Invisalign reviews: what do patients say about invisible aligners?
For aesthetic or functional reasons, are you considering aligning your malpositioned teeth? So you're looking for the best way to get there. In your research, you have certainly come across the orthodontic technique based on Invisalign clear aligners. This technique is currently very successful and more and more patients are adopting it to treat their dental problems.
So what exactly is Invisalign? How does it work? Does it work? What are the advantages and disadvantages of Invisalign? Nutrident answers all your questions in this article and dissects point by point all aspects of this orthodontic technique based on the opinions of its users.
Contenus
Invisalign : how does it work ?
As mentioned above, Invisalign uses transparent aligners that must be changed regularly (according to the treatment plan established by the specialist: every 2 weeks for example) in order to allow a soft and progressive realignment of the teeth.
These aligners are custom-made to fit your teeth precisely and exert small forces on them to realign them. After wearing a mouthpiece for 22 hours a day for 2 weeks, the teeth move about 0.2 mm and take on the shape imposed by the mouthpiece.
You must then move on to the next mouthpiece, which will be slightly different to impose a new conformation on your teeth, and so on. The little trips add up so that at the end of the treatment, you have the harmonious smile you've always dreamed of!
The duration of treatment varies greatly from one patient to another, from a minimum of 3 months to up to 2 years.
Invisalign : what are its advantages ?
We are now going to list the advantages of Invisalign one by one after a rigorous and objective analysis of the hundreds ofpatient reviews that have tested it:
Aesthetic and almost invisible
Invisalign aligners are transparent and almost invisible. This is a great advantage compared to the traditional, very flashy and unsightly rings. The patient can then enjoy total discretion.
Julie, a 28-year-old young mother and nurse, welcomes this total discretion, saying:
“I wore an Invisalign aligner for 2 weeks in my workplace without any of my colleagues noticing! It's really very discreet.”
Invisalign aligners also make teeth look whiter and more beautiful. Indeed, once in place in your mouth and moistened by your saliva, the mouthpiece gives a clearer aspect to your teeth by modifying the reflection of the light on them and by clearing up the dark areas.
Removable: for total freedom
The Invisalign mouthpiece must be worn 20 to 22 hours a day (day and night). You can remove it at any time to eat or brush your teeth. You can also remove it for a particular event for up to 8 hours per day, but you must recover this time in your treatment plan.
One user humorously expresses her Invisalign opinion on this particular feature:
“I only regret one thing, it is not to have known this method earlier! However, when the time comes to eat, I am a little embarrassed because I have to remove my mouthpiece discreetly… I feel like a little granny taking out her dentures! But it's well worth it, because it allows me to eat whatever I want, which was not possible when I was wearing traditional braces with metal rings. Plus, it's much better for brushing and flossing my teeth for optimal oral hygiene.”
Comfortable and virtually painless
Invisalign aligners are much more comfortable than other conventional orthodontic devices such as braces. They do not cause any irritation or pain because they are made to fit your teeth and gums precisely, and are made of a soft and flexible synthetic material (stable thermoplastic).
One Invisalign user reflects on this strength:
“I started my Invisalign treatment yesterday and I can feel it pulling on my teeth. It makes me feel better because it means it's working without hurting me, I'm very happy so far!”
In fact, the trays exert slight forces on the malpositioned teeth in order to gradually align them. That's why “it pulls”, it can be unpleasant at first, but you get used to it very quickly. In other words, it pulls less and less until you don't feel anything at the end of the period of wearing the mouthpiece. Then it will pull again when moving to the next tray, and so on… The most important thing is that it does not cause any pain, even if it may exist slightly at the beginning of each tray change!
Impressive results
You will notice that your teeth gradually align after each change of mouthpiece. The results are visible from the first few weeks of treatment and are quite impressive at the end!
The minimum duration of treatment is 3 months for mild malpositions and approximately 8 months for moderate malpositions. It is also possible to reduce this time by using certain accelerating methods such as vibrations or the use of low intensity infrared light .
Florent, a 32 year old entrepreneur shares his opinion on Invisalign:
“I've always had problems with my teeth, ever since I was young. I have had all kinds of orthodontic treatments and they have allowed me to have a pretty good set of teeth, but I was still not satisfied. So I decided to try Invisalign and I don't regret it at all. It allowed me to correct the overlaps and misalignments of my teeth that could not be corrected by conventional methods. My smile is now as perfect as in my dreams!”
Short and spaced appointments
You will only needone appointment every 6 to 12 weeks! The specialist will only check if the treatment is progressing correctly with a quick check-up.
Easy to maintain gutters
Themaintenance of Invisalign aligners is very easy, you just have to clean them regularly using a toothbrush and toothpaste or soap. This will remove the various waste products, saliva, bacteria and prevent the formation of a layer of limestone. Before placing the gutter, be sure to remove any excess water from the gutter after cleaning it.
It is very important to clean your aligners and maintain impeccable oral hygiene during an Invisalign treatment to avoid the proliferation of bacteria and prevent the formation of cavities and bad breath.
It is also essential to remove the Invisalign mouthpiece before eating or drinking!
Almost all the opinions of the users of Invisalign that we analyzed are positive on the maintenance of the gutters. For example, here is the opinion of Marc, 39 years old:
“I clean my Invisalign mouthpiece after each brushing. I take out my mouthpiece, I eat my meal, then I brush my teeth and I take the opportunity to brush my mouthpiece. It is really necessary that it becomes a habit because a slackening is quickly felt with a bad breath… My dentist advised me to use a soft soap instead of toothpaste to clean my Invisalign trays, but I still use toothpaste because it is more practical! In any case, maintenance is not a problem for me at all ”
Invisalign opinion : what are its disadvantages ?
Now we move on to the not-so-funny part, where we present the various disadvantages of Invisalign. We're going to go over all of them so you know what to expect if you're considering trying this method.
Gutters difficult to remove at first
Some users complain that they have difficulty removing their trays. Here are some of the people we met:
“It's been 3 days since I started Invisalign treatment. I still have trouble removing my aligners because they get stuck in the front! I don't know if it's me who's doing it wrong, but I'm having a hard time for now! I really hope that it won't be like this during the whole treatment. Especially since I opted for the Invisalign method instead of the traditional braces for this practical and removable side ”
“This is my first day with my Invisalign aligners, I wanted to take them out to see if it was easy, but I spent more than 10 minutes in front of my bathroom mirror before I could do it! I searched the internet to find the correct method and realized that I did it very wrong… I tried again with the correct method and it was much easier. I'm so relieved now!”
To remove your Invisalign aligners easily, simply follow these steps:
- Start by uninserting the tray from the inner part of your last molar on one side of your mouth and then continue forward;
- Do the same for the other side;
- Once the gutter is removed on both sides, it is easy to remove.
Avoid removing your mouthpiece by pulling on it at the front teeth!
Lisp problem
Many users report a slight lisp after wearing the aligners. This is normal because they can interfere somewhat with tongue movements. Fortunately, in most cases this is a transitory phenomenon. It disappears after a few days or even a few hours, the time to get used to it.
One user reflects on this phenomenon:
“I was afraid at first, because my dentist warned me that I might get a lisp when I wear my Invisalign aligners. On the first day, a barely perceptible lisp appeared, but fortunately, my tongue quickly adapted and I was able to control it very quickly. Today, no one around me notices the slightest lisp!”
Prohibition of certain foods
It is true that the Invisalign method offers you total freedom in your diet. But this freedom is only valid when you remove your gutters! When these are in place in your mouth, you must avoid all coloring foods (such as coffee, turmeric …) or sweetened. On the one hand, to prevent your aligners from losing their transparency, and on the other hand, to prevent cavities from forming.
It is also not recommended to smoke, because it stains the gutters and they become visible and unsightly.
Here is a user sharing his experience:
“I started my Invisalign treatment 2 months ago and I am on my 4th pair of aligners. What was a bit constraining for me, being a smoker, was the fact that my aligners became more and more opaque and yellowish with time because of the smoke from my cigarettes, and regular cleaning did nothing about it. They were becoming more visible and, above all, less aesthetic. So I tried to reduce my cigarette consumption as much as possible, so I could keep my trays clear before moving on to the next ones. For me, it was an opportunity to start a process of quitting smoking, so I am delighted!
It's still a bit expensive
It is important to know that the price of an Invisalign treatment varies considerably from one person to another, depending on the disorder to be corrected (dental malposition, temporomandibular joint disorders…), its severity and the total duration required.
In the vast majority of cases, an Invisalign treatment lasts only 18 months at an average cost of €3500 .
To correct a moderate disorder, the price is around 3 to 5000 €, while for a more serious problem, it can climb to 8000 € .
The cost of treatment includes:
- The initial consultation with the specialist during which he will perform all the necessary examinations for a precise diagnosis and ensure the feasibility of the treatment;
- The manufacture of Invisalign aligners during the entire treatment period;
- Follow-up consultations throughout the treatment period;
- The restraint that will be put in place after the end of the treatment to prevent secondary displacements (once the Invisalign aligners are removed).
According to some users, the price is still a bit high, but they feel that it is well worth it because the results are there! Especially since some mutual insurance companies cover part of the costs. It is therefore necessary to choose the right mutual insurance company, because it is well known that the compulsory social security is not very generous when it comes to orthodontic care…
Alex, a 27-year-old civil servant, expresses his testimony on this point:
“I just started my Invisalign treatment. I have 79 aligners in total, so I'll have about 18 months of treatment. For this treatment, I have to pay 3100 €. I think it's reasonable for an orthodontic treatment, especially since my mutual insurance company (Harmonie mutuelle) reimburses me for 1700 €, so I'll have to pay 1400 € out of my pocket. It's still rather expensive for my salary as a civil servant, but it's really worth it.
To limit costs, it is recommended that parents take their children to a dentist or orthodontist as soon as possible to diagnose a possible dental disorder. Because early treatment is always less expensive than late treatment !
Also, don't hesitate to get quotes from several specialists. The offers are very heterogeneous and the price varies considerably from one firm to another, from one region to another… So choose the one that offers the best deal at the best price.
Finally, you should know that some mutual insurance companies offer fixed prices for treatments that are not reimbursed by Social Security, as is the case for adult orthodontics. We offer you a free mutual insurance comparison tool to find the best offer for your needs, don't hesitate!
Need for strict discipline
Invisalign aligners must be worn 20 to 22 hours a day. This is a prerequisite for good results. Most patients find this a bit limiting:
“My dentist warned me that I have to wear my aligners at least 20 hours a day if I want the treatment to work optimally. I'm only in my 2nd week of treatment but it feels like forever… But it's for a good cause, so cheer up!”
“I started Invisalign treatment about 8 months ago and I'm on my 16th pair of aligners. It is true that it was very difficult at the beginning to be forced to wear them 2 hours a day, but after a small period of adaptation, it becomes natural! The main thing is to keep in mind your goal: to have a nice smile!”
Invisalign is not the only brand available on the market. Dr Smile could also be just right for you
Things to remember
The Invisalign method is an orthodontic treatment that has the main advantages of being removable and almost invisible. It is based on evolving transparent aligners to be worn at least 20 hours a day for a progressive alignment of the teeth.
This method is almost painless, except during the transition to the next trays where there may be a small period of painful adaptation. But after that, it gets more and more comfortable.
There may be a small speech problem such as a lisp when the aligners are first put in, but this disappears very quickly as the tongue adapts. In most cases, it disappears within a few hours after the gutters are installed.
According to almost all of the Invisalign reviews that we have analyzed, these few minor inconveniences are largely compensated by the many advantages that this Invisalign method offers. In fact, the results are visible from the first few weeks of treatment, and they improve with each subsequent tray. As their creators like to say : “Each mouthpiece brings you a little closer to your dream smile!
Finally, we would like to inform you that the Invisalign method can be indicated for most dental disorders. However, it is only recommended for 90% of patients, which is why a feasibility test is carried out at the beginning of the treatment.
Now you know everything there is to know about Invisalign, both its advantages and disadvantages. We hope this article has helped you in your decision making. And remember, nothing beats the advice of your dentist!