Where was I . . .
As promised, I am going to keep going with this 2025 goals series, even though I am sure many people are like “okay, on to the next thing”! Well, this one will be pretty straightforward!
I have decided that 2025 will be the year I get Invisalign (or a similar product, though would not rule out braces if that’s what the orthodontist says makes the most sense).
I wore braces for many (MANY) years; I think my teeth were slow to come in, maybe because I was a later developer!? Or maybe my teeth were just THAT BAD. In my memory they were on for 4 years and some of that time even involved HEADGEAR (thankfully only at night). I still vividly remember how uncomfortable that was!
Anyway. You would think with such an ordeal that I would have dutifully worn my retainers, right? Maybe Adult SHU would have, but 20s SHU was not that smart (I mean . . have you read some of my 2004 blog posts? lol). And so, as tends to happen, my lower teeth in particular drifted to the midline and they look kind of crowded and meh. It didn’t bother me THAT much but I have to say I don’t love the look so when it occurred to me that it could be fixed (because I am constantly bringing my children to orthodontist appts) . . . well, this seemed like a good idea!
And so, I added “Get Invisalign” to my 2025 goals list. I feel even better about this plan since I told my dentist and she said it might actually prevent issues later on (I guess my crowding is bad enough to block certain surfaces from being adequately accessed by floss etc).
I can imagine this will not be free but I think my insurance actually might pitch in for some of it, so WHY NOTE. YOLO and I don’t really see much downside (unless I’m missing something!). I’m planning to use the same office my kids go to (apparently they do adults too!) so that will be convenient.
Have you gotten Invisalign as an adult? Would you recommend??!
PS: A’s fracture is a Salter Harris II and apparently she could be clear for activity in as soon as 3 weeks! Obviously we won’t rush it and will do whatever ortho says. But this was far better than I feared, even if it’s a bit longer. She doesn’t have a cast either – just a long splint. It’s still tough for her but this is way better than the worst case scenario.
26 Comments
Friends of mine have used Invisalign. Biggest issue was removing them when out for a meal at a restaurant.
Haha read Kendra Adachis newletter of today. She’s “not yet convinced” 🙂
I thought the same thing – reading about you and Kendra + Invisalign wasn’t what I expected today! But makes sense to do if it brings benefit.
Ha! I do subscribe to Kendra but hadn’t read it yet – crazy coincidence! At first it sounded like she hated the effects but it sounds more like she hates dealing with it. (I did think of the podcasting thing already – but it’s not like I podcast THAT many hours on end typically!)
Yes I read it too and Kendra’s take scared me off even tho I am not contemplating it. I also had a coworker who would constantly be taking it out and putting it in when she was eating and snacking all day and I would gag at how nasty it looked when she did so, without proper hygiene each time, especially not brushing after the meal and putting it back in.
I’ve been on a TMJ journey for the past 5 or 6 years, and last year a dentist recommended braces as the answer (I’ve tried a lot of things, so I’m skeptical). My acupuncturist had invisalign as an adult and said to make sure I ask questions, because apparently they needed to file between her teeth and they used a bonding agent on the teeth to help them snap in, neither of which she was crazy about. Honestly I feel the same way – I’ve always had good teeth and I really hesitate to do something that permanent to them. Also on the cost – I’ve learned that most dental plans cover childrens’ braces, but not adult. This year is the first year my dental plan is offering a partial amount towards adult braces if you choose the “premium” option.
Not sure yet if I’m going to do it or not, but on my list for January is to call an orthodontist (got a referral from my dentist) to schedule an appointment for a consultation.
My husband got a quote for braces and/or invisalign and I think it was about $5000. I think most insurance doesn’t pay much towards it, but it could be an investment if it reduces future dental problems because those are expensive to fix!
My 10yo just started and it feels like yet another mini-job haha but for now it was the right choice. I can’t help with personal experience, but many of my adult friends have and love Invisalign.
I was in the same boat as you! Had braces as a kid, but then left my retainers in India (oops). Fast forward 25 years, I had super crowded/crooked bottom teeth. Got Invisalign in 2023 into 2024 for about 9 months. Was it a pain? Yes. Would I do it again? Absolutely!
I had braces (and expanders, etc.) between second and seventh grade, then also failed to wear my retainer for more than about a year! I ended up getting clear braces as an adult so that my teeth would be straighter for my wedding photos, haha. Many people did not realize I had gotten the clear braces, and I could still eat with them, drink tea, etc., which could not be done with Invisalign retainers. Getting them tightened did hurt more than I remembered, so soft foods were required on those orthodontist-visit days!
I got Invisalign in 2023, and it took about 10 months to correct the (fairly minor, likely only noticeable to me!) cosmetic issues. I was not prepared for how my speech would be affected…I was pretty embarrassed to talk out loud for the first week or so. I also unintentionally lost 5-7 lbs because knowing I would have to floss and brush after eating anything deterred me from random bites here and there. And also be prepared for the fact that you’re supposed to wear your retainer 24/7 after your treatment ends for another 6ish months!
I did braces again as an adult after not wearing my retainers. Instead of getting removable retainers again, I just had them do both an upper and lower permanent retainer. It’s harder to floss but much more convenient and comfortable than removable ones. My teeth have not moved in 10 years so I think they are working.
Sharing my experience also… TL;DR: happy with the results, definitely a nuisance along the way though.
I got Invisalign in my early 40s to correct a bite issue as my teeth had drifted since braces. The first two weeks with Invisalign were the worst: had the hardest time getting the trays out (make sure they give you the little tool to pry them out); there was a lot of pain where there were some brackets adhered directly to my teeth (make sure to buy orthodontia wax to put in your mouth until you adjust); I also had to wear elastics at night to connect top/bottom teeth which was awkward. Once I adjusted, the most annoying parts were: (1) when I would be traveling for work and had to figure out how to discreetly get the trays out at meals; (2) the constant cleaning of the trays just felt like one more chore at night when I’m already tired; (3) no more random cups of tea as it was too much hassle to take the trays out; and (4) I talked differently for sure – felt awkward in some presentations. Cost was around $5K, $2K of which was covered by insurance. They told me originally it would take 9 months but in reality it took 18 months. At the end, there was a VERY painful appointment to remove all the brackets and do some filing. It was agonizing but relatively short. I do like the end result at least! Now I will wear retainers for life to make sure my teeth don’t move again, but what I didn’t realize is that retainers these days are 3D printed and they just don’t last as long as the old school metal ones we had in the 1990s. So it feels like I’ll have a recurring ~$200 expense every time I need new retainers (every 18-24 months?). I’m wearing them every other night to stretch the life but I find this to be a very annoying hidden cost that was not clear upfront to me. And of course I have to clean the retainers – somehow this just feels super annoying to me at night on top of everything else I have to take care of.
I’m 42 and about 5 months in – 2/3 of the way through. Got them for the same reasons (mild/moderate cosmesis but also long term hygiene / dental health) and I LOVE them. You’ll notice a difference with flossing within 3 weeks or so. I often eat with them in (per orthodontist’s advice – she said main thing is hours worn so for snacks I just munch away) and I get thirsty (somewthing to do with salivary flow maybe?) but drinking mg more has improved my skin 😊 Wish I’d done it sooner. My orthodontist is putting a permanent wire behind the front teeth rather than a retainer that has to be worn – will mean the changes are permanent. Do it!!
Unfortunately, I found that most insurance plans do not cover orthodontia for adults. I think mine currently says over 19 are not covered.
Did Invisalign a few years ago for a teeny gap I didn’t like in my front teeth. So, in early 40s? Totally terrific experience and worth every penny. I don’t do a ton of “appearance” upkeep but this was a win! I love having a smile I love. You will love it!
I did “6 month smile” back in 2013. It was old school braces but they were clear. It was uncomfortable but it was FAST and cheap(er) (maybe $1k – $2k). I was happy with the results.
Yes would def consider clear braces if they said it was better!
It’s a pain but definitely worth it, in my opinion! If you end up getting them I highly recommend a dental pod cleaner. It makes such a difference in cleaning your trays! This is the one I have — https://zimadental.co/?srsltid=AfmBOoqChj5Yvboip_jl9_So1UTOTu82A5XN-fM-S7dqfrFZp7j0mJqu
Ooh good to know!!!
I had braces in middle school, wore my retainers as recommended (and was told I could stop when I went to college), and my bottom teeth shifted slightly. Noticeable to no one but myself. I did invisalign in 2019. It was partially covered by dental insurance. Happy with experience and highly recommend.
I did Invisalign for 6 months a couple of years ago and am so glad I did! It’s a bit of a hassle but it was worth it. A bonus is the retainers work as night guards while I sleep to prevent clenching/grinding. Win win!
I’ll join to the chorus of people who had braces as a kid, sort of fell off the retainer trend, and then got increasingly annoyed at the cosmetic shifting of my teeth. I did Invisalign somewhere around 5-6 years ago and am THRILLED with the results. It is definitely a nuisance to do – all the things other people have already mentioned with extra brushing/flossing, removing trays, etc. – but 110% worth it in my opinion. I was getting bothered by how my teeth looked in pictures and now I’m not anymore!
One thing to keep in mind (that I think I only saw one other person say) is that whatever timeframe they quote you is probably wrong. I was told 6-9 months but I had them for nearly 2 years because of the refinements. My husband is in a similar boat (he JUST finished his last tray and it definitely took about twice as long as was expected). But usually by the end you’re already fully paid so you might as well do the refinements to really get things exactly how you want them.
I was able to use my HSA and had some amount of insurance coverage so I think I paid around $2k out of pocket. Good luck!!! I think you’ll be happy you did it!
I feel like a weirdo outlier here, but allow me to be the only person who *diligently* wore her retainers EVERY SINGLE NIGHT (except while on call) through her teens, 20s, 30s, and 40s. Even through the new boyfriend phases of my life. I actually still wear the top retainer I got when I was 14 years old. When I first got my braces off, they put in a permanent bottom retainer… and my teeth shifted even with that in place. At age 18 I finally got a plastic retainer (kind of like an invisalign) which I wore until the age of 44. I made the mistake of allowing my dentist to clean it one day, and it fell apart. I think it was being partially held together by tartar, lol. ANYWAY, since I had to get a new retainer anyway and I didn’t like that my bottom teeth were a little crooked, and because it was the pandemic and I had to wear a mask all the time anyway, I figured since I had to go to the orthodontist to get a new retainer anyway (dentist could have created one with impressions they took that day — WHY would I want a retainer to keep my teeth in place crooked though??) I figured I might as well get them fixed for real.
1) I only got the bottom done. They did try to sell me on getting the top ones done anyway, but I’m perfectly happy with my top teeth so I said no.
2) They glue nubbins to your teeth to help the plastic molds move them into position.
3) It took 6 months longer than they said.
4) There were monthly appointments that took about 30 min each. I felt super old and ugly when I went because they had these big mirrors and harsh fluorescent lighting, and my white hair was BRIGHT. Lol. Also probably a me issue.
5) It cost $3000, not covered by insurance
6) If I have to get a new bottom retainer that will be more $$ (maybe $500 per retainer? I can’t remember). I will probably do this soon bc if I wait longer I worry they’ll make me come back for an appointment and try to sell me on more services.
7) The orthodontist was Chaldean and so are a number of the residents I work with that he knew, so he was constantly asking me how they were doing lol. He made a huge thing about me being a dr, which was kind of nice, but also kind of cringey. This is probably a me-specific thing though.
8) The adjustments did hurt, but it was nothing that tylenol didn’t take care of.
Overall I would recommend getting it done! I was happy with the result, and it is much easier to clear my teeth now than it was. I’d maybe ask whether it would be faster to use traditional braces instead. Either way they are gluing stuff to your teeth, and a shorter treatment period may be worth having braces instead of invisalign. Curious to see what you decide!
that is awesome! I think I would only consider braces if I could get clear ones and if I could guarantee done in like 8 months – I don’t want them on while promoting a book! but very helpful list here!!
Yes! I did Invisalign in 2014 before I got married and it was the best thing I have ever done for my appearance. Even though I didn’t have HUGE issues it helped a lot and really did reshape my jaw. Would 100% do again. For me the worst part was the buttons (not everyone had these) which were uncomfortable. Your speech feels odd for a few days and my mouth got dry at night for awhile but very minor issues overall. Mine was done in about 10 months