Invisalign or braces

[Tinijocaro]

Dentist is pushing for dd12 to get invisalign, hard sell that is turning me off to the whole idea. He says they are superior to braces, stay on for a shorter duration, and are similar in price. Any experience with Invisalign-did your teeth stay straight, were you happy with them?

I thought I posted this yesterday but must not have clicked submit.

 

[golfgal]

Our neighbor girl is on year 3 with her invislign's because she keeps forgetting to wear them .

 

[bethbuchall]

My oldest ds had traditional braces and dd had the InvisAlign. We thought that the InvisAlign was a great alternative to the traditional braces. In dd's case, it shortened the treatment time, and she also had fewer visits to the orthodontist (which was a huge benefit to us). The InvisAlign for her cost a little more, but we thought it was worth it. She was a little older than your dd and knew that she had to wear them any time she wasn't eating or brushing her teeth even if they were causing discomfort. She also was very responsible for keeping track of them when they were out of her mouth (no searching through bags of garbage in the lunch room for us, thank goodness). I'm thinking that my third will need braces in a few years. As long as they don't cost too much more, I'd definitely go with the InvisAlign again.

Benefits (at least for us):
Can get the teeth thoroughly clean - brushing and at the dentist
Can eat anything for meals
Fewer visits to the orthodontist
Shorter treatment time
Look better (this was important to dd)
No breakage of wires, etc.

Possible short comings:
Cost
Child can take them out/not wear on schedule
Risk of loss when out

Her teeth have stayed straight, though she is still wearing the retainer at night. Ds with the traditional braces still wears the retainer as well. They were both told to wear the retainer at least a couple of nights a week until they are in their mid-30's.

 

[cabanafrau]

Dentist is pushing for dd12 to get invisalign, hard sell that is turning me off to the whole idea. He says they are superior to braces, stay on for a shorter duration, and are similar in price. Any experience with Invisalign-did your teeth stay straight, were you happy with them?

I thought I posted this yesterday but must not have clicked submit.

OP, just to put your mind at ease, you did post this yesterday, because I remember seeing your post in the midst of a completely different thread & wondering why you were so far off topic?

Of course my CRS is now a chronic ailment & I have no idea what thread it is that your original post is in!

 

[1stluvispooh]

My SIL works for a dentist and as a PP said. It really depends on how compliant a patient is. If you forget to wear them it takes long.

 

[mhsjax]

To me, and no offense to anyone that has worn them, but when worn, to me and to others that I have asked, it always looks like you have gunk in your teeth. With regular ole braces, you know what is going on. I have actually almost stared at people with invisalign trying to see if their teeth are brushed or if they had let them go for a week. Sorry for an offense. Just a personal preference.

I will say that my dentist, who is my orthodontist, and very well respected by all the pediatricians and adult dentists, doesn't have any patients the use this. I don't know why, but this is the case for him.

 

[Tinijocaro]

OP, just to put your mind at ease, you did post this yesterday, because I remember seeing your post in the midst of a completely different thread & wondering why you were so far off topic?

Of course my CRS is now a chronic ailment & I have no idea what thread it is that your original post is in!

Oh my, I thought I started a new thread but posted on someone else's thread. Oops!!

 

[Tinijocaro]

I will say that my dentist, who is my orthodontist, and very well respected by all the pediatricians and adult dentists, doesn't have any patients the use this. I don't know why, but this is the case for him.

I wonder if dentists are in the Invisalign camp and orthodontists are in the metal braces camp. I just wonder if regular dentists are qualified enough to mold my child's mouth-don't orthodontists have their own seperate schooling besides dentistry? How is my regular dentist qualified to also be an orthodontist?

 

[mhsjax]

I wonder if dentists are in the Invisalign camp and orthodontists are in the metal braces camp. I just wonder if regular dentists are qualified enough to mold my child's mouth-don't orthodontists have their own seperate schooling besides dentistry? How is my regular dentist qualified to also be an orthodontist?

I would wonder that myself, but this guy has both he has done most of the kids I know and their teeth are perfect. so trust me, this guy is good. He is older so maybe he just doesn't want to change his way, BUt you won't find a better orthodontist here.

 

[Nickimouse]

I had/have invisalign. I had traditional braces as a teen, but at 38 I was unhappy with my teeth and my bite was way off.
The invialign from start to finish took about a year. The bite problem could not be fixed completely by invisalign and an orthodontist my dentist refers patients to offered to put regular braces on one side in the back of my mouth for free.
I have a very small mouth and not the easiest case. I'd say I'm 80% happy with the way they look.My bite is much better,but again that wasn't just invisalign.The upkeep retainers are not cheap. I had to pay up front for all of them(suppose to change every 6 months or so).
Remember,the aligners have to come out to eat or drink anything other than water. That can be a pain,but on the up side I lost some weight when I had them because sometimes it just wasn't convenient to take them out.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I would wonder that myself, but this guy has both he has done most of the kids I know and their teeth are perfect. so trust me, this guy is good. He is older so maybe he just doesn't want to change his way, BUt you won't find a better orthodontist here.

Oh, I wasn't questioning your dentist in particular, but dentists in general.

 

[bethbuchall]

I wonder if dentists are in the Invisalign camp and orthodontists are in the metal braces camp. I just wonder if regular dentists are qualified enough to mold my child's mouth-don't orthodontists have their own seperate schooling besides dentistry? How is my regular dentist qualified to also be an orthodontist?

Our orthodontist is one of the best in town and has done a lot of traditional and ceramic braces as well as the Invisalign.

 

[disneydentist]

I wonder if dentists are in the Invisalign camp and orthodontists are in the metal braces camp. I just wonder if regular dentists are qualified enough to mold my child's mouth-don't orthodontists have their own seperate schooling besides dentistry? How is my regular dentist qualified to also be an orthodontist?

The Invisalign company has dentists who "design" the case for the prescribing dentist. Not a lot of work involved on his/her end.

 

[mhsjax]

Oh, I wasn't questioning your dentist in particular, but dentists in general.

OH, I know you weren't, but that question has come up . I questioned also.