Patients often come to us wondering if Invisalign is still an option for them if they have existing dental work including veneers, implants or crowns. Our Surrey dentists explain how adults may still be able to straighten their teeth with Invisalign.
Whether you are battling crooked teeth, mild crowding, complex bite issues or you have sleep apnea or some other orthodontic issue, your dentist may recommend Invisalign as a treatment option to help straighten your teeth and correct your bite.
Many adults are deciding to straighten their teeth later in life and so are more likely to have advanced dental work including crowns, implants and veneers.
Fortunately, Invisalign still may be an option for you if you've already had one of these additional treatments.
How can missing teeth impact my smile?
While missing teeth are a fairly common problem, this is a serious issue that can have negative implications for your oral health. Beyond the obvious problem of leaving a gap in your mouth, missing teeth can also cause your bite and remaining teeth to become misaligned. Bone loss is also possible.
Wrinkles may gradually become more pronounced. Fortunately, even if you've had treatments such as dental crowns or others to replace missing teeth, you may still be a candidate for Invisalign.
Invisalign After Crowns
If you currently have dental bridges or crowns and are thinking about Invisalign, you and your dentist may run into a few potential issues. Good candidates for Invisalign should have teeth that are well-rooted and your crowns should be attached and firmly sealed to your teeth.
With Invisalign, you won't need to have brackets on your teeth, which can help avoid the issue of a crown becoming loose or detaching. Your dentist might also recommend a clear attachment to protect the crown on your tooth.
Invisalign After Veneers
Are you aiming to change the size, shape or colour of a tooth? Porcelain veneers may be the treatment option for you. These custom-fit cosmetic dental restorations make. your teeth appear more symmetrical.
However, if you are also dealing with misalignment issues, your dentist might recommend Invisalign to straighten your teeth, or correct misalignment or bite problems along with other oral health issues that may come up after you've had dental veneers.
Invisalign may be an option if your veneers are properly bonded and have worked to keep your teeth healthy and strong. The dentist may recommend attachments to help the veneers fit more snugly. Ask your dentist whether this will be an issue, as tooth and bite movement can be limited by veneers.
Invisalign After Dental Implants
You may need dental implants as part of your treatment plan, depending on your dentist's findings after an assessment. That said, some patients are also suffering from a deteriorating jawbone or need more support in their jawbone before implants can be placed.
If required, there may be a possibility of coordinating your dental implant and Invisalign treatment. Your dental team will need to determine the correct sequence for you depending on your needs. Keep in mind that the dental implant will be permanent.
The dentist can create a treatment plan for you that addresses your needs, including the remaining teeth around the dental implant, to help you achieve a straignter smile.
Because each case is unique, you should discuss your best options for correcting your orthodontic and other issues with your dentist.