There are many Invisalign “before and after” photos online, so I thought I’d share my story and pictures of clear aligner braces treatment with the hope of helping others.
My Orthodontic History
I had the traditional metal braces in high school, so my teeth used to be straight. However, I didn’t wear my Hawley-style retainer regularly, and eventually, it no longer fit at all.
After this, my teeth slowly began to shift, and after some 23 years of movement (ages 16-39), this is how they looked:
What Causes Teeth to Shift, Crowd, and Become Crooked?
Many things can cause your teeth to shift over time. Changes in your jawbone as you age, grinding or clenching your teeth as you sleep, pregnancy hormones, and all sorts of things can happen that can cause gradual movement to occur.
Therefore, if you want your teeth to stay how they are right now, I’d highly recommend you wear a retainer, which runs about $200-300 – much cheaper than a second round of braces or clear aligners.
My first orthodontist really didn’t stress to me the necessity of long-term retainer wear to keep my teeth straight, but it is extremely important. You should wear a retainer for as long as you’d like your teeth to remain straight.
My Clear Braces (Invisalign / 3M Clarity) Experience
Let me give you the details of my orthodontic treatment, and give you a few tips if any of you ever go through this.
Invisalign / 3M Clarity Clear Aligner Before and After Pictures
Invisalign is a name brand of clear aligners. Because Invisalign were one of the first companies to use clear aligners and greatly popularized them, many people use the term “Invisalign” for “clear aligners.”
I did not actually use the Invisalign brand, but instead, my orthodontist used 3M Clarity clear aligners. It’s the same type of clear aligner technology, just a different company with a slightly different style.
Here are the before and after pictures of my teeth after clear aligner treatment:
You can also see the final product of what my teeth look like by watching my YouTube video on clear aligner treatment.
How Much Do Clear Aligners Cost (Invisalign/3M Clarity Cost)?
Treatment with clear aligners will likely cost between $2,500-$8,000, depending on your unique situation. Mine cost exactly $5,687.65, which covered everything: all of my visits (every 10 weeks), 67 packs of aligners, elastics, my final retainer, a bonded / fixed retainer on both arches, and a mold of my teeth.
Your dental insurance may or may not cover some or all of the cost (most plans don’t cover orthodontics).
How Long Does Invisalign/3M Clarity Clear Aligner Treatment Take?
My estimated treatment time was 1.5 years. I got the aligners on May 9, 2021, but I had to get re-scanned because my first aligner set didn’t fit well on the upper arch. It took about three weeks for the new set to arrive, which fit perfectly. My treatment ended on October 17, 2022.
I finished ahead of schedule at a little more than 17 months for the entire treatment. I was very diligent in wearing for the appropriate time and cleaning my teeth after eating.
How Many Trays Do You Get, and How Many Hours Do You Wear Invisalign Each Day?
I had a total of 67 trays (including only one refinement, which were trays 45-67), which I changed weekly. All 45 trays were give to me up front, and after I finished that, I was re-scanned and given the remainder of the refinement trays when the orthodontist received them.
I had to wear the clear aligner braces for 22 hours per day, which does make eating a challenge.
I ate 3-4 meals a day, and I’d prepare my food, pop out my aligners, and then brush and floss as soon as I was done. (Most orthodontists recommend brushing and flossing after each meal).
By the way, when I changed to a new set of trays each week, I would do so at night after my last meal so that my teeth would have time to adjust for the next 8-10 hours.
How to Remove Invisalign/3M Clarity Clear Aligners with Attachments
Removing your aligners can be a bit tricky, and this is especially true when you have many attachments. Not only do the aligners fit snugly, but your teeth are often sore after a new tray change. Therefore, removing them can be extremely painful or difficult, especially when you don’t have experience.
There are a few different things you can do to make removing them easier.
- Start at the back where your molars are located, gently lift off the tooth, and then flex it toward the cheek. You may then be able pull it off.
- If you have attachments that make the aligners extra difficult to remove, try gently using your finger nails to pull the front of the aligners out and over those troublesome attachments first, and then try the other technique I just mentioned.
- An Orthokey is a plastic hook device that you can purchase online. It makes removing the aligners easier when you have many attachments. I bought an Orthokey within a couple of weeks and used it often, especially when I had to remove a new tray for the first day or two. It was hard to remove them at first because my teeth were still adjusting and I was afraid I was going to break a tooth or break the aligners if I pulled too hard, but the Orthokey helped me pull it over attachments much easier.
What are Attachments, and Do They Hurt?
The orthodontist’s team applied attachments to my teeth on my first appointment (the same day I received my aligners). These are made out of the same type of material they use with the composite dental fillings.
Attachments help the aligners apply force to certain teeth and helps keep aligners in place. These attachments remained on my teeth until I was done with treatment. It only took a few minutes for them to put them on, and it didn’t hurt at all.
They feel a little weird on your teeth at first, but I adapted within a few days and no longer noticed them. One downside though: they do tend to stain and slightly darken after a few months.
Some people even swallow their attachments if they become dislodged by eating something hard. Thankfully, all of mine were intact at the end of my treatment.
Do You Wear Elastics with Invisalign or 3M Clarity Clear Aligner Braces?
Halfway through the treatment, I had to start wearing elastics (small rubber bands) to correct my overbite and to correct my midline. The bands attached to a small plastic hook built onto the top aligners, and on the bottom, they attached to small metal hooks that they cemented to a molar on each side.
Initially I only wore them at night, but during the last 6 months or so, I had to wear a band on the right side during the day and both sides at night.
However, not everyone has to wear elastics, so it depends on your bite problem (if any).
Does Invisalign Clear Aligners Cause a Lisp or Speech Problems?
The aligners definitely affected my speech for about 3-4 weeks. However, my speech improved after a month or so. If you want to hear how I sound with aligners in my mouth, you can watch this video on skin glands.
Does Invisalign (or 3M Clarity) Clear Aligner Braces Hurt?
Was the treatment painful? I did experience some pain for sure. The first four days were the worst in terms of pain and discomfort. I had a serious moment of regret and thought to myself, “What have I done? This was a mistake! There is no way I can endure this level of pain and discomfort for a year and a half!”
However, things got so much better after four or five days. Also, the pain wasn’t nearly as bad as with traditional metal braces.
Just a heads up: the aligners tend to make people salivate excessively the first few days. My mouth was doing that the first few days, but then I got dry mouth for a day or two.
My teeth would also be a bit sore after changing to a new tray of aligners each week, but that only lasted a day or two. One of my dental fillings also became a bit more sensitive a few times during treatment, but it stabilized after a couple of weeks.
I’d take a Tylenol (acetaminophen) to help ease any pain during treatment. Most orthodontists recommend avoiding NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen as much as possible due to their anti-inflammatory effect (orthodontic treatment relies on the inflammation process to move your teeth!).
However, if you have any questions about pain medication, talk to your orthodontist/doctor.
Another type of pain you may experience is from the sharpness some aligners may have. Some people have cut their tongue or lips on the plastic edges of the aligners, but that never happened to me. My orthodontist gave me an Emory board in case I had to file down any sharp edges, but I only used it once.
I also experienced pain when I started wearing the elastics. I had a migraine headache on and off for about 2-3 weeks. However, I eventually adjusted to that. That was the extent of my pain during treatment.
How to Clean Invisalign, 3M Clarity, or Clear Aligners
To clean my aligners, I would simply soak them in a 50:50 solution of white vinegar and water while I ate, and then I’d brush them under running water and rinse them thoroughly before putting them back in.
You can also use soap and water or some special cleaning tablets made for aligners. However, most places will advise that you avoid using toothpaste because it can make the aligners cloudy and leave a film on them.
Interproximal Reduction (IPR) with Invisalign or 3M Clarity Clear Braces
Not everyone has to have this done, but your orthodontist might “polish between your teeth,” which is a nice way of saying they are going to remove some of your tooth’s structure on the sides. The proper term is interproximal reduction (IPR).
They do this to create space to help teeth move into place or to improve their appearance. I had this done two separate times during treatment. They use a rotary tool with an abrasive wheel, and it goes between your teeth. It didn’t hurt at all and it only took a few seconds each time. In fact, I was amazed at how fast the process was (I’m talking less than a minute for like 8 teeth!).
Final Clear Aligner Appointment (Removing Attachments, Retainer Scan)
On my last appointment, they removed off all of my attachments. It didn’t hurt too bad, but it was a little sensitive on a couple of teeth. It took maybe 5 minutes.
They also applied my fixed / bonded retainer, which took maybe 10-15 minutes. Then they scanned me for my nightly clear-aligner retainer, which arrived a week after the scan.
Also, the orthodontist used a grinder tool to gently shape and smooth my incisors so that they were more even and aesthetic looking (I had a slight groove on one of my upper central incisors).
After all of that, I had to take final x-rays (no cost to me). I had also taken x-rays during the free consultation (again, no cost to me).
Essix Retainer
I had a choice between a Hawley retainer or Essix retainer. I chose the Essix retainer because I really hated my Hawley retainer the first time I had braces. The Essix retainer is the same clear aligner technology and feels much more comfortable.
I was instructed to wear it at night (ideally around 10-12 hours), but some orthodontists may tell you to wear your retainer for up 22 hours for the first few months as your jawbones strengthen, so follow whatever they tell you.
My retainers came in a red plastic container. The retainer cost was included in my original orthodontic fee. The retainers are supposed to last around 5 years (give or take a couple of years). They cost $200-$300 for a replacement, which I’ll have to pay for myself.
Also, the Essix company gives you a model of your teeth (right pic above). You can bring this model in to save $50 on a new retainer.
Fixed (Bonded) Retainer with Invisalign or 3M Clarity Clear Aligner Braces
The orthodontic treatment included a permanent/fixed retainer that is bonded behind my teeth. I have one on both arches, and it runs from canine to canine on both.
I’ll probably have to wear this for life to ensure my teeth don’t budge. The fixed retainer hasn’t affected my speech, and it doesn’t really bother me.
However, when I eat, I get the sensation of food feeling like it’s stuck to the back of my teeth, which feels a bit weird. My tongue wants to instinctively scrape off the retainer to stop the sensation.
I also have to take an extra step of flossing with a floss threader, which takes extra time and isn’t so fun. But hey, at least my teeth should remain straight this time (I hope).
Metal Braces vs Invisalign or 3M Clarity Clear Aligners
Which is better: metal braces or Invisalign type of clear aligners? Having experienced both metal braces and clear aligners, I definitely found the clear aligners to be less painful, less noticeable, more comfortable, and it was much easier to clean my teeth.
I’d pick clear aligners over metal braces any day!
I’ve written this post (and recorded the video above) with the hope of helping anyone else who may be considering orthodontic treatment, especially if you’re doing it for the second time and at an older age (I just turned 40 years old). I hope I gave you some insights that you can use to make your decision or make the process easier. God bless.