Metal Mouth Message Board

Hello.
I have been on metal braces for about 5monthes, now.
Progress has been okay so far, but I am very unhappy with my Orthodontists and their staff. They are not a doctor treating a patient, they are sales people selling thier service at outragious price. also I've been having a concern about their sanatations.

Long story short!
I am fed-up with them and I have decided to change to different Orthodontists.

Since I have decided to change, I am having a huge temptation to change my treament to Invisalign.

I am 33 years old.
At first I did not think metal braces is going to be a big deal, even at my age. But with the nature of my work, it is giving me a quite a big problems performing at my work.

What is your opinion?
Do you think I should stick with metal braces? or
It won't be a problem to change the option to Invisalign.

I know I must speak with Orthodontists but I just cant wait until my appointment with new Orthodontists,

Please, Help me!

Thank you!!!

Lilmonster, if you're not comfortable with your current ortho service, then certainly you should investigate help elsewhere.

However, you need to establish from an invisalign accredited ortho whether you are a suitable candidate for this treatment.

What is it about metal braces that is causing you problems at work?

If you are interested in switching to Invisalign or Orthoclear then I suggest that you talk to a local provider.

That being said there is a lot of bad press on this board regarding Invisalign and I think it is mostly an expectation thing. Invisalign can provide an excellent alternative for traditional bracket orthodontics if done properly. The design process uses computer imagery to create and mill the aligners and a complex software system maps out the likely treatment. There is a smaller human element involved in the treating part. So you are not going to have poorly placed brackets, brackets not engaged by accident, etc. But, the aligners are very limited in what they can do without extensive training and they are also very technique sensitive. The other thing is that most people consider Invisalign a substitute for traditional orthodontics. It is not, it is simply a treatment alternative that offers a more hygienic and aesthetic way of achieving results in many instances.

Invisalign does work if the case is selected properly and the patient is diligent about wearing their aligners 20+ hours per day. Like brackets, there are often times "failures" or stubborn areas because we are dealing with the human body. Just go in realizing like anything else that there may be a few bumps in the road and often times dealing with the bumps will require traditional brackets. But I have seen many cases that did not need anything other than Invisalign.

Good Luck,
Rory

Hi lilmonster

I was actually going to post a similar question about this a while back but didn't because I got the answers I wanted...

Towards the end of my treatment I may be going travelling for several months.. I was going to investigate the possibility of finishing my treatment (once its in its real final stages) with Invisalign.. Purely because of the travelling aspect.. I'm aware of the costs involved etc and did speak to my Ortho about it.. He raised an eyebrow or two but said that it was a possibility.

Initially when I first went to the Ortho to start my brace I questioned Invisalign and he said that I was definately not a candidate in my current state due to the severe overcrowding. He said invisalign was excellent for minor orthodontic treatment. Anything other than that was probably asking too much.

It really does depend on how much treatment you need on your teeth and only a qualified invisalign ortho will be able to tell you that.

I can understand your issues with the brace day to day. Maybe some others can't, but for me its always an everyday struggle. I attend board meetings / management meetings / give presentations.. My brace cuts into my mouth by the end of each day and I go through so much wax I should buy shares in the stuff!!! At least two little boxes of it a week. Otherwise I end up with ulcers and sores.

But I am persevering and day after day it gets easier.. At the moment i'm very happy because i'm on holiday from work for nearly 3 weeks which gives my mouth a chance to clear itself of any sores etc. etc.

Good luck with deciding on your treatment plan...

I have also wondered about this and posted about it a while ago asking if anyone had done this before. Although it looks as though no one has, it seems to me like a viable option. The only issue I can see is extra time and cost. Invisalign seems to take a bit longer for more minor corrections, so it may be possible to spend a year in braces and another year and a half in invisalign whereas if you had stuck with braces it might have been less time.

I can't get my braces until my insurance kicks in so keep me posted if you end up making the switch. I'd be very interested to know how it goes!

I am Sorry for getting back to the replys so late.

Thanks for your thoughtful oponions.
I know it is going to cost more and may take longer than I hope for, but I believe it is worth it to find out. I have set up an appointments to meet two diffirent orthodontist to get their suggestions.

I will let you know!!!


Thanks a bunch.