Our dentists at Guildford Heights Dental Centre often treat adults who are aiming to straighten their teeth. Patients often wonder if Invisalign is still an option for them if they have existing advanced dental work including crowns, veneers and implants. Our Surrey dentists explain how this may be possible.
Whether you have mild crowding, sleep apnea or more complex bite issues, your dentist may recommend Invisalign as a treatment option to help straighten your teeth and correct your orthodontic problems. With many adults choosing to straighten their smile later in life, it's more likely that many of these patients will have advanced dental work including crowns, veneers and implants.
Fortunately, we still may be able to use Invisalign to straighten your teeth if one of these additional treatments are already in place.
How is my smile impacted by missing teeth?
Missing teeth are a fairly common problem but a serious one that can negatively impact your oral health. Beyond leaving a gap in your mouth, missing teeth can also lead to misalignment in your bite and remaining teeth, and even bone loss.
You may also notice wrinkles gradually become more pronounced. Fortunately, even if you've needed dental treatments such as dental implants or others to replace missing teeth, Invisalign may still be a treatment option for you.
Invisalign After Crowns
You and your dentist will likely run into a few potential issues if you are currently wearing dental crowns or bridges and considering Invisalign. To be considered an ideal candidate for Invisalign, your teeth need to be well-rooted and your crowns should be attached and firmly sealed to your teeth.
One advantage of wearing Invisalign with a crown is that you won't need to have brackets attached to your teeth, which helps avoid the problem of a crown becoming loose or detaching from your teeth.
Your dentist might also use a clear attachment on your teeth which will act to protect the crown.
Invisalign After Veneers
If you are wanting to change the colour, shape or size of a tooth, your dentist may recommend porcelain veneers. These cosmetic dental restorations that are custom-fit to your teeth to make them appear more even.
That said, if you also have misalignment issues your dentist might also recommend Invisalign to straighten your teeth, or correct bite problems or misalignment and other oral health issues that may appear after you've already had dental veneers.
If your veneers are properly bonded and have kept your teeth healthy and strong, Invisalign may be an option for you, with attachments to make them fit more snugly. Ask your dentist whether this will present a problem, as a veneer may limit the movement of your teeth and bite.
Invisalign After Dental Implants
Depending on your dental issue, your dentist may suggest getting Invisalign before dental implants as part of your custom treatment plan. However, if your dentist suspects you may need more bone support in your jaw or your jawbone may deteriorate by the time you receive your implant, you and your dentist may need to consider other options.
If needed, dental implants can be placed during your Invisalign treatment. Your dentist will need to determine the correct sequence based on your needs. Remember the dental implant will be permanent.
It may also be possible to have Invisalign after dental implants. If this is an option, your dentist will create a treatment plan for you that addresses the teeth surrounding the dental implant to leave you with a straighter smile overall.
Every case is unique and each individual patient will have special circumstances and needs. Whichever restorations or other dental work you may have, discuss your best options for repairing your bite issues or other problems with your dentist.