My Invisalign Didn’t Work

I need some advice. I paid almost $5k for Invisalign. The purpose was to fix my midline and close up some space between teeth four and five. He worked the computer and said that it should fix in nine months. Nine months came and went. The area closed up but the midline still had problems. We did another nine months, still no result. I got very frustrated because now he is talking about a full set of porcelain veneers. I went to see an orthodontist and he said Invislign never should have been used for this and it needs traditional orthodontics. I feel like I’ve wasted a year and a half and $5,000. Is there a way to get my money back on this?

Karen

Dear Karen,

While fixing a midline is a bit trickier than some other cases, it can sometimes be repaired with Invisalign. I’d be curious to know if this an orthodontist who also does Invisalign or is one of the orthodontists who eschews Invisalign. Some orthodontists see it as a threat and don’t recommend it under any circumstances. My recommendation would be to get a second opinion from an orthodontist who does both procedures. Then, if he or she says that Invisalign was inappropriate in your particular case then you’ll have a better chance of getting a refund.

There have been major advancements with Invisalign and they can do many things that traditional braces can do. However, there are those more complicated situations where you really need a specialist. Your typical dentist may rely too heavily on Invisalign’s advances and hope things will work out.

You should also be aware that there is another type of clear aligner braces, Spark aligners, that are only available through orthodontists. These have some advantages over Invisalign. When you get that second opinion, see if those will work better for you. They may keep you from needing metal braces.

As to how to go about getting that refund,  I would start with just politely asking. This will be easier with that recommendation from an orthodontist who does both procedures. If that doesn’t work, you can threaten to take it to the dental board. You have another practitioner on your side, so this will be a black mark on his record he would not really want. Finally, you can get a lawyer. I don’t think it should come to that if you have someone who does both procedures backing you up, but be prepared for that possibility.

This blog is brought to you by Bee Cave Orthodontist Dr. Alberto Tostado.