Invasalign shoping around

[Mayfriday0529]

I decided that I want to get Invisalign to straighten my teeth.

Those of you that got it, did you shop around? My primary dentist offers it.

Do they have to make an imprint of your teeth first before giving you an estimate and will that cost me anything if I go to a few dentists?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I just went to my local dentist and didn't shop around. My dentist did a visual inspection and a quick cast before giving me an estimated bill. You do get a LOT for what you pay though. Imprints of your teeth, then loads of invisalign retainers (15 on the uppers, 25 on the lowers for me, YMMV), one each two weeks. There are quite a few followups to make sure everything is fitting correctly and also to file away spaces between your teeth so that there's room for them to fit together. They also might put cement "nubs" on some teeth to give the retainers a handhold. Add all these followups and retainers and the length of time you're wearing Invisalign and the bill doesn't seem so bad anymore, especially when you start seeing the results and knowing they're pretty discrete.

The bad thing is is that it's sometimes hard to keep the retainers free of plaque, especially older ones. You're supposed to clean them with a toothbrush and toothpaste, put the brush can't always get in all the nooks and crannies of the retainer, and plaque builds up. Another downside is if you eat with them on, ugly food gunk WILL get stuck between your teeth and the invisalign, so after every meal you have to run to the bathroom or a sink to take off your invisalign and wash out the gunk.

I eat with my retainers in because two retainers into the program I noticed that the extra thickness of the retainers actually caused my mouth to bite down differently. Before, without retainers, the back molars would bit down flush together. Now with retainers, if I try to bite down with my retainers taken out, there's a space between my molars due to the fact that my mouth is so used to biting down with the added thickness of the retainers. So taking out your retainers to eat is actually very hard to do. On a side note, I no longer bite my nails. It's impossible to do with invisalign and this forced me to grow out of the habit.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Thanks for the detail review Fuzzy...

I'll call my dentist try to schedule an appointment.
Do they give you teeth a cleaning before starting?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
Thanks for the detail review Fuzzy...

I'll call my dentist try to schedule an appointment.
Do they give you teeth a cleaning before starting?

They didn't with me. With followups I make it a point to brush before going to the appointment.

 

[Descartes]

From what I've read, it's better to go through an orthodontist than a dentist. I don't remember all the reasons why, but there's a lot that isn't covered by general dentists apparently.

Anyway, I'm meeting with an ortho in about a month to get considered for Invisalign. I have this one tooth that seems to run away from me over the years.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Descartes
From what I've read, it's better to go through an orthodontist than a dentist. I don't remember all the reasons why, but there's a lot that isn't covered by general dentists apparently.

Anyway, I'm meeting with an ortho in about a month to get considered for Invisalign. I have this one tooth that seems to run away from me over the years.

I think the ortho is more important for braces than invisalign. Invisalign is largely done by the outside company and then the dentist/ortho puts it in.

Also if you're an adult, if you have gum disease/loss you might have complications.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: Descartes
From what I've read, it's better to go through an orthodontist than a dentist. I don't remember all the reasons why, but there's a lot that isn't covered by general dentists apparently.

Anyway, I'm meeting with an ortho in about a month to get considered for Invisalign. I have this one tooth that seems to run away from me over the years.

My dentist office told me that i had to make an appointment on a day that the Ortho was in. So i'm guessing they have someone specialized in that in their office.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Just to update this.
Saw a Dentist about it and the cost will be $5500
They are making the teeth imprint in about two weeks.

 

[mrrman]

I heard that it was double the cost of braces as I asked a dentist about this last week for my son....braces are cheaper

 

[Mayfriday0529]

I started my Invasalign treatment last night. My dentist gave me two sets for the first 4 weeks. They feel weird like wearing a sports mouth guard. I hope eventually i get used to them. Still having some trouble talking, I have to speak louder to hide that i have something in my mouth, otherwise, i have a lisp.

Taking them off though its not that easy. It's easier to take off my top set than my bottom one. One of the holders placed on my bottom teeth already came off. (dentist said not to worry for now).