Invisalign First - Phase 1 - Orthodontics for 10-yr old

KaraZorEl on 19/06/2025 - 13:45
Last edited 19/06/2025 - 14:43 by 1 other user

Hi,

My 10-year-old has been recommended a Phase 1 orthodontic treatment to address overcrowding and a crossbite, primarily through palate expansion. We've been given two options: Invisalign or metal braces. We're leaning towards Invisalign as it appears easier to manage and is less conspicuous, though interestingly, the metal braces with expander option is slightly more expensive - by a few hundred dollars.

The proposed treatment is approximately 18 months long, includes 40 sets of aligners, and is quoted at $7,000. We’ve been told that Phase 1 is intended to expand the jaw and correct the bite, and it should reduce the time and cost of Phase 2 treatment, likely needed around age 14 to straighten teeth fully. The cost includes monthly (or more frequent) review appointments.

I’m hoping to hear from others with similar experiences:

• Does this cost for Phase 1 seem reasonable?
• If your child underwent Phase 1 treatment, did it help reduce the duration or complexity of later treatment?
• For those who chose Invisalign - how did your child cope with wearing it consistently (22 hours a day)? I’m slightly concerned that my child might forget to put it back in after eating, especially at school.
• We have orthodontics covered ($2000 lifetime limit) as part of private insurance extras. If we change our provider and serve the 12 month waiting period, does it mean we could be covered again for orthodontics with a new provider? Eg: If we need another round of orhtodontics in few years?

Is there anything else I should be asking or checking with the provider? We will be opting for the interest free monthly payments.

Thanks in advance for your insights.

• 

  Duckie2hh on 19/06/2025 - 13:57

  +2

  Get a second opinion/quote.

  10 yrs old seems a bit young.

  • 

    holdenmg on 19/06/2025 - 14:03

    Lots of good info @
    https://www.riversdaleortho.com.au/

  • 

    Bruceflix on 19/06/2025 - 14:11

    +1

    One of my children had obvious signs of crowding at that age. Our Orthodontist wouldn't touch it and told us to wait until they'd lost all their baby teeth. Getting braces next week.
    Price seems about right. I would question the age.

  • 

    87percent on 19/06/2025 - 14:51

    Was wondering why nowadays you see kids like 8-9 years old with braces. “Back in my day” it was 13-14

    • 

      Bruceflix on 19/06/2025 - 14:59

      “Back in my day” it was 13-14

      I believe it still is but sometimes parents think they know better than medical professionals, go against advice, so they can pose their kid for that Instagram perfect smile.

      • 

        KaraZorEl on 19/06/2025 - 16:31

        +5

        So, following evidence-based advice from a specialist is considered “going against” guidance or thinking we know better? Orthodontic assessments are actually recommended between ages 7 and 9.

        https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/benefits-of-early-treat…

        The reason we’re considering early braces is not to achieve perfectly straight teeth at this stage - in fact, this treatment won’t result in full alignment, but rather to correct the functional crossbite and prevent the midline deviation from developing into a skeletal asymmetry and causing TMJ (jaw) issues. While it may be possible to address these issues during the teenage years, delaying treatment increases the risk that the jaw remains too narrow, which could result in the need for permanent tooth extractions or even jaw surgery later on.

        I’m glad the Ortho deemed that treatment during the teenage years is sufficient in your case, but dental care isn’t one-size-fits-all. Thanks for sharing.

• 

  BlackorRed on 19/06/2025 - 14:11

  10 y.o is a bit too young for braces, not all tooth are matured enough, get second opinion. My son is 15 y.o and he was told to wait until summer school holiday to start processing

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  knasty on 19/06/2025 - 15:09

  +1

  My wife and one child had braces for between 18 months and 24 months - about $7k. For the youngest we were given the option of Invisalign or braces as the crowding was less severe. Whilst we were initially leaning towards Invisalign the dentist advised us that braces would significantly reduce the total time given the extra adjustability, and ultimately we'd get a better result, so we went with that. She is 13 - again dentist advised 13-14 is the ideal time. I have another family member who had braces at 10 and needed another set later in his teenage years due to movement. My understanding is the orthodontic rebate is a once in a lifetime thing and doesn;t renew when changing cover, but I could be wrong.

• 

  Ozymandias on 19/06/2025 - 15:15

  +1

  This is purely anecdotal, but I was deemed to need a plate expander and then braces to correct overcrowding and an overbite at age 12 or so for around $8k all up. My parents simply couldn't afford it so I went entirely without, and while my teeth aren't perfect by any means, no dentist I've seen as an adult has said there's a health issue with my teeth related to that.
  Now at age 30 I'm humouring Invisalign for some minor cosmetic correction, but honestly my smile is pretty normal and I don't really need it.
  Tl;dr, I'm not upset that I didn't get the treatment and it's possible your child will 'grow' into their smile with time (but again, this is just my experience, I wouldn't go against medical advice based on just me).

• 

  Purley23 on 19/06/2025 - 15:16

  +3

  I know adults who have struggled with keeping up with Invisalign or breaking it and needing to get replacements. At that age I would go metal braces. Both my kids have had braces at 10 before baby teeth were all out to guide teeth into the correct positions when they came through due to overcrowding and to avoid root impactions which could have required endontic treatment down the line. One had an expander which was very successful. Orthodontists should do a full X-ray around the age of 7 to see position of adult teeth and whether any potential problems that could be avoided by early orthodontic treatment.

  • 

    KaraZorEl on 19/06/2025 - 15:49

    +1

    @Purley23 - Thanks for sharing your children's experience. Yes, we got a comprehensive 3D xray and orthodontist was able to point out the overcrowding of unerupted teeth and the fact that my child had an hourglass shaped jaw, which contributed to the crossbite and midline misalignment. We have been taking our child to dentist for general cleaning since the age of 4 to get them accustomed to dentists and two seperate dentists over the last 2 years recommended seeing an orthodontist for possible use of expanders, this led us to consider the early treatment.

    We were convinced with the findings and need to treatment but wanted to see whether braces or aligners would yield better results.

    • 

      Purley23 on 20/06/2025 - 09:38

      With conventional braces they also as some stage can do the removable elastics from top to bottom to get the bite exactly aligned top and bottom. I don't know how they can achieve this with Invisalign but might be worth asking. If you are particularly worried about the aesthetics (and I wouldn't be, so many kids have braces it's a non-issue), you can ask for ceramic fixings on the top teeth over the silver metal ones. Our orthodontist provides these at no extra cost but some do charge extra. You can barely tell mine are wearing braces as they choose the light coloured bands around the ceramics. If they start to do the different colour bands though they will be more obvious but a lot of kids like having them and you can change the colour every 8 weeks.

• 

  Trance N Dance on 19/06/2025 - 15:20

  +1

  Does this cost for Phase 1 seem reasonable?

  Its hard to say without knowing the full extent of treatment but the cost is within the realm of reason.

  If your child underwent Phase 1 treatment, did it help reduce the duration or complexity of later treatment?

  That is the idea. The point of interceptive/phase 1 treatment is to create space by expanding the bones at an age where they haven't fused and can be moved, and thus space can actually be gained.

  For those who chose Invisalign - how did your child cope with wearing it consistently (22 hours a day)? I’m slightly concerned that my child might forget to put it back in after eating, especially at school.

  That is a question for you and your child to discuss truthfully and without judgement before you start treatment. You know your child best and be honest with the child about which option to pick so that there's no disappointments later on during or after treatment.

  We have orthodontics covered ($2000 lifetime limit) as part of private insurance extras. If we change our provider and serve the 12 month waiting period, does it mean we could be covered again for orthodontics with a new provider? Eg: If we need another round of orhtodontics in few years?

  Orthodontic limits are supposed to be carried forward between insurers, so no, there's no double dipping.

  Is there anything else I should be asking or checking with the provider?

  At this age, see if myofunctional therapy is still applicable and plausible. There are some nutters out there who swear on just myofunctional therapy, but like most things out there the truth is probably somewhere in the middle with a little bit of A and a little bit of B.

• 

  Benoffie on 19/06/2025 - 16:56

  Ours started in paediatric orthodontics and then had braces by 13. He should have had them sooner tbh.

  We went standard braces with spacers etc. Invisilign is a pita at school and kids get frustrated with the process. Also yeachers are not there to support that so any issues require a trip to First Aid/Front Office.

  $7k seems rich. We paid just shy of that for everything over 3 years with a semi permanent retainer afterwards

• 

  furyou on 19/06/2025 - 22:30

  +1

  Strangers on ozb are indeed the best people for advice on child orthodontics. Don't trust those overly qualified dontists.

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  Purley23 on 20/06/2025 - 09:47

  Regarding comments on age, it also depends how quickly a child will lose their baby teeth and an orthodontist can advise on this. Mine lost all baby teeth by 11 and had braces from 10/11-13 years (one still has). Both had braces on before all baby-teeth were through but dentist just left gaps in the braces as necessary to let teeth fall out and then put extra brackets on when they new tooth was through. It was easier guiding the teeth into the correct position than fixing them up once they were through and more chance they will remain in place one braces are off. Some kids don't lose all baby teeth till much later. Kids who lose their first tooth later (like age 8 or 9 compared to age 4/5) will lose baby teeth later (like 15/16 compared to 11/12)

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  Davo1111 on 20/06/2025 - 12:23

  Save the money and get metal braces. Every other kid has them. Who cares what he looks like now. It's long term you're trying to fix.

  My ortho would turn down braces for me for several years as my mouth hadn't developed enough for braces. I got the impression that some orthos wanted the income /private health money. I admire that guy for not wasting our time and having braces on me for the shortest period of time.

  (He was also fixed price, so 2 years of ortho would save him money rather than 5 years of unnecessary ortho)

  • 

    jv on 24/06/2025 - 11:44

    Save the money and get metal braces.

    Did you read? They got quoted more for metal ones…

    Also, the metal ones are more dangerous during electical storms.

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  jv on 24/06/2025 - 11:43

  My kids were about 14 when they got Invisalign.

  Price was similar… Got about $2K back each from insurance.