What's up guys. Never realized this thread got bumped a few days ago. Figure I'd give an update on my Invisalign experience.
Turns out my insurance took care of most of it. For those looking into getting them, you won't actually get your first aligners about a month later. You go in for an initial consultation to make sure the treatment can fix your teeth, then figure things out with the payments and insurance. You also want to keep in mind you need certain x-rays done(not cheap) for the consultation so they can examine the teeth and see if you will need wisdom teeth extraction. For myself, I need all four of my wisdom teeth removed, but can do it during my invisalign treatment.
After this, they will do molds of your teeth for the trays you will be receiving. They stick your whole row of teeth into this orange play-doh type thing and get molds for both the top and bottom. This may take several tries, as the dentist is trying to get the best mold since it will be used to create all of your trays.
You have to wait a while after this for them to send it in to the lab where they create your treatment plan at Invisalign.
Finally, you'll get a call to pick up your first three trays. Since my teeth just needed some minor straightening and overbite, I only have 20 tray sets for the upper and lowers, which is not bad compared to some that have 35+. You use each tray for two weeks each, until the next batch. Usually you'll get three trays at a time. You may or may not need attachments, which are tooth colored buttons, which will be added to certain teeth that need extra help rotating or moving vertically up or down. Hopefully you won't be given these, since they make the braces more obvious. It will take a while getting used to, but you should get used to them. They are there to help the teeth in the long run.
I started my first tray on February 28 and currently at tray 5. Attachments were done when I got tray 4, and they will stay on until my very last tray, which is 20. It's crazy how you can see and feel a difference in just a matter of trays. My bite is straighter already, and when I floss, I can feel more even spaces in between the teeth. Most of the movement happens when it hurts, which is a good thing. These typically will be during your first 2-3 days wearing a new tray.
Anyways, so far so good. You'll brush your teeth a lot more now, which will lead to better dental health. No one ever notices I am wearing them, but I usually just tell them. It's definitely a good ice breaker. Any questions, let me know!