While Invisalign is marketed as a convenient, flexible alternative to braces, it has several major downsides that can lead to longer treatment times, frustrated parents, and unpredictable results.
Downsides
Lost or Forgotten Trays: One of the biggest challenges with Invisalign is patient compliance. Kids and teens often: Lose their trays at school or in the lunchroom; Forget to wear them for the required 20–22 hours per day; Leave them out during meals and never put them back in. Each time a tray is lost or not worn enough, it delays treatment progress and can result in additional refinement trays, extra appointments, and increased costs. With braces, there’s no compliance issue—patients don’t have the option to take them off! This makes treatment far more predictable and efficient.
Treatment Time Extensions: When patients don’t wear their trays properly, their teeth don’t move as planned. This leads to: Extended treatment times; More refinements; More appointments. On the other hand, braces have consistent, controlled movement that isn’t dependent on the patient’s habits. The doctor remains in full control of treatment progress, which means faster, more predictable results.
Parent Frustration with Compliance: I’ve had many parents return to my office frustrated because their child wasn’t wearing their Invisalign trays enough, leading to delays. In some cases, they even wished they had chosen braces from the start. Braces remove the responsibility from the patient, making them a less stressful treatment choice for parents.