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.

Yes we had the Invisalign push and when we spoke with the second orthodontist who was an Invisalign tutor he said it should not have been offered. In his opinion they are more difficult for teens as they have to keep the retainer in for at least 20 hours and take it out to eat and drink. Anyway he said my son's teeth were not really suitable although in theory anyone can have Invisalign. I did feel rather reassured by this. Let me know what the third thinks, that will be interesting.
It is such an investment, but, obviously you don't want it to go wrong as well. It really is difficult. Some of it is sales patter which I didn't appreciate as my son's teeth need more than minor cosmetic repair which is a choice.

This is interesting! I've just got fixed braces for my own teeth, I also needed 4 teeth out due to overcrowding.
I had really hoped to go the invisalign route, but the dentist I went to talked me out of it. He does do invisalign, but he said for my level of overcrowding the results would not be as good. He also said that if I had gone to an invisalign place they wouldn't have told me that and would have recommended invisalign!

I will let you know, it is a lot of money and we will have to take some sort of payment plan but I totally agree I just want to really work out what the best clinical option is for her and I do wonder how much sales pressure I’ve had? Hard to know as orthodontics is not my specialist area! 😬

I strangely just saw someone via work today who was on her 20th month with Invisalign when she was told 12 months and does wonder whether her overbite will ever be fixed and if she she should have gone with fixed.

@Allthecatseverywhereallatonce
May I ask why the first NHS referral was rejected? My DS has just been referred, his dentist said he was confident that he will get braces on the NHS, but although his front teeth cross over a little, they are not terrible. I really don't know if I can afford to pay, but I am worried that I will have to.

She wasn’t rejected she was approved on the nhs but the problem is the waiting list is 2 years and she’ll be then 17. If she decides to go to university she’ll be away from home which will make the appointments really difficult, I also understand correcting an overbite which means technically moving the jaw is more difficult as you get older and works much better pre 16. I would of 💯 used the nhs if I could and am still checking to see if anywhere I can get to has a shorter wait but so far everywhere is similar nhs wait times.

@Thingsthatgo I am not sure why my ds was refused initially, he was subsequently accepted by the second orthodontist but, it was too long to wait so we had started private orthodontics at that point.
They can be declined if the referral from the dentist isn't great.

@Allthecatseverywhereallatonce @Wishicouldwhistle
Thank you both for letting me know. I would not have not that I could appeal/ reapply so that is useful information, thank you. My DS is just 12, the dentist referred him in February and told me it would be about a year for the decision, so not panicking yet.

You will be fine with your son being 12, we waited 10 months for the evaluation appointment so it’s just the timelines and age that make it a problem, hope it goes well.