Invisalign vs metal braces

[Allthecatseverywhereallatonce]

Just after some experiences or opinions. My ds 14 needs braces, we have known for a while but, had to wait to lose all baby teeth.
First referral on NHS was rejected second has been sent and is approx 1 year wait for review.
Currently my ds is embarrassed about his teeth, they are overcrowded at the top so looks like two rows of teeth, it also affects how he speaks/eats/drinks.

Due to the long NHS wait we have just had the first of 2 private consultations, the first has suggested Invisalign, and, suggests that the overcrowd teeth don't need removal, he can place screws into ds gums to provide an anchor point for elastic bands to shift teeth so that the teeth behind will be in line? He did say if the teeth needed removal we wouldn't know until 6 months into treatment and that he couldn't remove them so would be approx extra £1000 for a surgeon to remove them. Initial cost is approx £6000 😯So...

My concerns are that my ds will need to wear the retainer for 22 hours per day (he says he will!), I feel Invisalign are being very heavily pushed. I only have personal experience of metal braces and needing teeth removal to facilitate this, my teeth are now amazing and I didn't need to worry about taking out retainers at school and not going for a McDonald's with friends. I may be overthinking but 2 years is a long time not to have social events for a teen.

We have another consultation Friday but it is all so confusing, it is expensive too so will need to take out a payment plan. I hate making the decision, I am being advised by someone who is making money, so not sure if he is motivated by that or, is he genuinely a fantastic orthodontist and I need to trust him?

I know no one can answer that but, I always thought Invisalign was for minor problems as the people I know having it done, appear to have minor issues prior.
The orthodontist highlighted the problems with metal braces but virtually none about Invisalign, he actually went to great pains to explain his teenage patients all keep the retainer in for 22 hours and, he has more problems with adults?

Sorry for the long post.

Having had both at different stages of life, metal braces were far better, with shorter times for results. IMO, Invisalign seriously underestimate how long results take. I was advised mine would take a year and they've taken nearly 3. If it was my child, I'd be opting for metal braces.

Thank you @tootrueblue that is really helpful. I can find things to support both arguments. That is what my head is telling me.

Why do you think Invisalign means they can't do social events? They can go to McDonalds, just take the Invisalign out to eat and take a travel toothbrush.

I did Invisalign (albeit at age 31), only required 6 months to fix overcrowded teeth. Absolutely loved it and the results.
Downside - I will have to wear a retainer every night forever now to ensure they stay in place but I actually like wearing mine, feels like an extra protection on my teeth

We were faced with long wait time for DD, so gone the private route, we were offered, not pushed, Invisalign, which I declined as I think I read on here, kids starting off with Invisalign, don’t get worn, then switch to metal. Also I had removable braces when I was a teen that spent more time out than in. DD opted for full on silver metal braces, even over the white as apparently they’re trendy!

I had orthodontics treatment from around 11-16. I had a metal retainer (top only), then teeth out, then metal train track style top and bottom. It's not a pleasant experience as you know but so worth it. I would hold out for the metal braces.

Agree. Invisalign aren’t suitable for all issues and teens less likely to wear them. I’d get a second private opinion, and make sure you’re seeing a proper orthodontist not a cosmetic dentist.

I would say netal braces. At 25 I got metal backs on the NHS due to overcrowding and an overbite and ultimately had my lower jaw broke and realigned. There's no way in my 20s I would have kept up with wearing invisilign 22 hours a day let alone at 14! Metal braces are the much better option as they can't be removed!

in my experience and I did sooo much research... Invisalign is better for adults or very motivated teens. There is mental discipline required to keep them in even though you can easily remove them, and then remove for food, clean teeth and then replace etc after meals and ongoing retainers sometimes needed after anyway? With teens with all the random stuff not least GCSEs etc keep it simple and non negotiable. Train tracks shorter time needed, less faff, cheaper and better results. And of course they can eat and drink! Just takes a few days to adjust.

My youngest had Invisalign for nearly 5 years! Was told another 2 years. She’s 15 now and had refused to wear them, said they’re gross, was not eating at school then just flat out refused to wear them. She just got braces. So now it’s cost me $15,000 for her mouth! But braces while now she sounds funny are so much better! She can’t refuse to wear them either 🤣

The orthodontist advised against our DS having braces since he would need to wear retainers at night after removal, which boys give up on very quickly, luckily his teeth are straight, just a borderline overbite, and he was happy not to have to have them. When DD has her braces removed she will be fitted with fixed retainers at the back of her teeth - different orthodontist.

My DD(12) has been wearing Invisalign for 4 months now and I’m impressed how much change there has been already with another year to go, as she has quite bad overcrowding on one side of her mouth. She is incredibly committed though to wearing them as she wants her teeth to change. She has toothbrushes and toothpaste everywhere so that she can take them out and put back in straight away.

No experience of teens but everyone of us in my friends group ( only 6 so not a large group) who had adult invisalign ended up with them being needed much longer than originally advised.

I have just finished my Invisalign. Loved it!! Can still eat and drink anything you want. I just popped them out into a clean tissue to eat, quick brush of teeth with a travel toothbrush, and pop them back in! Really easy, would recommend.

I I’ve recently retired as a general dentist, not orthodontist but I do know that the “metal braces” give a very accurate and more predictable result for a number of reasons, mostly related to how they move the roots of the teeth (torque). FWIW, in a teen I would be strongly drawn away from Invisalign. Hopefully you’ll get a consultation with an NHS orthodontist.

All orthodontics requires life long retention. So if you’re not up for that, don’t waste your energy.

even bonded retainers aren’t permanent, teeth want to go back to where they were and will debond and move 2-3mm before you even notice. Just a health warning.

I had Invisalign for 3 years (told it would be 2) and was told that they couldn't do anymore for me so I'd have to have train tracks to get the results I wanted. So had train tracks for nearly 2 years. My teeth are great but it cost me £8 k in total and 5 years. I personally would advise anyone to go for train tracks every time, unless it was VERY minor cosmetic adjustments!

Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful comments, I feel in my gut metal braces would be better. I will see what the other consultation suggests on Friday and make a decision then.

My DS had invisalign. We were told this would be quicker than metal braces, and less uncomfortable as small changes are made every week, rather than larger changes every few weeks. Very happy with results

So we had a second consultation with a different practice, this orthodontist lectures for Invisalign. He did a thorough assessment and has concluded my ds needs 4 teeth removed and mental braces. After the consultation I informed the orthodontist of the previous recommendation and he was surprised (but very professional), he didn't understand how it would be possible with Invisalign and no teeth removal.
So glad I went for a second opinion.

I'm so relieved about the metal braces. I worked in an orthodontic practice for years and adults could barely be trusted let alone teenagers 🙈

I'd also recommend holding out gif an NHS appt. We were told 12-24 month wait for DS, he got his appt within 6 and they were fitted within a week!

Glad you got a second opinion!

I fiund out (too late 🙈) that if an orthodontist is strongly recommending one particular type of brace, they probably aren’t very good. You want an orthodontist who has trained in fitting sceral different types of appliance.

And yes Invisalign is for minor problems.

I’m having this exact dilemma at the moment with my 15 yr old daughter- we would have to wait 2 yrs on NHS so looking at private, feel I’ve been pushed Invisalign a bit (£5K!) vs original orthodontist who suggested 2 teeth out and fixed braces, second orthodontist scared me into saying how many problems she could have in later life with teeth out- seeing a third recommended ortho on Monday to try and work out best option- wondering what you did in the end and how happy you’ve been so far??

Hi @Wishicouldwhistle so we decided to go with metal braces and 4 teeth removal. The orthodontist assured us that this would be the best option, and wouldn't recommend Invisalign so 4 months down and his teeth are moving beautifully and he is about to go onto the next stage.
Total cost was around £5,500 but so worth it

That’s great, I’m glad it’s going well 😊 I’m leaning towards fixed for several reasons. Seeing another orthodontist on Monday as both we’ve seen so far have been opposite ends with opinion and second was really heavily pushing Invisalign. Very confusing and very expensive!