Imagine spending thousands of dollars and months of your life wearing Invisalign alignersonly to watch all that progress disappear within weeks.
This is exactly what happened to a man when his orthodontist delivered devastating news of his own newly straightened teeth just three weeks after completing treatment.
Invisalign Failure?
In one trendy video with over 171,000 views, Grant Paulsen (@grantpaulsen) sits forlornly in an orthodontist’s chair, seemingly contemplating his life and decisions.
The text overlay on his slideshow reads: “My teeth moved right back 3 weeks after completing Invisalign, just as I was told.”
The slideshow captures Paulsen’s visible frustration as he processes the news.
After investing time and money to straighten his teeth with Invisalign, the revelation that his teeth have already returned to their original position in less than a month is clearly devastating.
In a direct message on Instagram, Paulsen shared that he was fitted with a permanent retainer, so his teeth “shouldn’t have moved at all.”
“I was still wearing my last tray every night as recommended. We scanned for another retainer and it was supposed to arrive within the week. They had to modify my last tray to fit the permanent retainer wire on my teeth,” Paulsen explained. “Within that week of having a permanent retainer and wearing the last disk, everything had moved.”
“I want to say that I don’t think it’s my orthodontist’s fault. She has been extremely helpful and supportive throughout this process and at no extra charge is working with me to get my teeth back where I want them. We are doing the last tray again with elastics – and doing a second round of permanent retainer.”
Why do teeth move after Invisalign?
Teeth are prone to movement even after completing Invisalign treatment, according to Gentle Care Dental Surrey. Teeth naturally move over time and without proper retention, they will gradually move back into their original position.
The dental office explains that retainers are necessary to maintain the alignment achieved through Invisalign. Most orthodontists recommend wearing retainers full-time for the first few months after treatment is completed and then switching to nighttime wear.
The consequences of not following containment protocols can be swift. Gentle Care Dental Surrey notes that some patients notice their teeth shifting within a few weeks if they do not wear the retainer as recommended.
In some cases, patients who notice their teeth are not perfect after Invisalign may need minor adjustments or additional aligners to correct any misalignments.
The dentist’s office stresses that while keeping a retainer in at night can be uncomfortable, it’s worth it considering the cost and inconvenience of repeating Invisalign. Most patients choose to wear their retainers for life to prevent their teeth from moving.
Gentle Care Dental Surrey also notes that even patients who want to eventually reduce the use of retainers should understand that teeth naturally change due to age, daily activities and other factors. This means that wearing a retainer periodically, ideally every night, helps prevent misalignment in the long run.
How much does Invisalign cost?
The cost of Invisalign can range from $1,800 to $9,500 per course of treatment, depending on the complexity of the orthodontic problem. GoodRx reports.
The average cost for a teenager is $3,000, while a full Invisalign treatment for adults averages around $5,700.
Full Invisalign treatment – also known as Invisalign Comprehensive – can cost anywhere from $3,500 to $9,500 and usually takes 12 to 18 months to complete.
For people with minor orthodontic problems, Invisalign Express costs about $1,800 to $3,000 and uses fewer aligner trays for a shorter treatment period of just a few months.
Even with dental insurance, out-of-pocket costs can be significant. Many dental insurance plans cover Invisalign similar to traditional braces, but some classify clear aligner treatments as cosmetic procedures and don’t cover them at all. Other plans may only partially cover services, paying a percentage of the cost or a fixed dollar amount.
Several factors affect the final cost, according to GoodRx. More complex orthodontic issues require more Invisalign trays and longer treatment times, which increases costs. Additionally, if patients do not wear their discs as recommended, they may need longer treatment or enhancements with additional aligners, which can cost extra.
Commentators react
“You have to wear your retainer forever every night, everyone knows that,” wrote one top comment.
“I got metal braces at 27 for a year. You have to take them out,” said one person.
“I have a permanent bar to keep that from happening!” wrote another.
“My daughter had Invisalign and wears retainers. Her teeth look incredible. It doesn’t matter if you have braces or Invisalign, you MUST wear your retainer every night for the rest of your life or your teeth will go right back to how they were. Retainers are not a proposition,” shared one commenter.
BroBible reached out to Paulsen via Instagram and TikTok direct message. We’ll make sure to update if he responds.
