Bracers vs Invisalign
I know I am too old for this.
I cannot believe that I am straightening my teeth at 28 years old. I am not a teenager anymore which is why I start to look for alternative rather than braces. For a sales person, I need to meet new people everyday, I don't wanna be inhibited by braces. I don't like that my mouth shape will be distorted by the additional braces, very vain indeed. I don't want to extract 4 teeth, it is too painful and recover too slowly. Introducing the newest technology Invisalign, that solves all these and is very suitable for young adults like me.
One of the reason why InvisAlign is more for young adults is because of the price tag. The other reason is because only young adults will need the advantage which is the invisible retainers. Mind you, my teeth are really crooked with 2 vampire tooth hence the higher price. For those with better teeth conditions, it should be cheaper. The clinics in the central area will also command a higher price. I have checked with Dental on the bay at Vivocity and they quoted me $10,000 before :( To save money, you should definitely head to neighbourhood areas and you can check the clinics offering invisalign here.
 |
| (Source: alliancedentistrync.com) |
| Braces | InvisAlign |
| Takes 1.5 to 2 years | Takes 1 year |
| 4 teeth must be extracted | No extraction of teeth |
| Braces are shown visibly | Invisible retainers |
| Every month visit to dentist | Initially every month then less frequent |
| Damn painful | Slight discomfort initially |
| $2000 - 4000 | $7,500 ($6000 to 8000) |
One of the reason why InvisAlign is more for young adults is because of the price tag. The other reason is because only young adults will need the advantage which is the invisible retainers. Mind you, my teeth are really crooked with 2 vampire tooth hence the higher price. For those with better teeth conditions, it should be cheaper. The clinics in the central area will also command a higher price. I have checked with Dental on the bay at Vivocity and they quoted me $10,000 before :( To save money, you should definitely head to neighbourhood areas and you can check the clinics offering invisalign here.
What to expect
First, get your teeth checked and x-rayed and they will also explain the payment terms to you. I paid around $150 for my first consultation and x-ray, and this amount is not included into the $7500 package.
Stage 1: Verbal confirmation that you will go ahead with invisalign/bracers. Explanation of the whole procedure and how this works.
Stage 2: Once you have decided to move forward with invisalign, they will do a 'foam test' to get your teeth mold. It is a soft thing that will set in 3 minutes so you will need to clamp your mouth in 3 minutes for both upper and lower side. Just breathe, relax and the mold will be done.
Stage 3: They will then give you a run through of how your teeth will align over time, with a simulation and a take home video. With your final approval, they will order the retainers from USA, which will arrive in 2 months.
Payment
At each stages stated above, I paid $1000 after every session which occur once a month. Subsequently, I paid the remaining amount at $350 every month when I go to collect the new set of aligners. Overall, it's $1000 x 3 stages + Remaining $300 before start of program + ($350 x 12 months) = $7500.
My first day putting it on
I was pretty afraid that it's going to hurt terribly. I put it on at night before I sleep on a Friday to prepare myself of the pain for the very first day. Heard that it will be the most painful so I made sure that I will be staying home on the Saturday. I did not have a good sleep to be honest, I kept dreaming that all my teeth turned wobbly and came off or felt conscious of something in my mouth. When I woke up, no pain at all. Woohoo! I thought I pulled through.
I took it out to brush and ate my breakfast. Then I put it on again. Then the pain kicks in with 'turbo' mode. Actually it was just on a single teeth on my left side and the pain was just like a sore ulcer. I chewed on a 'chewy' that they provided to chew to lessen the pain and after 15 minutes, the pain was gone. After lunch, I took it out to clean it and the pain monster came back. Chewed it again and back to normal. I guess I should not keep taking it out as it brings out the pain. The dentist already mentioned that the first few days would be pretty uncomfortable and tight but will definitely become easier as the time goes by.
And then my speech was slightly affected. It's like my tongue does not dare to go near the retainers and feel it strange so when I speak, it's like I have a shorter tongue. Luckily, I have the weekend to get used to this or else, how am I going to do sales like that?
The pain is all gone after the third day. The pain is like the tightness in your teeth and how your muscles ache after strenuous exercises. Slowly it eases away over time and I can speak normally after only 3 days! Do check out my next post on the disadvantages of invisalign before you decide.
Disclaimer
How I wish I have a sponsor but I paid $7500 on my own.
First, get your teeth checked and x-rayed and they will also explain the payment terms to you. I paid around $150 for my first consultation and x-ray, and this amount is not included into the $7500 package.
Stage 1: Verbal confirmation that you will go ahead with invisalign/bracers. Explanation of the whole procedure and how this works.
Stage 2: Once you have decided to move forward with invisalign, they will do a 'foam test' to get your teeth mold. It is a soft thing that will set in 3 minutes so you will need to clamp your mouth in 3 minutes for both upper and lower side. Just breathe, relax and the mold will be done.
Stage 3: They will then give you a run through of how your teeth will align over time, with a simulation and a take home video. With your final approval, they will order the retainers from USA, which will arrive in 2 months.
Payment
At each stages stated above, I paid $1000 after every session which occur once a month. Subsequently, I paid the remaining amount at $350 every month when I go to collect the new set of aligners. Overall, it's $1000 x 3 stages + Remaining $300 before start of program + ($350 x 12 months) = $7500.
My first day putting it on
I was pretty afraid that it's going to hurt terribly. I put it on at night before I sleep on a Friday to prepare myself of the pain for the very first day. Heard that it will be the most painful so I made sure that I will be staying home on the Saturday. I did not have a good sleep to be honest, I kept dreaming that all my teeth turned wobbly and came off or felt conscious of something in my mouth. When I woke up, no pain at all. Woohoo! I thought I pulled through.
 |
| Can I have teeth like Julia Roberts please? (Source: 22860 at flickr) |
And then my speech was slightly affected. It's like my tongue does not dare to go near the retainers and feel it strange so when I speak, it's like I have a shorter tongue. Luckily, I have the weekend to get used to this or else, how am I going to do sales like that?
The pain is all gone after the third day. The pain is like the tightness in your teeth and how your muscles ache after strenuous exercises. Slowly it eases away over time and I can speak normally after only 3 days! Do check out my next post on the disadvantages of invisalign before you decide.
Disclaimer
How I wish I have a sponsor but I paid $7500 on my own.
Jes
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I went through the same dilemma choosing between braces and invisalign, and eventually chose braces due to cost, and had them put on about a year before I started working. It got really annoying when I had to leave the table during work lunch to check if I had any food stuck on my braces! Now I regret not choosing invisalign back then.
ReplyDeleteHi CP,
DeleteYou saved around 3k so I thought there should be no regrets! In your case, I would have chosen braces too since it's only 1 year, same as invisalign... I have a friend who had to put on bracers for 2.5 years.. that's even more not worth it. Oh well, at least you have straight teeth now.. don't forget to put on your retainers at night :)
Hi just wanted to know how much u paid per installment? Like for the first visit how much did u have to pay and subsequently as well. I am considering Invisalign!
ReplyDeleteHi there,
DeleteI think first visit is $500 then when you confirmed the invisalign treatment, it will be $1500. Subsequently, it's $1000 for 2 more times of consultation to do the molding of the teeth. When you start getting your aligners, it will be around $350 per month for the remaining payment. They will explain the payment term to you on your first visit, so don't worry =)
Hi Jess,
ReplyDeleteConfirmed already. LOL. Can i have your email add so i can drop u an email. Thanks!
Hi, I have gone to Woodlands Smile R Us dental to enquire on invisalign. I was quoted two pricing, one is sending to Dubai for the evaluation and another is to US, which cost a difference of $1000. Your quote is good and evaluation is done in US. What's more the dentist told me that I have to take out 4 teeth due to overcrowding, do you have overcrowding issue as well?
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy,
DeleteSorry I think I missed out your comment from long ago. I do have overcrowding but thankfully I do not have to take out 4 teeth. They could just file some parts to make them smaller and squeeze them in. Hope this helps!
Hello Jes! I am actually researching about dental clinics in sg and i stumbled upon your website. I am intending to have braces, but my teeth condition is actually okay, just that not so straight. do you know the prices for braces if i do it at this clinic(casa dental)? Does the price of braces vary according to the condition and does it include extractions? :)
ReplyDeleteHi Qi Yin,
DeleteYes it does vary according to your teeth conditions. If yours is only slightly crooked then you should be at the lower limit of 3k but I am no expert, you may need to correct your jaw or other issues so it might costs more. Extraction of teeth is not included in this price and will amount to a few hundred dollars.
It's best to go for a consultation and settle all your queries! Don't be afraid because it's worth it :)
hi,
ReplyDeletecan u bite meat stuff with the aligners on? what kind of food do u eat? is it not recommended if I am planning to have a bb?
Hi Jw,
DeleteI eat all my meals with it... Meat, vegetables, fish, everything.. Just maybe not apples because the aligners are not piercing enough.
Totally fine to be pregnant and wearing it because my friend asked this question before.. Don't worry!
Do not go to CASA dental at AMK, had a really bad experience as the dentist didn't manage to straighten my teeth and close the gaps after I have paid in full. Now there is nothing I can do. Think twice before you book your appointments.
ReplyDeleteHi there,
DeleteThank you for your feedback. I think they can still rectify it, do check with them don't give up since you have paid in full!
I had a bad experience at Casa Dental (AMK) as well. Anyhow anyhow clobber people for money. Not cheap. They are just trying to charge high class for sub par service. I should have googled the reviews of that place before i step in. Anyhow one. They just want to take your money. I think they have this get-wealthy-fast mentality.
DeleteYeah me too. I had a bad experience at Casa Dental (AMK). Had consultation and X-rays done few weeks ago and I called to request for the images to be sent via email. But till now, they have not send them yet. The X-rays are not cheap too.
DeleteHi there,
DeleteIf it's really that bad an experience, do feedback to the relevant dental instead of commenting here. It will only be credible if you leave your name behind instead of hiding behind Anonymous and smearing other clinics. Thank you!
I'm surprised at how quickly the pain goes away. There seems to be a lot of movement and adjusting made. I have some crooked canines that need to be straightened, but I've been worried about braces hurting too much. I think I'll look into Invisalign more. Thanks for sharing your experience.
ReplyDeleteHi Stephen,
DeleteYep it's relatively painless and the time taken is shorter compared to bracers too. I am really happy with it and am finishing my invisalign soon. Will upload the pictures for your consideration, stay tuned :)
Hi, could you share with me the dental clinic you went to and your dentist please?
ReplyDeletethanks :)
Hi Foxxie,
DeleteYou can drop me a message so I can reply you privately in my About section or leave me your email so I can reply you on this.
Hi Jess,
ReplyDeleteI am also considering putting invisalign at the age of 27 this year! =D
Can I have the details of the clinic you went?
Hi Huiyin,
DeleteYou can drop me a message so I can reply you privately in my About section or leave me your email so I can reply you on this.
hi, would you please share with me on which dental clinic you went to? thanks/
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon,
DeleteYou can drop me a message so I can reply you privately in my About section or leave me your email so I can reply you on this.
Hi appreciate if you could share the contacts of your dental clinic. My email is bebesaysroar@gmail.com. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi very appreciate if you could share the contacts of your dental clinic. My email is sesshoumaru119@hotmail.com. Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteHi, my dental clinic is no longer in operation. Sorry but do look around your neighbourhood!
DeleteHi very appreciate about your information thank you keep update.
ReplyDeleteHi Ron,
DeleteThank you for the encouragement, have a good week ahead!
Hi Jes, can you update on the status of your teeth now.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of sending my kids to Casa@Clementi to do the invisalign.
Could u send me picture of your teeth currently.
Hannipek@yahoo.com
Thank you
Hi there,
DeleteMy teeth is still straight and it will be weird to send you pictures of my teeth. It's better you check with the dentists to clarify all your queries!
Hi very appreciate about your information thank you keep update.This is true and very informative blog.I like your blog. It is very nice and very awesome idea . It is very useful and helpful for everyone. Thanks for putting out so much useful information for others.
ReplyDeleteHi there,
DeleteThank you for the compliments and just glad to help!
hi can i know which clinic did u went to do ur invisalign? thanks
ReplyDeleteHi there,
DeleteMy dental clinic is no longer in operation. Sorry but do look around your neighbourhood!