“Don't Believe Your Dentist - It's a Business - Italy”

Hi Britt,
The only reason I seemed to need any treatment was because my jaw had moved to accommodate the large crowns on the two front teeth (which I broke 25 years ago) and which my dentist had replaced about 15 years ago. He should have known that the first thing to do was to try with new smaller crowns. But he saw the opportunity to make some money of someone who trusted him. I'm not making this up - I'm absolutely convinced of this. There was NO need for the Invisalign treatment. You don't cut your toes off if you need new shoes. It might have been ok if he had only got me to do the first lot of retainers (about three months) but then of course the situation was the same - the bottom teeth still touched the top teeth, or rather, crowns and he literally forced me into going on with a so-called refinement, reducing the space for my tongue and moving my top teeth so far back that a specialist has pointed out that my lower jaw is now forced too far back towards my backbone. I don't want to use swearwords, but sometimes I wake up at night and don't know what to do. I am in the process of suing my dentist but the so-called experts won't see what the problem is because they are just looking at the 'aesthetic' point of view. He even ruined that aspect too. I could do on for hours on this. I am so distraught now because I will have to trust someone now to put all this if not right then at least a little more nearer normality. My dentist was flippant, didn't know what he was doing, used me I think as a learning curve and will not take responsibility for what he has done. And it's difficult to prove. I am in constant pain and discomfort and don't know what step to take now. DO NOT TRUST YOUR DENTIST. DENTISTRY IS A BUSINESS AND THEY ARE ALL OUT TO MAKE MONEY.
Susan

I would very highly recommend that people go to an ORTHODONTIST for Invisalign. Susan is absolutely right, it's all about money for the dentists. In contrast, orthodontists actually know how to approach it aesthetically and understand teeth movement wayyy more than a dentist. Think, Invisalign are pretty much removable braces. Would you go to a dentist for braces? I sure wouldn't. Sorry to hear about all you are going through Susan!

-Trevor

My dentist's surgery offered the whole gamut of treatment from cosmetic to orthodontist, and he was someone I trusted because I had been to him for years. He definitely took advantage of that. If we're talking advice for people who haven't started any treatment, then it's the questions to be asked that are important. You just don't know what questions to ask at the beginning. Ask to be told in detail what all the treatment options are (Invisalign treatments are expensive and they make a mint from them), get second opinions, ask about results of previous patients, ask specifically if anyone has not been satisfied with the result, ask exactly how many treatments the practitioner has handled before, and once all the impressions have been done, ask the practitioner to explain, with reference to the impressions, exactly WHY you need this treatment and WHAT will be done (before they show you the video work sent back by Invisalign), and ask HOW the practitioner is going to do the measurements (it's basic geometry at the end of the day, but they can get it wrong as I know to my cost). I also recommend getting a worst case scenario on paper from the dentist, just to protect yourself if anything does go wrong.
You can probably tell I am incredibly angry. I now realise that there are impressions along the right side of my tongue where the molars were moved too far towards the middle of my mouth. Once I have done all I can to resolve the situation I may very well name the practitioner too. Don't want to get into legal trouble though.
Susan

Britt and Trevor - I was so wrapped up in my own stuff that I didn't thank you both for your good wishes. Thanks for the moral support.
Susan