Which is better, Invisalign or traditional braces?

I get this question a lot. Invisalign and braces are just tools that your orthodontist uses, each applies force to teeth. The difference is the orthodontist providing the treatment. Most every orthodontist is very comfortable using braces. It's what we have been using since the first day of residency. Invisalign experience, however, can vary greatly from one doctor to the next as there is a huge learning curve is using this appliance. Some doctors may say you aren't a "candidate" for Invisalign, and in their hands that may be the case so it's a true and honest answer. Another doctor may say you're perfect for Invisalign due to their experience using the appliance so you can get two opposite, yet truthful answers. 99% of the time, I can get the same result whether using braces or Invisalign because I treat hundreds of people with Invisalign every year. Think of Invisalign like learning to play a guitar. You have beginners, and you have Eddie Van Halen. Another analogy I use is Invisalign treatment isn't like buying a Suburban from a Chevy dealership where you can find the same exact car anywhere, and the only difference is price. Invisalign treatment pricing is going to vary vastly as well as the results Researching doctor experience is critical to getting an end result that you want especially in the more difficult treatments where bite alignment is needed or there is lots of crowding.

I've heard of people having issues with Invisalign after treatment is over and developing TMJ symptoms or messing with their bite.

That hasn't been my experience using Invisalign. I'd make sure that those people weren't using a certain aligner company that you see on TV and social media all the time where they never see a doctor in person. The term "Invisalign" is many times used interchangeably for any clear aligner like Kleenex is for tissue. I have heard of these problems occurring many times and have already seen three of those patients show up in my office with bite problems. I've found the opposite in the patients I've treated with Invisalign. Many times it acts like a "poor man's nightguard" because the plastic covers your teeth giving nightguard-like effects during treatment. Again, realize your doctor is the one designing your treatment. Invisalign only manufactures the plastic aligners we use as our tool.

I also have a friend who had Invisalign and wears her retainer every night, but her teeth still seem to shift. I just want a SUPER PERMANENT solution.

Teeth naturally want to shift throughout your life whether you use braces or Invisalign. Orthodontists used to think that after removing your wisdom teeth and wearing your retainer a certain number of years that "stability" was achieved. We now know that isn't true. Wisdom teeth aren't the devil as we once thought. Forces on your teeth cause teeth to shift such as: clenching, grinding, jaw growth, or a poor bite. Getting straight teeth is only part of the answer. If you don't have a stable bite to go with it, your alignment will start to tank. It's hard to know exactly what your friend's situation is, but night time wear works for 99% of my patients. The only super permanent solution is either permanent retainers or retainers at night for life.