Treatment time: Invisalign vs. Braces

Message

#1 Post by **NuJu** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:45 pm

Hello. I am in the process of getting started with Invisalign and just had a consultation with a premier provider in my area whom I think I really like. I have a couple of questions and would appreciate it if anyone had some info to help me out. The first is that I was told if I went with traditional braces instead of invisalign that I would need to tack on an extra 6 months to a year on to my estimated treatment time, which I thought was kind of weird because I assumed traditional braces would have a shorter treatment time. Does anyone know if this is true? Secondly, are attachments and 'buttons' the same thing?

This site has been so informative! I've been doing research on Invisalign for almost 3 years and didn't even know about attachments until I visited this forum!! Thanks for the help

#2 Post by **NuJu** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:43 pm

I was under the impression that they would both be fixing the same problems (bite and crowding) but I guess I should clarify that with the ortho on my next consult. Good point. Thanks.

#3 Post by **anastasia** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:22 am

My orthodontist said the same thing.
He has little experience with Invisalign (it's not popular here in Norway, I had to search hard to find someone who even provided it), but is supposedly one of the top experts on braces here.

When I first saw him, he estimated that I would have to wear braces for 1 and 1/2 year. He wasn't sure about the treatment time with Invisalign, but I ended up chosing that anyway and it turns out the treatment time is only about 1 year (25 aligners, 2 weeks each).

I have no problems with the bite, only crowding.

I thought that was kind of weird too..! Maybe it's because we change trays more often than people with braces get them adjusted/tightened? I don't know.