Metal Mouth Message Board

I've been to see 5 ortho's...you can read my story here.

viewtopic.php?t=16428

Basically, I was told by 4 orthos that I'm NOT a case for invisalign, but one- a premier provider- said I was. However, he said I would need jaw surgery in order to correct my overjet. Now, I'm against this. But I'm not so sure metal braces an correct the overjet... I emailed my dentist to confirm it will be fixed, and he said 1-2mm overjet constitutes the ideal bite. Is this correct? I also have a deep bite...metal braces ortho will have me wear elastics on one side, making me wonder how invisalign could correct the issue.

I'm essentially all set to go to metal ortho, when I start panicking. He quoted me 6,500-7,500 - BUT I have to pay a $450 x ray fee, even if I decide against. Ortho with invisalign is 6,900 - including everything. So- cheaper, and I dont have to wear metal for 2 years. Will I get the same results?? Invisalign DR claims yes- in fact, he'll give me metal braces at same price, but says results will be the same.

I dont want to spend extra money and 2 years in metal if I dont have to. But...I cant get a guaranteed treatment plan/price without commiting 500 dollars. What would you do? Please dont say see another ortho- I've exhausted all the professionals in my area

Hi there! Well, I would ask the premier Invisalign Ortho if he will change you metal without extra cost if the invisalign doesn't correct everything as promised. Then, you'd be covered either way! Let us know what you decide!

Hi eternityBC,

Tough call but I would keep a few things in mind when deciding what to do:

a) You may have to pay the $450 for xrays but you would own the xrays and could take them to any ortho you choose if once you got them you decided to switch orthos.

b) The invisalign option would take longer than the metal route. The ortho may say it would be two years regardless but until you get your aligners that is just a guess. Also almost everyone who has a long course with Invisalign needs a revision (which is free) but that adds time to treatment.

c) There is no guarentee regardless of which route you chose but a lot of the harder Invisalign cases require finishing up with metal braces (because Invisalign is limited with what it can do) which may or may not be included in your upfront cost. I'd definetly ask the Invisalign ortho how he deals with cases that need to switch to metal braces. Is that included in the 6900 or will that be extra. If he tells you he's never had to have someone switch, don't believe him cause it is fairly common.

Good luck deciding, and if you have more questions let us know.

Thanks for replies.

a) 6,900 includes everything- if I dont get results I want, i can go to metal for free. Only thing si if I do not WEAR my invisaligmn, which would be my fault, I'd have to pay $500 for the brackets etc

b) Xrays themselves are only $150 - paying $300 for the ortho to look at them! seems ridiculous...since a lot of orthos in my area have their own xray machine, I'd still be out $450.

c) Only reason I havent fully decided for invisalign is because other ortho has told me overjet can be fixed by metal braces (and also said 1-2 mm of overjet is ideal), and invisalign ortho told me i will have a space between my teeth which can't be fixed unless I get surgery- whether i went metal or invisalign, same treatment option. i dont know if he's lying to get me to have surgery, or if other orthos are just overly optimistic in what they can achieve. but he said my teeth wouldnt touch when i chewed, and I'd have to realsie this going in.

Invisalign + surgery is 15,000

As an addition to previous post- I dont want to live with my top and bottom teeth not touching when I chew... if thats the case after treatment, but I dont want to pay 15k surgery!!! I dont know...I mostly want a nicer smile, and I dont want to go metal, so maybe it is the best option.

O.k. maybe I don't understand fully but the ortho saying an overjet can only be fixed with surgery isn't a complete truth. Maybe he's saying that Invisalign can't fix it (which is partially true)? If you have a really, really bad overjet only surgery can fix that but even in that case you could opt not to have the surgery and metal braces could make a huge difference. Metal braces correct overjets all the time, so maybe I don't understand what the ortho is saying or he/she is trying to scare you.

Going the Invisalign route there is a high probability that your bite will be different and some teeth won't touch after treatment. I think that is mostly why people end up finishing with metal braces is because Invisalign makes the teeth look nice but does not consider creating a perfectly functional bite. I think it comes down to understanding that and being o.k. with it when starting Invisalign. Its not a guarentee it will happen but its highly probable. Invisalign technology can only do so much.

If you're willing to deal with the added treatment time a revision of Invisalign might create and are o.k. that your bite might not be perfect then go with Invisalign. If you really want to fix everything you can (w/o surgery) and have as close to perfect teeth and bite after all this is done go with the metal braces. Both options have there pros and cons. I think basically you have to decide what level of correction you want and how uncomfortable you are with metal. Worst case scenerio (w/o considering surgery since you don't want it and maybe don't need it) is you spend three years correcting your teeth. Would you rather have some to most things fixed and have spent three years with aligners or everything fixed with three years of braces. With Invisalign as long as you go into knowing you can't expect everything you'll be fine and could be pleasently surprised.

I don't know what yours is, but I have a 4mm overbite, and a 4.5mm overjet which is being corrected with invisalign. So far everything is going wonderfully, I am thrilled. If you are interested in my story and pics, I'm at

http://dawnasbracefaceplace.blogspot.com/

just go to July 2006 archives to see the beginning