Invisalign continues to gain popularity as a clear alternative to traditional orthodontics for straightening smiles. This service utilizes transparent plastic trays that fit over your arches to exert gentle but consistent pressure to shift your teeth to their ideal places.
However, plenty of people who have pre-existing dental works, such as veneers, dental crowns, or a dental bridge, wonder whether it’s feasible for them to undergo treatment with Invisalign. If you’re considering upgrading your grin, continue reading to learn more about whether these trays work effectively on previous restorations!
Invisalign and Veneers
Veneers are thin, ceramic shells that are customized to match the size, shape, and color of your teeth. Then, they’re cemented to the fronts of your enamel to mask one or more aesthetic concerns, such as chips, cracks, stubborn stains, or even mild gaps or overcrowding.
In some cases, patients with veneers can still successfully complete Invisalign, but it can depend on the circumstances. For instance, if the covers are securely bonded to your teeth and are in good condition, then clear aligners can potentially shift your teeth. However, there’s a chance the pressure exerted by the clear trays might damage or dislodge the porcelain restorations, so many dentists recommend completing this treatment prior to pursuing other cosmetic procedures.
Invisalign and Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that are cemented over damaged, decayed, worn-down, or too-short teeth to improve their appearance and functionality. They can also be used to cap a dental implant or anchor a dental bridge in your mouth to close the spaces in your smile left behind by missing teeth.
These covers don’t necessarily preclude you from getting Invisalign, but your dentist may need to take certain precautions, first. For instance, they’ll check the condition of your dental work to help prevent it from becoming destabilized or dislodged. They’ll also need to ensure that your clear trays are carefully designed to accommodate your dental crown.
Invisalign and Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are oral appliances that can be used to replace one or several consecutively missing teeth in a row. They’re usually made from durable, tooth-colored ceramic that is made to resemble your natural teeth, and contain the required number of replacements positioned between a dental crown on each side. These are cemented over healthy abutment teeth or dental implants on either end of the space in your smile.
It’s possible that you can proceed with Invisalign treatment if you have a smaller bridge replacing just one or two teeth. However, larger restorations may limit movement. In some cases, your provider may be able to shift the teeth around your bridge without adjusting its placement.
If you’re considering Invisalign with dental restorations, you can contact your dentist for a consultation to determine whether you might still be a good candidate for the transparent trays!
Meet the Author
Dr. Gary Chaffee has 50+ years of experience helping families improve their lives by enhancing their smiles. He earned his dental degree from the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry and then completed a two-year Progressive Orthodontics Program. He has since become an International Instructor for Progressive Orthodontics. Today, he offers a comprehensive menu of services, including Invisalign, to patients of all ages. You can request an appointment on the website or call (805) 480-0033.