Invisalign

xfaeriedustx

Hi everyone,

I recently visited the dentist for a checkup and I was advised that I'd benefit from Invisalign retainers.

I'm due to go for a 'Smile Consultation' next month and was wondering if anyone had any experience of Invisalign? Is it worth doing?

The dentist has posters all over the practice advertising Invisalign 'from £1,500' but I'm expecting a lot more! How much have other people been quoted/paid?

Amy

welshdent

If you feel you have a problem with the alignment of your teeth then I would suggest the best place to go is a specialist orthodontist. Invisalign is just a system. One of many systems, for moving teeth. The best people to move those teeth are the ones with the additional training IMHO.

brook2jack

Do you feel there is a problem? Will there be a charge for consultation and if so how much?

As Welshdent says go to see an orthodontist if you want something done and you will get the most appropriate treatment not just the one system the dentist is happiest using.

xfaeriedustx

Thanks for your replies.

I have wanted advice about straightening my teeth for years and this is the first dentist who's actually explained to me the different methods of how I could achieve it. He didn't only mentioned Invisalign, he spoke to me about traditional braces and veneers too.

My last dentist referred me to an orthodontist who wanted £80 for a consultation - needless to say, I cancelled it! The new dentist, on the other hand, is offering a 'Smile Consultation' for free.

I have been told that as I had two back teeth removed when I was younger, my other teeth will eventually move into the gaps left there - this scares me! I also have two canine teeth which haven't moved into their proper position and are both high up in my gum. One of them still has a baby tooth underneath it, and I'm eager to sort these issues out.

Amy

brook2jack

Fair enough but bear in mind there is no such thing as a "free" consultation. The costs have to be built into the overall costs of your treatment along with the costs of all the people who didn't take up the treatment.

Having a consultation fee I think is alot more upfront and you don't end up covering the costs of the many folks who have a consultation and nothing else. Particularly important in orthodontics where x rays,photographs and study models need to be made and two visits may be necessary to treatment plan properly.

welshdent

faerie regardless of cost, if you want straighter teeth I will maintain till I am blue in the face, see an orthodontist. £80 for a private ortho exam is very good. Cheap does not always mean good.

Toothsmith

And don't let anybody chop up perfectly good teeth and add porcelain (veneers). Unless you have the money to have them re-done every few years and fix the other problems that they will cause your teeth.

xfaeriedustx

I don't want veneers, I'm well aware of how they ruin your teeth! I don't particularly want traditional braces either.

I would just like some honest advice from anyone who has had Invisalign retainers as I'm finding it difficult to find much on the Internet about them.

I appreciate everyones advice.

brook2jack

As a system they have their limitations and are not suitable for everyone.The dentist needs to send away measurements etc to America so they can set up a computer model and see if invisalign is suitable and how many retainers are needed. This treatment planning stage is always charged for whether you go ahead with treatment or not and costs approx £200.

The total cost of invisalign depends on total number of retainers needed and local to me average cost of treatment is £2500 to £3000 and the maximum I have seen quoted £6000. The other factor is you will have to wear some sort of retainer at night probably for life to keep the teeth in place. So you should budget for a new retainer every few years (£70ish).

Most patients who go ahead are very happy with invisalign but then so are most who go ahead with conventional braces where the costs are much less typically £1800 and fine tuning the result much easier.

vixarooni

I'm 24 and have just got the train track brace on my top teeth. I thought about all sorts but decided this was the best option. They are getting sorted - and apart from a little embarassement at the begining - i am more confident than i was before.

Acc72

Toothsmith wrote: »

And don't let anybody chop up perfectly good teeth and add porcelain (veneers). Unless you have the money to have them re-done every few years and fix the other problems that they will cause your teeth.

Hi Toothsmith,

I know from previous threads that you are not a fan of veneers, but I do not feel that your comments are entirely fair.

I had 8 veneers fitted 11 years ago and was/am extremely happy with the results (that took 2 weeks to achieve).

As with any treatment, I am sure that there are some good and bad examples out there. I just think that it is important to give a more balanced view.

Out of interest, what problems can veneers cause other teeth and what do you mean by a "few years" ?

Ps - I am not being argumentative (honest!), it is just that my experience has been very positive.