[Trombone-l] Braces

[Eric & Candice Swanson]

Anyone out there had any dealings with these "Invisalign" braces?  They 
are like plastic retainer kind of things called "aligners" that you snap 
on over your teeth and they gradually straighten your teeth like 
braces.  But, you can remove them completely to eat, brush your teeth, 
play trombone, etc.  You wear each of a series of aligners for two 
weeks, moving to the next aligner in the series.  Each aligner is made 
to gradually move the teeth in the desired direction, until after a year 
or so the teeth get where the dentist wants them to be (straight).  
Having some teeth issues, and not wanting to try to play with regular 
braces, I am considering undergoing this process. 

Questions:  If you have done this, how did it work?  Was it painful at 
all?  Can you play with them in?  General satisfaction with the whole 
process?

They would like to put conventional braces on my bottom teeth for about 
6 months to straighten a particularly crooked tooth first.  Anyone have 
experience with regular braces as an adult and a professional player (or 
really serious amateur)?  Would I be able to continue playing with 
regular braces on my bottom teeth?  Taking 6 months off is not an option.

You can respond to me privately, but the list may want to hear about it 
too, who knows.

Thanks,

Eric Swanson