Getting any kind of orthodontic work is a big decision. You will be investing in yourself, and you will want to get your money’s worth. Some options, like Invisalign, tend to be more expensive than traditional braces, and so it is natural to ask: Is it worth it? What do the Invisalign reviews say?
Reasons for Invisalign: Pro
Most patients who try Invisalign say it is truly worth it. Here are some of the reasons they give:
- “I feel better about myself now that my teeth look better” (“Can’t stop smiling!”)
- Easy upkeep of the aligner trays
- Mostly painless process
- Noticeable movement/improvement
- Aligners not noticeable—no “brace face”
- Less self-conscious
- Trays are removable, so fewer issues with eating, playing sports, etc.
Here we have Dr. Dave Maricondo sharing why his practice recommends Invisalign to his patients:
Things to Watch for: Con
That said, combing through dozens of Invisalign reviews on the web also reveals some of the challenges that patients faced during the process. These challenges are very specific to the individual—they do not happen to everyone—but they are worth keeping in mind. Here are a few, in the words of the patients themselves:
- “When you put on a new set, they’re super tight. So, once a new set went on, I wouldn’t want to take it off for at least 8 hours. I had a lot of Jamba lunches on new-tray day.”
- “Plaque and food particles can get in the way of the teeth moving, plus can lead to some seriously stanky breath and cavities. As a result, it’s best to brush your teeth after eating anything.”
- “Yes, it pretty much straightens out your teeth, but there are some other steps involved, too…”
- “After four or five months of wearing my aligners semi-religiously, I started getting careless, and that’s when everything went [bad]…my teeth had moved so much that the top tray split open—totally broken.”
- “I was surprised that there were sharp edges. I thought one of the good things about Invisalign was that they were not metal and so no sharp edges. I dealt with them, but they did make my mouth sore.”
- “I probably would not have gotten [Invisalign] if it were not for the Groupon. They can get costly.”
Invisalign Reviews, in Their Words
Knowing the reasons to choose Invisalign is one thing; hearing what people have to say about their Invisalign journey is another. Here are a few testimonials from patients who have tried it:
“I am doing the Invisalign Lite treatment (in London, UK) which consists of 14 trays in total. I’m currently on my first and it’s not been an easy week! Getting used to having plastic in my mouth nearly all the time has been a challenge…The good thing though is that my teeth don’t hurt at all, and the aligners are practically unnoticeable. None of my friends noticed, until I pointed it out.” —Male teacher
“When you first put [the tray] on, it’s a little uncomfortable, there’s some pressure but it didn’t hurt very much! The next day i noticed slight pain on a couple of my bottom teeth (which are very crowded) but on a scale of 1-10, it was maybe a 2. After 2 days of the pain, it went away and i could barely feel the aligners for the next 2 weeks…Im almost done with my 2nd trays of 14 upper and 22 lower. and i love it! I can already see the difference! I definitely recommend it to anyone, even teenagers!” —Female teenager, using Invisalign Teen
“It took me just under a year to complete the treatment…(obviously everyone’s treatment time is different). Relatively pain free: only one of my braces was painful to wear, and that was only for a couple of days…The braces are more or less invisible: none of my friends realized I was wearing them, and when I told them, they had to be actively looking for the braces to see them. Once I got used to the sensation of wearing them (which took a couple of weeks at least) I didn’t even notice them: they were completely comfortable.” —Female blogger
“I love food and was stoked that I didn’t have to cut anything out of my diet like you do with regular braces…I also have to admit that the fact I could pretend I wasn’t in the middle of a teeth straightening adventure if I needed to (like at my birthday soiree, for instance) was a pretty big win, and something that you can’t say about our friend Mr Metal.” —Female blogger and coach
“The only time I felt discomfort during my Invisalign treatment was during the first day or two of wearing a new set of trays. This discomfort though was nothing compared to the pain I felt when wearing the traditional metal braces…My open bite is fixed and I feel so much more confident with my smile.” —Female blogger
Doing the Math
Naturally, choosing to go with Invisalign is a personal decision. A procedure that works great for one person might not work as well for the next. The best advice is to weigh the various factors and try to decide your chances of success. This should be done in consultation with an Invisalign specialist (you can find specialists in your area using our online tool).
Overall, these factors make Invisalign a good option to pursue:
- The amount of movement needed is not great (mild to medium misalignment)
- You play sports, especially contact sports (the trays are removable)
- You expect occasions where you do not want metal braces to show (wedding, job or school interview, etc.)
- You prefer having more control over your teeth, and over when you wear the equipment
These considerations should prompt you to consider other options, such as traditional metal braces:
- You have bridgework
- You have large gaps or missing teeth
- You have bite issues with your back teeth (Invisalign might not be able to correct these as easily as traditional braces)
- Looking into options for younger teens (younger mouths are still in flux, and the series of aligner trays might not be able to keep up)
- Some teeth need to move vertically
- You cannot commit to leaving the trays in for the needed 22 hours, or to keeping them clean
Making an appointment to discuss Invisalign is straightforward once you find a specialist you can feel comfortable with. Read on to find out the best steps for finding a specialist and making that first appointment.