u/Mission-Shoulder4955

Because I'm a complex case in my mid 40's, I have had different ortho's tell me different things. Some want me in braces and say I need surgery. Others say I am best with Camo-Ortho and Invisalign is best for me. They are factoring in my bone loss and age and all that. Went to a surgeon they said I would benefit from surgery (SARPE). But I have no pain or sleep issues, so this is just for looks. Cross bite, reverse smile, and edge to edge. I was all set on doing Invisalign, but now I'm back to wanting to do the surgery. Which would put me back in braces, I believe. Some say you can do surgery with Invisalign but most say braces are necessary. I've heard mixed things. I really am down for surgery. And completely down for braces. But in my area there are not that many ortho's. And half the Ortho's told me they didn't want to take me on and that I should just go to a "University" to have multiple specialists under one roof. After I already told them I have my own periodontist and dentist. No way I am going to a University when I spent so long finding the right dentist and periodontist. I called a University and it felt very unprofessional.

Most of the ortho's I have gone to have said I am a brace case. And that I should likely do surgery. And maybe have some teeth extracted too. Of course all that doesn't sound as appealing as simply doing Invisalign. But the only braces docs I liked were the ones that told me they can't take me on, to a University for everything. The others I didn't feel very comfortable with on a personal level. One thing all the braces doctors have in common - they are all anti Invisalign. They offer their own aligners. Or, they have a different alligner product. Then there are 3 or 4 ortho's in my area that just want me to do Invisalign. They just happen to be at the top of Invisalign's site in my area. (top tiers). The braces docs aren't on the site at all.

The Braces docs say Invisalign will do literally nothing for me. Will not move my teeth at all. That Invisalign is weak. And a waste of my time. And I'll be back in 2 years to get braces if I choose Invisalign. Some have even implied that the Invisalign docs are just a money grab and it's what they do. I personally do not think these Invisalign docs need my money. At all. They seem plenty fine without my business. It's not like they don't do braces. They just want me in Invisalign. Their reasoning is because I have a lot of bone loss. They don't want too much force on my teeth. They say braces could damage my teeth. They say Invisalign will be less forceful, which is best for me. Also better for my perio situation to keep my teeth clean. They are 100 percent confident Invisalign can do exactly what braces can for me in terms of movement. And when I ask then why do these braces doctors say otherwise, they say because maybe these other docs don't specialize in Invisalign like we do. Which, is true. They all just happen to not do Invisalign and have their own aligners. And of course I know all aligners basically do the same thing. But it's possible what the Invisalign docs are saying is true, that the Braces docs just don't know Aligners like they do. And don't take on as many aligner cases. Another thing about the braces docs is they tell me things like all my teeth are gonna fall out and my mouth is a mess and basically call me ugly lol. The Invisalign docs say I am not so bad.

But then the other day a Braces Doc told me it's actually easier to keep my teeth clean in Braces, and that they can set braces to be light movement and not forceful. I don't know. And then I went to another Ortho who said - neither Braces or Invisalign will work for me, that if I don't do surgery I am wasting my time.

After all of this I had finally decided I am going to go with Invisalign. Not just for Invisalign but because I really liked this Ortho. She seemed to care a lot, and seemed smart. And addressed every concern. It just made sense. I believed in her and what she was saying. She assured me she could move my teeth with Invisalign. That it wouldn't be perfect, that she can't fix the cross bite, but can get everything straight. Widen the arches by a bit and that I could be happy. Happy with Camo Ortho. I was sold on this. But one of the braces ortho's commented that my face has sunken in. And now my head is right back to screw it I am getting the surgery. Which would be according to them Leforte or Sarpes or DJS. I guess it's up to me to decide since different ortho's have said different things. The surgeon was not helpful with that so now I am seeing different surgeons next month. I already know I am a candidate for Jaw surgery, so if I decide I want to do the surgery, what then? The invisalign doc I like is anti braces and anti surgery. *Note when I say Invisalign Doc I just mean she wants me in Invisalign over Braces. But where do I go from there, do I try to convince her to throw out her beliefs and move forward with braces and surgery? Or do I find a doc I don't like as much, that wants me in braces and wants surgery? Even though half of them wont' even take me on as a patient. Would she still be the right doctor for me if I can convince her of this? I assume it would be the call with the surgeon that would convince her, if anything. Then if its surgery, I guess I have to do braces, right?

The past year has been rough because I needed to do gum surgery to get my deep pockets down to get clearance for ortho. It was between standard Osseous surgery or Lanap. I wanted Lanap non invasive laser. But had to wait 7 months to get the appointment. Only one place in my area offered Lanap. I did it. And now finally cleared for Ortho. But now I am right back here again not sure what to do. I don't care if its braces or Invisalign. I really don't. But I do think, I think, I should do this surgery. But I am not sure. It could be a huge mistake. Or the best decision of my life. Also note, I need 2 implants and can't get the till ortho is complete and my teeth suck so I will have to do thousands of dollars in crowns/veneers once everything is in position anyways. Then probably be in a retainer for the rest of my life and perio maintenance check ups every 3 months till I am dead. I was initially doing a bunch of crowns because the dentists told me to but then finally a dentist said stop doing that. Do them after your ortho for proper positioning. At the least do temps. Since the teeth are not that bad. I felt dumb not knowing this. And resent the dentists that didn't care and just wanted me to do 10 crowns not considering I said I want to be in Ortho.

To explain the title of this post. This is what is killing me. I don't know how you all do it. I've been at this for years now. If I didn't work for myself, I have no clue how I would have even gotten as far as I did. Which funny enough is no where lol. Just a lot of knowledge now, but still feel like I know nothing. I've spent hours a day for 2-3 years on this. If its not doctors visits or waiting for doctors visits, its researching Reddit or just thinking about it. Of course people will make me think I am being neurotic. Doctors will say well this is what you get for going and getting all these opinions from people. Yea, and? What am I not supposed to listen to a doctor that says I could be making a huge mistake? Maybe I am neurotic. I just want to make the right choices. The painful part of that, is all the time that is going by. I'm not a young man anymore. To think even if I even do everything right I won't have my teeth finished until my early 50s. Then probably find out I have terminal disease in my mid 50s. I still feel young and care what I look like, a lot. But a little voice in my head will say what are you doing, no one cares what your jaw looks like in your 50's, you are in your 50's. I don't want to think that way though. I think I will always care what I look like. And then there is money/time. I have this overhwelming fear that the carpet will be pulled out from me in business. And I won't have time to do all this crap anymore. I have the money now to do it all. But who's to say I will moving forward? I'm not sure if anyone else feels that way. I just want to make decisions. And I don't understand after all this time how I have ended up right here smack on the fence when it comes to all dental.

I hate that my mind is all over the place. I've seen several orthos. Some wanted me in braces and surgery. Others said just do Invisalign no surgery. Saw a surgeon that said I would benefit from surgery but up to me. After months of thought I decided on Invisalign and was about to start, but then, started reading Reddit again and unsure, once again. Truly the hardest part of this whole thing was finding the right orthodontist. That seemed like they really cared. I found one and she seems smart and awesome and we have discussed all my concerns and she still says Invisalign and no surgery. I am in my mid 40s and she says I could regret the surgery and for me its just not worth it. And I'd be better off without it.

But now, in the past few days I've set up more meetings with Surgeons. If I find a surgeon I like. And want to go through with it. Do I go back to my Ortho I like and say hey I really want to do this? What happens then? She is anti-braces for me. But in most cases, if you do surgery they want you in braces. Not always but in many. Right? So if I say I want this surgery and she says okay and she will support it, does she just throw all her beliefs out the window? Even though I really like her, do I stick with her in that case? Or do I go back to one of the Ortho's I didn't like as much and go with them just because they believe in braces and surgery? I really did not like them much. It wasn't just because they wanted me to do surgery and extract teeth and so on. It was just the way they were. I mean I feel truly comfortable with the ortho I have now that wants me in Invisalign. How would she even react if I tell her this? Even if the surgeon calls her she still is against it. Or will she change her mind? I don't want to scare her away. I already seem complicated and trying to find the right person has been exhausting.

In my area, most of the ortho's that wanted me in braces said I'd likely need surgery. The one's that wanted me to do Invisalign don't want me to do surgery say I don't need it. But majority - of the ones that said they think I should do braces/surgery said they don't even want to take me on as a patient. They want me to go to a "university". Their reasoning because all the specialty docs are under one roof. Even after I already told them I have my own dentist, periodontist, and surgeon they still said this. And there is no way I am going to a University after all this. I already built "my team". I even called a University just for the heck of it to try and canceled because it felt so unprofessional.

I'm lost on this one. I was all set to do Invisalign (camo-ortho) and fine with it. But now after reading Reddit responses I want to do the surgery. The one thing I don't get about Reddit Jaw Surgery when I post for this. Is everyone says "just do it, changed my life". Most of the responses I got. But I still see these dozens of people on Reddit saying they regret doing it. Yet none of them respond to my posts lol. There is a risk I might regret it, and I guess I don't care, I'll still do it. One thing I should note, I am not doing this at all for health reasons. No sleeping problems, no clicking, no pain, nothing at all. Just doesn't look right. That is why my doc says it's not worth it. She also said it can make my bone loss worse. But then I just read somewhere where it could make my bone loss better. I have no idea what to believe now. I do have a lot of bone loss so I have to consider that. And I'm in my mid 40s.

Hi there, so there are only so many orthodontists in my area. And I've been to all of them. A few want me in Invisalign and the rest wanted me in braces and possible jaw surgery. Majority of the ones that said braces/surgery all said they cannot or will not take me on as a patient. That I would get much better care at a "university" where they have different types of doctors there. I was not given an option, they just said go there.

I'm leaning towards Invisalign mainly because of this. I liked some of those docs that told me to go to a University. They of course don't say the university thing till the end of the consultation. They all say the same thing, that I need multiple doctors of different backgrounds to work on me that all have good communication, special attention and unity. When I press them - and ask them what type of doctors already knowing the answer. They say "Dentist, Periodontist, Surgeon...and so on" When I say um Okay I already have all those keep going, they don't have anything else to say.

I'll be honest, I find this very frustrating and insulting. I do not want to go to a University. But I tried calling 2 of the local ones just for the heck of it. And everything felt so unprofessional. I get it might work for some. But I don't want a student working on me that's being overlooked. I want to see a doctor with a company name and that has reviews online and has been doing this for years. And I don't want services for cheaper. And when I call the last thing I feel from them is special attention, unity or good communication.

But I can't seem to figure out why these docs are telling me to go to a University by the end of the consult. The docs even say that in all or most cases of every patient that walks in they need to have communication with a dentist/and or periodontist. They also say how many jaw surgery patients they have had. So what am I missing? Do they just not like me? I press and ask and they can't seem to give a legit answer. They say well you need all these doctors under one roof in the same location. No, you really don't. They contradict everything they are saying because they deal with periodontists and dentists and surgeons all day.

If it is just the fact that they don't want to take on the extra work, why not say find another orthodontist that would gladly take all that on. Because I know there are tons, just unfortunately not tons or ortho's in my area. I can't help but feel insulted that they are telling me to go to a University. Even when I say no not interested they still say it. Anyone else been through that?

I'm in my 40s. I am about to start Ortho. I saw a few orthodontists. Half told I need surgery to fix anything. Cross bite, edge to edge and reverse smile here. They said there is no way I can widen my bite without jaw surgery. Even say braces and Invisalign is a waste of my time and will not move my teeth. That if I don't do jaw surgery I am basically doing little to nothing with standard ortho and there will be no difference.

But then half the other Orthodontists say they specialize in Invisalign. That I do not need jaw surgery. That they don't think it's right for me. They stress that jaw surgery has its complications too and that there is risk. They do admit that my smile won't be perfect in the end of Invisalign. They admit they can't really fix the crossbite. But they say they can move my teeth and get them straight and give me a good outcome and get them in the right position. They also seem concerned about jaw surgery when it comes to my perio issues. I have a lot of bone loss. I did gum surgery and am now cleared for ortho by my periodontist.

It's been a very difficult decision to make. But I'm leaning towards just doing Invisalign. I was almost set on jaw surgery a few weeks ago. Been to a jaw surgeon and they said I can do SARPE or Double Jaw. Now I don't have TMJ or breathing problems or anything uncomfortable.

There was one thing though that is really in my mind. An ortho I spoke with last week mentioned something called Leforte. He said I have to do it. I never even heard of it. He said it's not just about my bite, or getting my teeth straight. It's about my face too. Then he said my face is kind of sunken in. And commented on my deep nasolabial folds. No one has ever said these things to me. So kind of was rough to hear. He said surgery will fix this. I went back to the ortho's that want me in Invisalign and they said they don't agree. They don't think my face is that bad.

It's a weird place to be in. I hate my face. I used to but I don't anymore. I see a monster. Which makes me want to do the surgery. But I feel like I should just listen to the doctors saying Invisalign will be good enough. This would have been a lot easier if everyone just agreed I should do jaw surgery. I'd be doing it to look better. Which is a good reason to do it. But I do believe it's risky. I see some people on here that say they look great after it. Then some that are very disappointed by their new face. My surgeon said she has been doing this for years and has never once had a complaint. After reading all these regret stories on Reddit, how is that possible? Maybe she is just lying?

But yes I am very much leaning now to just start Invisalign. I think. I mean why would these doctors that want me in Invisalign steer me wrong? I don't see what they have to gain by doing so. They would still get my business doing surgery and putting me in braces.

They all say I'm a complex case. Cross bite, edge to edge, reverse smile. I've been to multiple orthodontists. Some want me in braces and say I am wasting my time with Invisalign. Some ortho's say they specialize in Invisalign and can treat me just as well with Invisalign as with braces. And that with my specific case, I need to do invisalign.

The doctors that are saying Invisalign is a waste of my time, feel very strongly about it. Not maybe a waste of my time. They are saying definitely that Invisalign will move nothing. That I need braces and some say I def need jaw surgery. I realize most commenters on here believe this as well. I see many comments that if you are a complex case, braces all the way. Or jaw surgery must be done. Anyone here believe that is not entirely true for every case? Because I am very much leaning towards Invisalign.

The doctors that want me in Invisalign - their argument is - I do not need jaw surgery. Even though they admit jaw surgery is the only thing that can really widen my bite entirely, they are still saying Invisalign. One they say jaw surgery comes with risks also. That is not a definite cure. They also say that the force braces will use on my teeth is why they don't want me in braces. They are very confident Invisalign will move my teeth. They also say Invisalign is good for me because of my perio problems. Even though been cleared, I have lots of bone loss. They say braces can damage my teeth with too much movement too fast. And that its possible I could regret jaw surgery. They admit I won't be perfect in the end with Invisalign, but that its the right choice for me. That they can get my teeth in the right place. But not really fix the cross bite entirely.

Is there anyone here that has been in my position that has had success with Invisalign? Even though most will say it's not right for complex cases.

I am unsure who to pick for Invisalign. There is a practice that has the head doctor and multiple doctors under her, and coordinators. And multiple people working there in general. She is a top Invisalign provider in the area. However, the coordinator says the head doctor only is there for the first clincheck and then different doctors will be doing that work throughout. And the head doctor does not approve the clinchecks either for the rest of the case. Which means I really need to trust her team. Shes in magazines and tons of people go to her practice. She says she has handled many complex cases. And has been around for years doing complex cases.

The smaller practice. She is not diamond like the bigger practice is. But she is about 2 tiers down. Very small ortho practice. It's just her there and her assistant. She seems smart, passionate, caring, and seems confident. Hasn't been around for as many years as the bigger practice. No coordinators. She has done some complex cases as well but I would assume not as many as the bigger practice just because not as many people come there. But she said she will be handling my case, all clinchecks and all visits from beginning to end. Which, I would think is a great thing right?

I was a little confused when I found out the head doctor at the bigger practice would not be apart of my treatment from beginning to end to even sign off on the clinchecks aside from the first one. The coordinator said the first clincheck is the most important one, which she is apart of. The rest I just have to have trust. But in the smaller practice the doctor said each clincheck is very important for success and she is apart of them all.

Can the smaller practice be just as good as the bigger practice when it comes to dealing with more complicated cases? And should I be choosing a doctor that wants to be apart of my case from beginning to end?

I am torn right now. All of the doctors call me a complex case. After seeing multiple orthodontists I am now down to 2 orthodontists. I can't decide between them. One is a smaller practice. And the other one is a bigger practice. I don't mean size of the office. I just mean how many patients they are dealing with.

The smaller one - it's a very nice office, she seems very sweet and caring, takes her time with me. Been around for a few years. Seems very confident in her skills with me being a complex case. It's just her and a person that works the front desk. There is no treatment coordinator that works there. When I walk in I am the only person in the waiting room each time I go. She will be handling my treatment from beginning to end. The Clinchecks and all. I believe even the checkup appointments too.

The bigger one - Top invisalign provider in my area. There are multiple doctors that work there that work under the head doctor. 2 Treatment coordinators. Multiple people just in general. The head doctor I am seeing is very well known for Invisalign success. Written up in magazines. He's been around for years. When I walk in there are always some people in the waiting room. I was set on going with him. But I called up today to make sure he is a part of my treatment from beginning to end. They said he does the first clincheck which they said is most important. And then from there no guarantee he will be doing the rest of them. But that the other doctors have been trained by him, all think like him, and that they are just as good. I asked if I could please request him to handle my clinchecks from beginning to end since he is the reason I am coming to the practice. Or at the very least give them a final approval. The coordinator said I can talk to him about that at my next meeting. But that is not how they typically work. I get I am supposed to trust him as the head doctor, but I feel like if he is not the one using his own brain on these clinchecks how do I trust him?

How I feel about that - I am kind of disappointed that he can't take on my case entirely and be the one to do all my clinchecks. I get he doesn't have to be there for just the checkups. But I don't see why he can't be the one to do the clinchecks or at the very least approve them all. He called me a very complex case so I would think he would want to be apart of my treatment. He called me a rare case. As the head of the practice why would you not want to be involved in that? I know the coordinator said I can ask him about it next visit, but I feel like I shouldn't have to ask. I feel like she should have just said sure if that is what you want he will do that. I did say back "well why wouldn't he want to be apart of the final decision if I am a complex case". She said well they have a lot of complex cases. Every other orthodontist I've spoken to, they all have the main doctor handle the treatment decisions from beginning to end. Or at least sign off on what their other doctors say. I get I am supposed to trust his team, which I would, but still something feels off about that, because he's not even approving it. It's hard for me to accept someone is making final decisions on my teeth that I have never met. But everyone goes to this place so they must be doing something right. I don't know, am I overthinking this? I don't feel I am, but maybe I am.

I am now leaning towards the smaller practice. But the big question with that is, if he does so many more cases than her a month, wouldn't that make him the better choice? He's a diamond and I think she is like 2 below that. She said each clincheck is important for me. The bigger practice said the first clincheck is really the most important. I don't know who to pick. Can she be just as good as him for my case even though he has so much more experience and see's so many more cases a month? I would think every clincheck is important. It just seems common sense to think that is correct.

I am torn right now. Doctors all call me a complex case. After seeing multiple orthodontists I am now down to 2 orthodontists. I can't decide between them. One is a smaller practice. And one is a bigger practice. I don't mean size of the office. I just mean how many patients they are dealing with.

The smaller one - it's a very nice office, she seems very sweet and caring, takes her time with me. Been around for a few years. Seems very confident in her skills with me being a complex case. It's just her and a person that works the front desk. There is no treatment coordinator that works there. When I walk in I am the only person in the waiting room each time I go. She will be handling my treatment from beginning to end. The Clinchecks and all. I believe even the checkup appointments too.

The bigger one - Top invisalign provider in my area. There are multiple doctors that work there that work under the head doctor. 2 Treatment coordinators. Multiple people just in general. The head doctor I am seeing is very well known for Invisalign success. Written up in magazines. He's been around for years. When I walk in there are always some people in the waiting room. I was set on going with him. But I called up today to make sure he is a part of my treatment from beginning to end. They said he does the first clincheck which they said is most important. And then from there no guarantee he will be doing the rest of them. But that the other doctors have been trained by him, all think like him, and that they are just as good. I asked if I could please request him to handle my clinchecks from beginning to end since he is the reason I am coming to the practice. Or at the very least give them a final approval. The coordinator said I can talk to him about that at my next meeting. But that is not how they typically work.

How I feel about that - I am kind of disappointed that he can't take on my case entirely and be the one to do all my clinchecks. I get he doesn't have to be there for just the checkups. But I don't see why he can't be the one to do the clinchecks or at the very least approve them all. He called me a very complex case so I would think he would want to be apart of my treatment. I know the coordinator said I can ask him about it next visit, but I feel like I shouldn't have to ask. I feel like she should have just said sure if that is what you want he will do that. Every other orthodontist I've spoken to, they all have the main doctor handle the treatment decisions from beginning to end. Or at least sign off on what their other doctors say. I get I am supposed to trust his team, which I would, but still something feels off about that, because he's not even approving it. It's hard for me to accept someone is making final decisions on my teeth that I have never met. But everyone goes to this place so they must be doing something right. I don't know, am I overthinking this? I don't feel I am, but maybe I am.

I am now leaning towards the smaller practice. But the big question with that is, if he does so many more cases than her a month, wouldn't that make him the better choice? He's a diamond and I think she is like 2 below that. She said each clincheck is important for me. The bigger practice said the first clincheck is really the most important. I don't know who to pick. Can she be just as good as him for my case even though he has so much more experience and see's so many more cases a month? I would think every clincheck is important. It just seems common sense to think that is correct.