Invisalign vs. the Six Month Smile

Recently, I was having a discussion with a friend about braces.  She had just started treatment with Invisalign.  This option is more flexible than the Six Month Smile braces in the fact that it's a removable retainer.  (Handy for picture taking, evenings out, etc.)  However, instead of raving about the experience, she told me that it's actually been more of a stresser. 

Her dentist told her to keep her Invisalign retainers in around the clock, taking them only out for meals.  As a teacher, she snacks when she can between classes.  In other words, her meals are more like frequent snacks as her breaks allow.  She was also warned that anything darker than water (tea, coffee, soda) may stain the retainers.  Taking the retainers in and out throughout the day is not only messy, but also increases the chance they get dirty/misplaced/etc. in the classroom.  (Picture an active group of 6th graders!)  Additionally, she felt like there was more wear and tear on the retainers because of her taking them out so frequently. Finally, there's the timeline.  I was out of my Six Month Smile braces in exactly six months.  (Though, frequently, patients take a couple of extra months to complete treatment...or they may even be able to take them off early!)

Though there were days that I wished I could have taken my Six Month Smile braces off, I'm so thankful that I could always eat, drink and be merry with them on!  Working in PR, I'm always "on" and I can't imagine sweeping my retainer out of sight if someone happened to step through my office door while I was nibbling.

What are your thoughts? Do you know someone who has Invisalign?  How do you feel they compare? There are benefits to both, but which is the better option for someone considering braces as an adult?

Life a Year and a Half Later - Retainer Q&A

It's been a year and a half since I started my adventure with braces. And yes, that picture above is me...smiling unabashedly at my younger daughter who is getting ready to show the pony.  I finally did break down and get those bonded retainers put in. The first few days I had those in, I was regretting my choice. I felt like I was back in braces...stuff was getting caught in the wires, things felt a little tight, and I was terribly aware of their presence. (My tongue would not leave those little brackets alone!) But, then, around the week mark, I began to forget they were there.

Here's a bit of Q&A on the retainers:
* Just for the record, the retainer brackets are MUCH smaller, and they certainly aren't as scratchy or pointy as the brackets you have with the Six Month Smile braces. 
*They are also placed behind your teeth, so no one will know you have them.
* You can eat nearly anything with them. Strangely, I haven't broken the wire holding the retainer together...and trust me, I've eaten just about everything crunchy!  While wearing the braces, I did break more than one bracket off eating thin crust pizza!
* They are attached to your teeth with the same type of "glue" that is used to adhere the Six Month Smile brackets. (Try not to get your tongue in the way when they apply the bonding material..it is bitter with a capital B.)

I want to thank all of you for writing such encouraging comments to me! I don't always have the time to reply, but I do appreciate hearing from you. I hope those of you who are considering the Six Month Smile braces will go for it. It really is life changing. I don't think twice about smiling for the camera anymore. (Or do the ever popular "tight-lipped" smile.)