Dentist recommending Invisalign, but is it ever better than braces?

[Fawful]

Hi! DS, 15, needs orthodontic treatment to fix several slightly complex problems.
He doesn't qualify for NHS treatment.
The orthodontist we saw said that due to the nature of his issues, Invisalign would be best. However from what I'm reading on MN that metal braces are supposed to always be better... Is Invisalign ever better?
Less importantly, might metal braces be cheaper? We were quoted £4,5000 for Invisalign. Do I trust her jugement or ask for a second opinion? I see that her qualifications are a diploma in orthodontics, im guessing she would be qualified to offer braces - DS doesn't care about appearances so I don't know why Invisalign was preferred. Maybe because it doesn't involve tooth extraction?
TIA

At that age I would go for braces. They are more efficient and don't require any maintaining input from the wearer (apart from learning how to clean your teeth with the braces in).

I did Invisalign and am super happy with the results but I’d hesitate to recommend it for a teenager. It requires a lot of self discipline to keep the retainers in for 20+ hours a day and maintain high levels of oral hygiene - I doubt I’d have done it at 15. I chose Invisalign because I didn’t want metal braces in my 30s and it was very discreet - but loads of teenagers have braces so I’d go for fixed metal.

Are you sure he wouldn’t qualify for NHS Treatment? We were refused treatment by the first NHS Orthodontist we saw as not serious enough in his opinion but the dentist re-referred us elsewhere as they thought we should. The second one we saw offered fixed braces on the NHS that DS currently has in now. They’re working a treat, can see a difference in just a few months.

Well it's our second referral, the first orthodontist also didn't think it was serious enough. His dentist who was happy to refer us twice, really thought it would be serious enough as his back teeth are worn out because his jaw doesn't close properly, but I guess we have to accept it now. Can't help but suspect that this dentist may be trying to sell Invisalign rather than do the right thing, but I may have a suspicious mind...

We were told we we on a three year waiting list for NHS braces for protuding front teeth. That meant braces wouldn't be in until son was 16.

Went to the clinic that we were on the NHS waiting list for and we were offered fixed metal or ceramic braces or Invisaligne. There was about £600 difference between the fixed and Invisaligne. We choose Invisaligne and five months in they have been fantastic. No pain, his teeth are already so much better and no one knows he has them in.

He does have to be very careful brushing his teeth and keeping the braces in for as long as possible but he doing really well with this.

When the treatment has finished he'll have to wear a retainer at night and will have a thin metal bar cemented behind his front teeth to stop movement.

All in this has cost £4500 but that is the total cost. If the NHS has been able to provide fixed braces within a year or so we would have just had those but as we were paying anyway the Invisaligne are excellent.

I mean, the latest orthodontist we saw.

Thank you, so not a big difference price-wise, then...

I don't think invisalign are better IMHO. I used them myself as wanted the aesthetically better solution but my one wonky tooth I wanted to have adjusted didn't really adjust properly and this was because ultimately it cannot pull the teeth as strongly and specifically as it's kind of pushing them all along a line. Sorry don't know how to explain better.
Apparently it also takes longer too.

I would definitely get a second opinion if I were you.

I went to an orthodontist years ago who recommended Invisalign to me. It was completely inappropriate for my problem. I honestly think he was trying to fill some kind of Invisalign sales quota that they had as it was a new thing and all the rage.

I went to a smaller private practice for a second opinion, and the orthodontist there was shocked that they had been considering invisalign for my issue. I trusted him, dunno why, I guess he seemed more experienced and it wasn't a 'chain' or a massive practice.

It is hard as a patient to know who is giving the right information. But this orthodontist did an absolutely cracking job of straightening up my teeth with metal braces, and they have been perfect ever since (about 7 years!). He recommends invisalign only for very minor corrections, and metal braces for pretty much everything else.

Also, invisalign is horrible to wear and I don't think they are even all that discreet. I'd go for braces any day.

Do get yourself another opinion because if it needs braces, you will just end up wasting money on invisalign.

Ds1 had metal braces on the NHS. Ds2 had similar issues and was also entitled to Nhs metal braces but the Orthodontist (at same practice) really pushed invisalign that we would have to pay for. I did consider it but and there were some advantages but also disadvantages so he had the metal braces which worked really well. I think they are pushing invisalign a lot more now

I would always gp for braces over invisalign.

Especially for a young kid who might not be as good at keeping the braces on. With the fixed ones they dont have a choice.

Thanks all, with all that in mind I've booked for a second opinion and we shall see... Thanks again

Another one saying to go for fixed braces.

DS had fixed braces and just had to be careful about what he ate. DSD had Invisalign as an adult and they have been fine but require an awful lot of discipline in wearing all the time, hygiene etc.

I really don’t think a teenage DS would have been so disciplined.