Invisalign v Clearstep braces

baby_frogmella

Recently had a consultation at my dentist for Invisalign and my dentist sent off the impressions, photos etc to Invisalign in USA. Invisalign got back to my dentist last week with the proposed results (all computerised). I've had a look at these and not 100% satisfied. When sending off my impressions, my dentist recommended to Invisalign having 2 tooth extractions done on my upper jaw to reduce the overbite/overjet as my upper teeth are severely crowded. However Invisalign are refusing to incorporate the tooth extractions into the treatment which means my overbite will remain My dentist has tried to get Invisalign to change their mind but they are refusing; my dentist believes for litigation purposes Invisalign tend not to remove teeth in their treatment plan. I then asked my dentist about Clearstep (UK based) and this is what he said:

"Clearstep are frankly not very good. They offer a similar service to Invisalign in theory but in practice it is entirely different. Rather than the process being computerised it involves a person cutting the teeth off the model one-by-one and glueing them back in different positions to make the aligners. Also it is not possible to know how many aligners it will take or consequently how much it will cost until the end of treatment."

My dentist is recommending conventional fixed ceramic appliances to correct my overbite and he'll be able to remove 2 teeth as part of the treatment to reduce the overbite. However i wish to know is Clearstep really not as good as Invisalign? I'm considering going to a different dentist for clearstep but she charges £200 for the initial clearstep consultation. However i don't want to waste my money if the end results are going to be poor; in that case i will go for fixed appliances. Would appreciate advice from our resident dentists.

Thanks

Toothsmith

It sounds to me like the dentist has your interests at heart and not how much money he's going to make.

Is he a specialist orthodontist, or a general dentist who 'dabbles' in ortho?

It might be worth asking him to refer you to a specialist for a good overview of all systems, but I wouldn't go from a dentist who can do many systems to one who just uses one or two.

If your car broke down, would you take it to someone with a pair of pliers and a hammer, or somebody with a fully equipped workshop? The more 'tools' you have, and the better you know how to use them, the better result you will get.

I would also look at why you want the treatment.

Do you want to look good, with a nice straight smile, for the rest of your life? If so, then would looking a bit odd with a few wires stuck to your teeth for a couple of years really be a too higher price to pay for the best, most stable result?

My feeling is that the person you are seeing knows what he's talking about.

brook2jack

All systems have their limitations and invisilign,clearstep etc are some of the most limited systems as there are some types of tooth movement that cannot be achieved with them. Fixed bracework (train tracks) still is one of the most flexible and best systems for most problems.

I would be very wary of having treatment with someone who can only use one system. Likewise I would not go "shopping" if I was a patient for one particular system as not all orthodontic techniques produce the same results and sometimes there are compromises if you use a quick or "invisible" system. If you are spending this much time and money you should want it done right. Your dentist sounds a good choice they know several systems and are happy to do fixed treatment.

baby_frogmella

Thanks for the replies.

My dentist is just a general dentist who dabbles in ortho though he only does Invisalign...its a different dentist (same practice) who does fixed ortho, so i will make an appointment to see her and and go down the fixed appliances route. A bit disappointed i couldn't have Invisialign done but on the plus side i will save around £1500

Toothsmith

Sounds like a very good, well coordinated practice, working in the best interests of it's patients.

Good luck with your treatment and I hope it goes well. I'm sure you'll be very happy with the results.

charlotte90

I have just seen my dentist about having Clearstep, He had a much more possitive reply. They apparently use qualified orthodotists who actually diagnose each case, I do know that invisalign use software to determine the outcome of each patients treatment.
I have also been made aware that because invisalign do use software it quite often results in problems part way through which results in another fee to be put right.
I have to have regular impressions with so the Orthodontists at Clearstep can monitor my progression.
I don't mind this as I would much rather get a higher standard of treatment!
I also have to pay for the treatment upfront so I know straight away what I will be charged.

Good luck with your smiles

donteatthat

I work with a consultant orthodontist who does not rate either of these systems as they are limited in what they can achieve and do not give good control over the bite at the end of treatment.