Choosing to straighten your teeth is a big decision, and like many, I turned to Invisalign for a discreet solution. But while the promise of clear aligners seemed perfect, the journey was more complex than I expected. In this post, I’ll share my honest Invisalign review—the good, the bad, and everything in between. From the comfort of wearing the aligners to the challenges of daily maintenance and the results I achieved, you’ll get an unfiltered look at what it’s really like to go through Invisalign treatment. Whether you’re considering it or just curious, this review will give you the insights you need.
Topics
- What is Invisalign?
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- How does Invisalign work?
- How to find an Invisalign provider
- How much does Invisalign cost?
- My Invisalign journey
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a modern orthodontic treatment that uses a series of clear, custom-made aligners to gradually straighten teeth. Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign aligners are made of a smooth, transparent plastic material that fits snugly over your teeth, making them virtually invisible when worn.
Each set of aligners is designed to shift your teeth slightly, moving them horizontally, vertically, or even rotating them as needed. Every one to two weeks, you switch to a new set of aligners, which continues the gradual process until your teeth are in their desired position.
Advantages
- Since the aligners are clear they are virtually invisible. In fact they are barely noticeable to other people. For this reason it’s quite a popular choice for adult patients
- No wires or brackets so no need to change the way you brush/ clear your teeth
- Can be removed for eating, drinking, brushing or flossing. This allows for better oral hygiene and no food restrictions.
- Invisalign typically requires fewer in-office visits compared to traditional braces, as you receive multiple sets of aligners at once and only need periodic check-ins.
Disadvantages
- There’s no two ways about it, Invisalign is expensive
- You have to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours daily which requires some discipline and patience. You are only meant to take them out for eating
- You have the inconvenience of having to take them out every time you eat. It is then recommended to brush your teeth before re-fitting them meaning you can be brushing your teeth several times daily
How does Invisalign work?
The Invisalign process involves two main things: a computerised model of your teeth and a series of aligners .
At your first consultation your teeth are scanned by your chosen dentist so that a virtual representation of your teeth can be created. Your dentist can then manipulate this model of your teeth to show you how your smile could look after Invisalign.
The model also tells you how long your treatment should take, how many aligners you will need and how each aligner should move your teeth over the course of the treatment. Adjustments can be made if necessary. Once you and your dentist are happy the model is submitted to Invisalign who create your custom made aligners.
A few weeks later your dentist will invite you for your first fitting appointment. Typically, small resin attachments are made onto your teeth. These will help angle and push your teeth accordingly with the combined use of retainers. Your dentist will provide you with your first batch of retainers. This process continues every 2-3 months until you’ve completed your treatment.
How to find a Invisalign provider
The best place to start is at your regular dentists. You want to make sure you trust whoever you chose.
My regular dentist didn’t provide Invisalign so I turned to the internet for help. A great place to start is on the Invisalign website. The search facility allows you to find dentists who provide Invisalign in your local area (using your postcode).
Something to look out for is the level of provider (represented by an icon next to the name). There are different levels of provider indicating their level of experience with Invisalign:
- Silver: Treated 11-20 patients in the past year
- Gold: Treated 21-40 patients in the past year
- Platinum: Treated 41-80 patients in the past year
- Platinum Elite: Treated 81-150 patients in the past year
- Diamond: Treated over 150 patients in the past year
I found my provider through the Invisalign website; Ripley Family Dental Practice. I then searched for them on Instagram and started flicking through lots of Invisalign reviews/stories. There’s no harm in doing plenty of research; after all it is a big investment.
How much does Invisalign cost?
The cost is very individual specific; a typical range is anywhere from £1700-£5000. The cost will depend on how long you require Invisalign and how much correction is needed. For reference, the dentist I used quoted:
- £1700 for Invisalign i7 (when only aligner is needed either top OR bottom)
- £2500 for Invisalign Lite (when treatment will take only 3 months)
- £3500-4000 for Invisalign Full
I was quoted £3000, I needed both top and bottom aligners, which I would need to wear for 8 months. Included in that price was teeth whitening (costing up to £300) and Essix retainers (the retainers you wear post-treatment at night).
My Invisalign Journey
Fortunately, I never required braces growing up. Looking back at photos I would say my teeth remained straight until 2014/2015. When I was around 19 I started to notice my teeth overcrowding; in particular overlapping of my lower teeth and a turn of one tooth on the upper.
Gradually this worsened, and although my partner and family reassured me it wasn’t noticeable, I felt really aware of it. I mentioned my concerns to my regular dentist; he talked me through all the different type of braces. I was immediately drawn to Invisalign because it’s ‘invisible’. How amazing?! You can go about your day to day and no-one will ever know.
Typically more experienced practices were located in bigger cities, but something that was important to me was accessibility. I didn’t want to have to drive far for appointments every 2-3 months. I managed to find a provider that was local and had good reviews.
My Invisalign journey was overall positive, but I may have been lucky with the practice I used. Despite this, here’s some things that surprised me or I initially found difficult:
- Retainer fittings
- Comfort of the Invisalign retainers
- Teeth staining
- Retainer hygiene
- After care- the need for retainers doesn’t end
Retainer fittings
Something I was worried about was taking impressions for the retainers. I had heard horror stories about needing a big mouthguard during the fitting process and it being uncomfortable. I wasn’t sure about having to go through that every 2-3 months.
Surprisingly, they are able to scan your teeth instead of taking impressions. This is so quick and not uncomfortable at all! There is a probe that runs over the surface of your teeth which creates a 3D profile. Thank you modern technology!
Comfort of the Invisalign retainers
For anyone who hasn’t experienced retainers or braces before I would describe it as a pressure similar to that from an elastic band. It’s not painful but it’s a bit uncomfortable.
The thing I found most strange was the feeling of the resin attachments. They felt really strange against the inside of your mouth or tongue. Thankfully you only feel them when the retainers aren’t in but it does take some getting used to.
Teeth staining
I was really worried that the resin attachments would stain my teeth. Thankfully they left no marks.
Although it’s uncommon to get any staining from Invisalign retainers, it’s important to clean them regularly to avoid the risk of discolouration.
Retainer hygiene
Keeping your Invisalign retainers clean is crucial for both your oral health and the effectiveness of your treatment. Over time, retainers can accumulate plaque, bacteria, and food particles, which can lead to unpleasant odors, staining, and even oral infections. Regular cleaning helps prevent these issues, ensuring that your retainers remain hygienic and effective.
I invested in the cleaning system offered by Invisalign UK. This involves soaking your retainers in a solution of warm water and crystals. There are alternatives on the market such as Dental Pod and cheaper cleaning crystals such as Brite Cleaning.
After care- the need for retainers doesn’t end!
This might sound naive but I didn’t realise the after care would be as important as the Invisalign retainers themselves. My dentist told me ‘’In order to maintain your new smile you must continue to wear retainers every night for the rest of your life’’. In other words you have to be very regimented and disciplined.
In addition to the removable Essix retainers I was advised to have bonded fixed retainers. Which I’ve hated! It’s the one part of this entire process which I’ve disliked. A bonded retainer is a wire that adheres to the back surface of your teeth. They feel bulky in your mouth, are prone to getting food stuck and require extensive cleaning to avoid tooth decay. Can you tell I’m not a fan?
I’ve had the bottom set of bonded retainers removed but am persevering with the top set. Although they’re annoying they give that added layer of protection against your teeth moving.
Final thoughts..
Overall my Invisalign was very positive and I am very happy with my results. Remember, whilst Invisalign offers many benefits, including discreet aligners and flexible treatment, it’s essential to weigh these against any potential drawbacks, including after care and cost. Ultimately, making an informed decision will help you achieve the best results and ensure you’re confident in your choice.
