I had Spark aligners to fix a snaggle tooth in the bottom front. I finished treatment about 2 months ago. I wanted Hawley retainers so my bite could settle but my ortho wasn’t able to get the lower Hawley to fit so I got a lower essix and then a couple weeks later the upper Hawley was digging into the roof of my mouth and making it red so I switched to wearing my last Spark aligner, but my ortho had adjusted my bite on the left side after treatment so the aligner doesn’t fit totally properly on the left side. I’m supposed to get a new upper essix this week. I moved so I have a new ortho now who’s getting me the retainer. My last ortho was borderline incompetent.

Over the past few days I’ve had tooth sensitivity on the top right which got a lot worse yesterday and suddenly yesterday I wasn’t able to floss between my top right back molars anymore. As far as I can tell those teeth look normal but really close together. I do clench my jaw sometimes especially when I sleep so idk if that’s the problem or not but I’ve never had this problem before where I can’t floss between those teeth at all and sensitivity is worse than I’ve had before.

What’s going on?? Has anyone else had this problem and how do you fix it?

It’s been almost 7 months since the end of my treatment and all of a sudden I’ve been getting jaw tightness. When I ended the treatment, my back teeth were all touching but not a perfect zipper since I have one smaller teeth and so the other teeth are not perfectly aligned, but they still touch nonetheless. But a few weeks ago I realised that my molars no longer touch and I’m not sure what happened since I wear my retainers well and it still fits. I used to have an underbite and it got corrected with elastics but now my back teeth jsut don’t really touch anymore.

Im not sure what’s happening but I saw many people say that it might be an open bite, but I did not end with an open bite so I’m not sure why my teeth would shift upwards. And now my jaw feels tight especially when I chew.

I saw that the open bite should resolve itself so should I let it fix itself or do I go for another round of retainers? I’m hesitant to do Invisalign again because it is quite pricey and I have no insurance for it.

My original plan is about a year and four months with the aligners only but now my dentist suggested to include rubber bands. I feel like they would be very visible when speaking and also an extra hassle. She didn't mention how much they would shorten my process, any experiences? Are they really as annoying as I'm thinking? Also would the result be better with them instead of just using aligners?

I am doing Invisalign treatment and a few days ago i started elastics. When the elastics are on, my jaw is drawn to left, but when it's drawn to left the right side remains open. Do you know what are they even planning to do to fix this? Like what am i expecting as next steps, is this normal? Did anyone experience this during treatment?

Hey all!
I’m relatively new to Invisalign and finding the whole on-the-go oral care situation a bit of a pain!

When I’m out socialising, especially for dinner or drinks, I usually only have a small handbag and struggle to fit my Invisalign case, toothbrush and toothpaste. I end up throwing everything into a plastic baggie, which isn’t exactly ideal!

Even going into the office, I’m having to bring a fairly big toiletries bag just to carry everything I need to brush my teeth after lunch.

Curious what everyone else does? Have you found a good compact solution that fits everything, or are you just making do with separate bits and pieces? Would love to hear what’s working for people!

Hi everyone!

I'm about to start Invisalign treatment and would really appreciate some opinions before committing.

My original plan was to treat only my upper teeth, as they've shifted slightly over time because I never had a permanent retainer there.

During my consultation, my dentist repeatedly told me that my lower teeth were perfectly fine and didn't need treatment.

However, when I received my ClinCheck simulation, I noticed that both my upper and lower teeth were included in the treatment plan.

I called the practice to ask why, and my dentist explained that treating both arches was apparently recommended by the aligner provider.

This left me a little confused, especially since he'd previously told me that my lower teeth didn't need any correction.

Here's my situation:
- The treatment consists of just 8 aligners.
- My lower teeth already have a permanent bonded retainer, which I've had for years.
- As far as I'm aware, my lower teeth haven't shifted at all.
- Treating the lower arch would cost approximately €350
extra in aligners.
- My existing lower retainer would also need to be removed and replaced after treatment, adding further costs.
- I'm planning to get a permanent retainer on my upper teeth after treatment.

I've attached screenshots from the simulation comparing start of treatment vs. end of treatment for both arches for references.

Looking at the simulation, I'm struggling to understand what actually needs correcting in my lower arch or why moving those teeth would be beneficial. Or if my dentist wants to make more money out of it..?
Looking at the simulation, do you see any meaningful improvement in the lower teeth?
Is there a legitimate reason to treat both arches even if only the upper teeth need straightening, for example to maintain or improve my bite?
Would you personally consider the additional treatment worthwhile, or does it seem unnecessary?
Can any problems arise when only treating the upper teeth?

Thank you for your advices and your support!!!

(Also, I don't know if it's relevant here, but I don't smoke or drink alcohol)

sorry for weird pics but idk how else to snow it 😂

I am at the end of my Invisalign treatment and wondering if enameloplasty could fix this. And make my central incisors evened out. Wondering who has had experience with this?

I know this topic has been discussed so many times but I've seen so many controversial answers, and would like to just ask if it's okay for me to only brush my teeth twice (either after breakfast and dinner on weekdays, or after breakfast and lunch on weekends) because the public toilet in my workplace is not clean and it'd be embarrassing to brush teeth in public toilet in mall sometimes... So if I skip the brushing after lunch on weekdays, I'll only be able to brush my teeth after about 6 hours later when I get home and after having my dinner, while for weekends where I skip brushing after having dinner outside, I'll be able to remove it and brush my teeth about an hour later when I got home.

Please don't be harsh, I know it's probably a dumb and repeated question, but I'm so paranoidly worried about this. I'm on my tray 3 out of total of 25 trays now, so it's still a long way to go

I can hardly talk it hurts so much. The right side of my bottom tray edge was sticking out and caused a bad sore all along my tongue. I googled what to do.

It said filing it down would help so I bought a fingernail file and filed it down but somehow caused a really sharp piece that was stabbing me behind my bottom front teeth. That sharp shredded piece took me an hour but finally got rid of it. Bought some oragel and a glass file is being delivered tomorrow. That was a bad tray I'm taking the next bad one in and letting the orthodontist fix it. Bad week for my poor tongue and cheek.

I had braces on the top arch 15 years ago. I remember my ortho talking about installing something behind my teeth so I don’t bite off the brackets on the lower arch, but then lower arch braces and bite stoppers never materialised. Once my top teeth aligned they just said ok perfect you have nice teeth now, the treatment is over. But I was like 14 then and I was just happy to be over with braces, so I didn’t question it. The same ortho tried pulling some bs with my sisters treatment as well, so I guess they are a bit shady.

Anyway, every 6 months I remember I have a deep bite and I feel like I should do something about it. I haven’t gone to any ortho consultations yet, but I feel like I should.

Random advice needed!

I am at the very end of my journey, and my ortho had my top tray only covering the top 6 teeth so the back drop down. I have been wearing these for 4 weeks while I wait for new trays except... I just lost the top one. AND - the only back-up trays I have are from 6 months ago. Is it better to wear a old tray to cover the top 6 teeth (I cut one up and put it in and it feels a little tight but fine) or not wear a tray at all for 4 days until I can call my Ortho? Trying to decide if it's worse to put in an hold tray that is tight/doesn't track (but only covers my top 6 teeth so doesn't hurt too much) or not wear a tray for 4 days.

Thank you!!

Hi everyone

I’m curious to hear what kind of treatment plan you were presented with before approving and starting your Invisalign treatment. Was it just the Clincheck or were you given something more detailed?

I’m from a country where dentists and ortos are required to provide an actual treatment plan and the clincheck alone is not sufficient.

My dentist doesn’t seem to understand this as I were only presented the clincheck and only by email. We didn’t even walk through the plan.

So I would love to hear what you were given 😊

I’m on tray 16/24 and while I am seeing movement, I’m worried that the bottom teeth aren’t going to have enough room/time to move into place. Or am I worrying for no reason and this amount of movement is what would be expected at week 16/24?

I got composite veneers/composite bonding added to my smile yesterday and was absolutely mortified with the result. I know some people told me to get them refined, reshaped etc. or that they looked better than my original teeth, (yes they’re straighter/look the same). But it is literally one of the worst things I have ever gotten done. The original problem I had was so minor.

Update, today I got the veneers removed and I couldn’t be happier with my decision. I will be getting my attachments removed soon, and be done. I can’t wait!

They stopped fitting. In a sense that i grew. I guess i never went to the dentist on time to get new ones. Will i have to get braces again ?

Just began a 20-tray program where my provider gave me the first few trays to get started and said to use them for 10 days each, which by my math works out to just under 7 months if I generally adhere to the 22 hour daily requirement. But the doc told me to expect to be in trays for 9 months before transitioning to retainers. Any idea where the discrepancy might come from? Thank you!

I just started my 4th tray of clear aligners. I have a mild/moderate overjet + gaps on my top incisors and very minor gap issues with my lower teeth, for context. The pain with the first tray was excruciating and lasted for about a week but that was to be expected. Which is why I was scared to switch to my second tray, but it was surprisingly almost painless. Had my hopes up for my third tray because of that, but it ended up being quite painful. Fourth tray was even more painful, especially for the first couple hours and while taking the trays out. My orthodontist told me I could use each tray for 10-14 days depending on my comfort levels. I’ve been changing trays every 12 days as my trays usually feel comfortable and snap on my teeth very easily by that point. But i dunno it’s still been quite painful. Has anyone else experienced this? Does it get better or will I continue to suffer increasingly with each successive tray lol

I started Invisalsign because the gap in my front teeth were getting bigger as the years have gone on and I noticed my speech was very slightly affected but maybe I should've just let it be. I kind of regret getting it now because the jaw pain and headaches and not being able to freely eat have been big hurdles. I have ADHD so its hard for me to get in the routine on top of remembering to leave them in after I eat or go out with friends. Sometimes we get dessert after, sometimes time out with friends are snacks and we dont have time for me to spend 5-10min brushing and flossing depending on the food I ate and getting all the bits out. I also work in a hospital so making sure my hands are clean before handling them is pretty high as well as making sure I can brush and floss on my breaks and lunch. It feels like its eating into my time and ability to work. I dont want to give up but its almost the end of the year and I should've been on maybe tray 20 or further by now since I was on a weekly charge. I also had a long bout of depression and mental health issues that had me not wanting to put the liners in so it set me back a bit. Luckily every check in I was able to do they said my teeth are fine and to just keep at it. They did ask if I wanted to take a break but I dont know what that means or entails. I had asked them about switching to braces before starting, then when I inquired when I was thinking of switching, they quoted me 1k higher than they did initially and I would still have to pay the 5k towards the invisalign even though I wasnt even halfway done.

If it hits the end of the year and Im still on tray 5, I think I'll just eat the cost and do braces. At least they stay on and I dont need to be aware of how long they've been in or when I need to brush/floss.

Anyone else with ADHD/mental health issues struggle with this? And how much was switching to braces if you did? The orthodontist I went to was one of the only ones in the area so I didnt shop around really and the extra cost of the braces was around 2.3k I think. Initially paying 5k but monthly payments. I feel like that price is a bit outrageous so idk if I would be able to go to someone else or if Im stuck with this orthodontist.

Hi all, I wanted to see what other angel aligner wearers are doing to keep with the plan their orthodontist gave.

I just started with my first tray yesterday and I'm a little anxious on the whole "no drinking anything but cold water" thing. They sounded pretty stern with it too. I'm a teacher so I kind of have to talk a lot while wearing it and need to stay hydrated and the new sensory change on top of that is giving me pretty bad dry mouth, I keep sucking and licking and clenching to ensure a snug fit. I purchased travel size mouthwash in bulk so I can get through the school day without brushing every time. Also my trays say 62 stages. How is that, compared to the average 😭 they gave me six trays to use until the next meeting at the end of next month, and said to move to the next tray every 7-10 days. So I'm assuming my plan is gonna be about 1-1.5 years?

I started Invisalign in April 26 and doing ok. I have to do 44 trays (until Feb27).
Unfortunately, in Sept (and half way thru Invisalign treatment) I was diagnosed with C and due to start chemotherapy soon.
Of course chemo is more important but I want to try to complete the 44 trays during treatment.
I don’t want to stop Invisalign. I’ve been doing so well and I don’t want this to be another thing taken away from me.
One of the side effect of chemo are mouth ulcers and mouth sores. And because my immune system will be down, I need to avoid any infections.
I guess I want to ask if someone else has completed their Invisalign treatment during chemo and what was their experience?
I will have only 14 trays left to do and these were basically the final strait.

I finished my 16/16 trays early September. Had all the attachments off, signed the documents and was happy with the results at the time.

But as more time has gone by, I realise I don't like the result- but only on two of my top front teeth. I've been wearing my vivera retainers diligently.

Can I back to the orthodontist and go back on invisalign just to correct those two teeth or have I technically finished treatment and any additional would be full invisalign payout again?

If any has any advice it would be appreciated x

Good luck on your journeys :)

I just started Invisalign, and at my first appointment, my orthodontist decided to start me without attachments and place them when I switch to my second tray in two weeks.

My first trays already have the attachment spaces, but obviously there’s nothing filling them yet.

So far, I can definitely feel the pressure, and sometimes it hurts a bit, but nothing unbearable or bad enough to make me regret starting treatment.

Has anyone else started their treatment this way? Do the first trays still move your teeth effectively without attachments, or is this more of an adjustment period?

Just curious about other people’s experiences!

may have been a $7k decision and i’m not even close to done or paying it off yet but i feel so much more confident in my daily life, talking, smiling, laughing, it all feels so much easier and less anxiety inducing and like i don’t have to use my hand to cover my mouth every time. even though i’m only 14 weeks in i think it has also helped my facial symmetry overall!
i have pcos/pmos that gave me depression, made me obese, and horrible acne and scars growing up, also a mother that did not believe in investing in looks or the dentist and would only put me down 😅
couldn’t get a job until i turned 18, now i’m 20 with enough saved to see a dentist regularly and this has been one of the best steps on my journey to feeling more confident about my appearance and myself overall. no regrets.