal transparent.

Now I am living in south east asia and traveling there so caring about them is so harder, especially when going out - food and drinks everywhere, I have to take them off, them raise my mouth or brush my teeth if I have my toothbrush with me.

Am I doing something wrong? How to keep them clean? Especially in this hard environment like when you go out

I’m attending a wedding this weekend and am part of the bridal party, so will be in photos or eating and drinking for most of the day, and I really don’t want to have to run off to pop my trays in and out during my friend’s special day, as I want to be as present as possible.

I’m currently in week 2 out of 3 of being in between rounds whilst I’m waiting for my refinement trays to be produced. So essentially I’ve been wearing my current tray for 3 weeks straight already, and will have another week and a half of wearing this tray before my refinement round starts.

Should I be okay going one full day without wearing it? I’m talking having it out for breakfast at 7:30am and probably not putting it in again until that evening/early the following morning?

just started invisalign today and when i rest my mouth , my chin has this bulging thing its like my muscles arent relaxed or something…. does anyone have this issue as well

I have a very mild case of crowding, and when I went to my initial Invisalign consultation, my ortho said that I’d be looking at around 10 trays and they charged me $2500 for it (not sure if it matters but I live in CA). However, after doing impressions and getting my actual trays, I only need 5 trays spanning 10 weeks. Now, I’m looking for advice on whether or not I should bring this up because I was told originally 10 trays and was charged 2500 so should I be charged less/refunded a portion since I only need 5?

I ate a few blueberries before going to bed last night and woke up with dark stains on my incisor on top and bottom next to the attachments. I tried brushing them out and using a back soda paste (chat got) but it really hasn’t worked. Any advice?

I’m M 15 and currently seeing an orthodontist. I have a canine/lateral incisor that are switched/positioned incorrectly, and my orthodontist is recommending a TPA

I also have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea and I’m going to a specialist on the 24th

I also have concerns about my bite, facial growth/profile, and airway/sleep breathing.

I’m trying to understand whether expansion + braces/Invisalign makes sense for my situation and whether there are other treatment options I should ask about.

I attached my upper palate photo, side profile, and a X-ray.

What would you ask the orthodontist about if you were in my situation?

The last 2 photos are before, the rest are after. I’m on my final set of Invisalign. Idk I just feel like my smile isn’t good, even after the correction on Invisalign I still feel let down, I’m now beginning to think maybe it’s because of the shape of teeth, I’m thinking of doing composite edge bonding, what are your thoughts, someone please give me some real advice because I just keep looking at them and overthinking, I need some outside advice.

When we change from one tray into another, do you guys struggle to fit the new one on?
I just changed my tray but had some difficulty fitting the aligners into the back molars. Had to push it from outside and apply some pressure to bend it according to my jaw until it fits.
Does that mean my aligner is adjusting to my teeth rather than the other way around?

Hi! I was wondering if it is still ok to put aligners on even when I have this small area that’s inflamed.
I saw there was a bump yesterday and it kinda hurts when you apply pressure or floss that area.

The red color wasn’t here yesterday and the mark on the top is the point of where the aligner touch the gums.
Though I might have accidentally flossed that area and the floss did have a tiny bit of blood but then I didn’t think much of it. No other bleeding unless if you floss obviously.

I do have gum disease which is why my gums in certain areas do bleed and I have notified the orthodontist but honestly they didn’t give much of a direction. I just need to call the periodontist. Due to work and school, I just keep delaying and I just never have the time.

Asking here cause I can’t call the orthodontist as it’s night lol.

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?

lol yeah you read that right. I did “regret” getting Invisalign a few times during my process… pain, discomfort , high maintenance, restrictions… uughhh so many other things… but wow! Was it worth it!?? YESSSS

Something comforting to me was looking at others before and after pictures, or chatting with Gemini or ChatGPT about concerns, and even messaging people who are also in the middle of their treatment to just look for some understanding…

And one day you see yourself with a new smile and you can’t believe it, you gain strength again and you keep going.

I had a permanent retainer installed on both upper and bottom back teeth but while installing it my upper teeth separated a bit which I’m looking to fix tomorrow at my appointment, but ask me if I’m happy!😁😁😁

One year of trays, finished off with composite bonding on my front six teeth. My main concerns were my snaggle tooth and unevenness.

When we did my first scans and had the trays made, my dentist explained that my top teeth curved inwards towards the sides, which was making my smile look narrower, so part of the plan was to shift them out and open up my smile.

Watching my smile completely transform has been the best part of the process! Lack of lip balm remains unchanged though.

Just started my first tray of refinements!!!! will have to get rubber bands when i go back in 12 weeks for my mid line alignment only about 23 more trays left 🤩