Day 1 of Invisalign I had 20 minutes to eat between meetings, and 15 minutes in I still hadn’t gotten my bottom tray out despite prying at it with my fingers just like the dentist taught me. And it hurt like hell! What did I get myself into? How did I get here? And could I get my $5000 back if I chickened out?
My Decision
I had braces as a child but stopped wearing my retainer at age 25. Over the years my bottom teeth migrated slightly, and a top tooth “snaggled”. It always bugged me, so was a recurring theme in my yearly journal to address. I ordered impressions from Smile Direct but chickened out at their approach (would the impressions really be good enough?), and Invisalign always seemed too expensive for the extraordinarily minor adjustment I was looking for. That said year after year, it remained on my list.
This year, when I received an unexpected promotion to VP of Engineering at my company (yay!), I decided to check it off my list to celebrate in a way that would be visible every day and would allow me to declare mission complete on this goal. I signed up for Invisalign with my local orthodontist, who did comprehensive 3D scans and X-rays, and said I’d need 19 trays changing every 10 days (190 days), wearing them 22+ hours a day. Treatment cost was around $5000 and I could pay in monthly installments. Many folks needed adjustments after the first course of treatment, which would be included.
I wear a night guard to prevent teeth grinding (also not cheap, and put off too long, it was around $1000), so I was expecting something similar. Easy to put on and take off and comfortable, with the added bonus of being more lightweight.
Day One Reality
I was in for a surprise when I went in for my first tray and I spent 90 minutes in the chair while they installed buttons on my teeth: small bumps that the aligners attach to to enhance treatment effectiveness. They are tooth colored and relatively discreet, but do leave your teeth looking more like you have braces, even without the Invisalign aligners on.
Moreover, after the install process for the buttons, my gums and teeth were very sore, made worse by putting in the first tray. My dentist taught me how to put them in, which was straightforward – middle of a tray then back; and to take them out, which was more difficult – a hook of the finger to pull up. He mentioned most people didn’t bother to clean the trays for the 10 day period between changes. He broke to me the news that I couldn’t drink sparkling water with them (which I love and would definitely impact my routine).
The First Week Struggles
That day and the one following, I struggled to take the trays in and out, particularly the bottom one, which made eating fraught particularly when I only had a few minutes to eat between meetings – see note up top dramatizing my struggles the first day when I had just a few minutes to eat. My teeth were in pain, I looked like I had braces, it was a little difficult to talk, and I started googling for folks who had decided to back down from doing Invisalign. Stumbling across the Invisalign reddit, I realized I wasn’t alone. Many people underestimate the logistics involved with Invisalign! There I discovered and overnighted a hook that helps with taking the trays in and out, which could make it possible to eat more reliably and without stress. The very next day my kids started to complain my breath smelled, and the pain still hadn’t reduced! I decided to give it a few weeks but I had to do something to make this all a little more bearable for me and those around me.
What Actually Helped
In addition to the mandatory removal hooks, I went ahead and invested in another bucket of equipment – an ultrasonic cleaner, more cases and hooks, individual travel sized disposable floss picks, mouthwash, and toothbrushes, and cleaning solution. It added up but I concluded it was probably worth investing to improve the experience for all.
Most interestingly, I tended to feel better eating fewer snacks between meals, and replacing them with larger breakfast, lunch and dinner. I had always thought I had to eat more like a hummingbird for how frequently I get hungry (I’m almost always pregnant or nursing!), but I quickly got used to the revised meal size and schedule and it seemed to give me more energy. In the meantime the pain subsided, I got quick at taking out the trays, and my mouth felt extra fresh with using the ultrasonic cleaner everytime I took them out at home. It all became normal. I was in it for the long haul.
What to buy to prepare
To conclude, if you are starting Invisalign, my first tip is that be prepared for it to be slightly harder of a lift than you thought. And my second tip is to stock up on some infrastructure to help support your journey! My final tip is that it does get better after the first week, so stick it out. I’m looking forward to concluding my treatment in just 9 more trays.
What I bought:
