Invisalign and  Me

It is with great love and affection that I say this: WELCOME, NEWBIE!

 

If you don’t know what Invisalign is, you’ve come to the right place.

 

What is Invisalign?

 

Invisalign is the name of a company and their invisible brace orthodontic product. Invisalign clear aligners are virtually invisible and provide a welcome alternative to traditional metal braces.

 

How does Invisalign work?

 

Invisalign uses “advanced 3D computer-imaging technology” to predict  and depict the course of your teeth’s movement using their braces, from their crooked start to their brilliantly aligned finish.

 

What does Invisalign look like?

 

Like the emperor’s new clothes, you can’t see them. I joke! But they are insanely invisible. Invisalign is a series of transparent custom-made aligners which move your teeth slowly over time, as a traditional brace would.

 

How do you use Invisalign?

 

You wear the clear aligners day in, day out, for at least 22 hours a day. The big upside of having Invisalign is being able to remove the aligners whenever you want to eat or drink, unlike traditional braces. They’re also virtually undetectable (unless you have lots of attachments, in which case they're a bit more obvious).

 

How long does Invisalign last?

 

Invisalign treatment varies from person to person. Typically, each aligner is worn for roughly two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, you replace the aligner with the next one, keeping the progression of your teeth’s movement. Depending on the severity of your crowding, the type of Invisalign you opt for, and whether you implement things such as Acceledent, the treatment usually lasts anywhere from six months to two years.

 

How much does Invisalign cost?

COMPLETELY DEPENDS. Firstly, it ain’t cheap. So you have to be seriously, 100% committed to the treatment for however long it lasts.

 

In England, Invisalign ranges from £3,000 to upwards of £6,000. A friend of mine was quoted for treatment at about £9,000 (crazy, I know) but her dentist was on Harley Street, a prestigious road in London known for its expensive celebrity surgeries.

In the States, from what I’ve read online, Invisalign ranges anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000. Same in Australia, and wherever else.

 

Of course, if you have some kind of discount or know an orthodontist who pulled some strings for you, then that shaves a lot of the costs down.

 

Where did you get your Invisalign done?

 

Even though I lived in London, I actually ordered my Invisalign treatment in the Philippines. My trusted family dentist had a practice there. One day, when I was on holiday in Manila, I decided to move forward with the treatment and order it. It was much cheaper ordering it in the Philippines too, as England likes to add on all sorts of bells and whistles and basically bleed your wallet dry. Muhaha!

 

Why should I get Invisalign?

 

Having been on both sides of the coin – I had traditional metal braces from 13 to 15 years old, and now, in my twenties, am doing Invisalign – I’d say personal preference.

 

If you don’t care about metal braces, the appearance or the feel of them, and are happy to keep costs down, then go for the traditional braces. They are also more effective, on the whole. (You can read more on this here).

 

However, if you’re conscious about the appearance of metal braces, don’t want your life to be disrupted by obvious braces, want to be able to remove your braces whenever and wherever you want, and can afford it, then you should go for Invisalign. With Invisalign, you also spend less time in the dentists’ chair, as the progress of your teeth is basically pre-determined in the ClinCheck.

 

Links of Interest

 

Read the traditional braces vs. Invisalign pros and cons list I wrote here.

 

Read my personal reasons for choosing Invisalign here.

 

To read the official Invisalign fancy-schmancy (and extremely informative) answers to the above questions, visit the below:

http://www.invisalign.co.uk/en/FAQs/Pages/FAQ.aspx

http://www.invisalign.com/frequently-asked-questions

 

 

As ever, if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section below!