Playing with Invisalign

[tubacorbin]

Hey I just had invisalign installed on my teeth and wanted to know if anyone else had experience playing with them.

Thanks!

[Eflatdoubler]

I had Invisalign. Most people switch trays every two weeks (I believe I had around 24 trays originally). I would take mine out for gigs, so I would switch my trays every three weeks to make up for the lost time. I would practice/teach occasionally with them in, but I found my sound was slightly affected. I thought it was a good alternative to traditional braces since it stilled allowed me to play professionally. I also had my first bicuspid tooth removed on each side on my upper teeth to allow for a more u shape in my dental structure. That was the scariest part about everything. I did not pursue braces for aesthetic value, rather purely from a playing standpoint. The way I look at it- if you don't like the result, you can always stop at whatever tray you are on or reverse the order to get back to where you started (assuming you didn't pull any teeth). When it was all done I had to have 9 more trays made to get the desired result that the dentist wanted (at no additional expense). I would make sure you find a good dentist who has done this many times. I am in Houston and my dentist was great as he has had experience with thousands of people. The cost was about 4500 bucks. There were some that were cheaper, but you get what you pay for...
Although a computer will map out the course of action before designing the trays, there are some necessary decisions that a human (dentist) must make.

Good luck !

[Mitch]

I just started about a month ago. I,too, am on the change-trays-every-two-weeks program (I think that's pretty standard). I never had braces as a youth (40 now). My teeth were never snaggled, but I had a little misalignment here and there, as well as a cross bite. While Invisalign can handle some pretty major problems, the orthodontist said my case was pretty much what Invisalign is intended for. (To compare to the previous poster, my plan currently includes 16 uppers and 11 lowers.)

I just played a concert last night with the trays in. I think it all depends on where your anchors are placed. (For those thinking about this option, there are anchors placed on strategic teeth. It depends on what you need as to which teeth receive the anchors. They use composite - the same white stuff as used for fillings - which means you wind up with these bumps on the front of certain teeth.) For me, I've got anchors on each of my upper and lower canines as well as one upper lateral incisor, so playing without the trays in results in irritation to the inside of my lips.

The biggest difference I noticed immediately is the deprivation of sensory feedback from the teeth. I never really thought before about how much of what you physically feel when you play comes from your teeth. I'm getting used to it rapidly.

I highly recommend, for anyone considering it, that you use an orthodontist as opposed to a dentist. A dentist is capable of providing orthodontic treatment. And an internist is probably capable of performing surgery; I'd just rather have someone who specializes and has far more training involved.

(As a side note, my wife is a pediatric dentist. I have been party to MULTIPLE discussions by her colleagues as to the final results of orthodontic treatment when done by an orthodontist versus that performed by dentists providing orthodontic care. You can guess, without fail, which they always say produces better results. Mind you, this is not when they are talking to patients but rather talking among themselves.)