I went in for partial orthodontic treatment because my front teeth protruded.
The doctor said:
Because the front teeth overall are quite developed, partial orthodontic treatment would be pointless,
and the answer is either not to do it or to do full orthodontic treatment. If I did partial treatment, my teeth could become inward-slanting, or the change would not be very noticeable, so the cost and time spent would be a waste.
My lower jaw is small and my upper teeth are developed, so I ultimately decided on Invisalign.
After extracting 2 upper wisdom teeth and 2 premolars, you wait about a month, and then the company called Invisalign sends n clear aligner trays custom-made for your teeth.
Mine had 51 trays, and it was my first time learning that there are multiple numbered appliances.
You wear number 1 for 10 days, then move on to number 2, and so on.
If you keep at it consistently, time passes quickly, but because it is removable, which is both an advantage and a disadvantage... if you lack self-discipline, the pace inevitably slows down more and more.
Thanks to that, I stopped snacking, and whenever I take them out once, I eat a huge amount.
I have never brushed my teeth this diligently in my life.
Because of molar malocclusion, they start by pushing from the inner molars, and since the spaces between my teeth have opened up a lot, food really gets stuck a lot.
I’m becoming a master of dental floss and interdental brushes, which I had never used in my life.
I’m now about more than 50% through, and I can definitely feel a big difference.
The advantages of clear aligners are that after a month or two, there is almost no pain. You only have to go to the clinic once every 3 months.
They really are barely noticeable. There is no difficulty eating food.
Disadvantages The biggest advantage is that they are removable, but that is also the biggest disadvantage.
Taking them out and putting them back in and brushing my teeth every time I eat is no small task.
Especially when eating out, I go to the bathroom to take them out, but to put them back in, I have to brush my teeth all over again.
On days when I have a company dinner or drinks, I just leave them out because I’m afraid I’ll lose them.
Compared with regular braces, there is about a 700,000 won difference, and I think the benefit is worth that difference.