So I did it. After a whole year and half of seeing different orthodontists regarding the Invisalign aligners, I fell in love with one of them this past September and took the jump. It was one hell of a splurge, that bit is true, but when I saw pictures of patients he's treated and the amazing results Invisalign aligners procure, I just couldn't say no. I'd been waiting to get my teeth straight for too long.

What I learned in the past year is that you basically have to "shop" for your orthodontist. A lot of them claim they are comfortable working with Invisalign technology, but after meeting with other orthodontists, you get to know who is legit and who isn't. One of them even told me that I would wear aligners for a year and a half and then traditional braces for another year. Like, what?! My current treatment is only meant to last five months, and I've seen the end results. It's awesome. 

Finding an orthodontist who you are comfortable with is very important. You are the patient, and you need to work with someone you can trust.

Prices also differ from one orthodontist to another depending on their expertise. Some will
 want to see you more often, and that's usually more expensive. Also, the longer the treatment, the more expensive it gets. Don't necessarily go for the cheapest, but go for one that makes sense.

It took me a year and a half to find an orthodontist I trusted enough to work with my teeth. I found one that has been working with Invisalign for years, and he also even does research for the company. Strangely enough, he was also the cheapest of the lot, but that is because of the all the research he's made to make treatments faster and more effective.

The day of my appointment, I walked in there thinking I knew a lot about Invisalign because of all the research I'd done and the orthodontists I'd met. If you search the web for facts on Invisalign, you'll find a lot of things that aren't necessarily true. Some are, but some definitely aren't and only depend on the orthodontist's expertise on the topic. 

I've gathered ten common facts on Invisalign that I read on almost every single website, and I talked about them with each orthodontist. All eight of them gave me different responses, but I decided that the most trustworthy orthodontist was the one I ended up choosing due to the before and after pictures I've seen of his patients, and the amount of training, research, and work he's done on Invisalign. 

1. Invisalign is more expensive than traditional braces. That can be true, but it also depends on the orthodontist and the work in your mouth. In my case, because my teeth were already pretty straight and my mouth perfectly functional, my Invisalign treatment literally costs half of what traditional braces would have cost me, and that's due to the amount of orthodontist visits I have to make and the length of my treatment. 

2. Invisalign doesn't treat every single condition like braces can. That's true, but again, it depends on your orthodontist's expertise. Invisalign requires a lot of technology knowledge since most of the work is done from a computer (making the aligners, speed of the treatment, length of the treatment, etc.), and a lot of orthodontist find traditional braces easier since it's all done manually. You can do absolute wonders with Invisalign, but most orthodontists are just not ready yet.

3. The Invisalign treatment is a lot longer than traditional braces. Wrong. Once again, it depends on the orthodontist's expertise. Most people change their retainers every two or three weeks, which can make the length of your treatment longer. Orthodontists that are more familiar with Invisalign have found that changing your retainers more often (every five days to a week) but keeping them longer in place will work faster. 

4. Invisalign isn't as painful as braces. True, but let me tell you, that doesn't mean they're painless. In fact, they hurt like sh*t, and I feel like all my teeth are about to fall off! However, the people I met who have had both say that the pain with Invisalign aligners radiates throughout the whole mouth, whereas the pain with traditional braces is more focused in one place depending on the week and the adjustment.

5. You cannot eat with Invisalign. This is also false. I was recommended to eat with them because the motion of chewing forces the teeth to fit in the aligners faster, making your teeth straighter faster. Aligners are practically impossible to break, so the only problem that comes with eating with them is the staining. Avoid mustard, chicken broth, or anything that's too yellow and you'll be fine. Also, make sure to brush, floss, and rinse both your teeth and aligners right after.

6. You cannot eat/drink hot things with Invisalign. This one is partly true. Someone who wears their aligners for more than two weeks might want to be careful with heat, because it can indeed deform the aligners. However, if you change your aligners every week, you can drink boiling water and it won't change a thing.

7. They're a lot more invisible than regular braces. Yes and no. Most people with Invisalign need these little attachments at the front of the teeth to make movements better and faster. Unfortunately, they tend to show a lot (you can see them on the Invisalign trays on your right). You can however ask to get them installed at the back of your teeth. That way, they show a lot less, and your retainers indeed become practically invisible.

8. You have to wear them at least 22 hours a day. True, but like I said, if you wear them to eat, you'll basically be wearing them 24 hours a day. The longer they stay in place, the better the treatment.

9. You'll need retainers for the rest of your life afterwards. It is indeed recommended to sleep with retainers to keep your teeth straight in the future because your teeth will want to move back. The retainers, however, are very thin and made of the same thermoplastic material, so you'll barely feel them. They also protect your teeth at night from grinding and clenching. If you're unhappy with retainers, you can ask for a metal bar at the back of your bottom teeth, which is what people with traditional braces usually get.

10. Invisalign trays are as uncomfortable as traditional braces. Well, I have never had braces, but my aligners are not uncomfortable at all. In fact, I only feel them for a day or two every time I change for a new batch, and then they become part of my mouth. If the edges are cut too sharp and hurt your gums, you can always trim the sharp bumps with a nail file.

I hope this answered some of your questions. Don't forget to follow me on social media if you have any questions regarding absolutely anything!