Countless individuals have crowns, bridges, or porcelain veneers. Depending on their specified purpose, such restorations can improve the appearance of your smile, enhance dental function, protect your teeth, and bolster your oral health. However, if your teeth are not properly aligned, and you already have some restorations on some of them, an important question arises — will you be able to get Invisalign in the Capital District? For many people, the answer to that question is yes.
How Invisalign Works with Crowns and Veneers
Traditional metal braces must be bonded directly onto the teeth, which can present a challenge when those teeth have porcelain veneers or crowns. A special type of adhesive may need to be used, and the teeth’s movements may be slower than in individuals without restorations. Bonding the braces to the porcelain could even damage it.
Fortunately, Invisalign is different. Because the aligners are never actually bonded onto the teeth, you won’t have to worry about them damaging your veneers or crowns. And as long as your crown and the tooth beneath it are sound, it is unlikely that you will run into any other complications.
Invisalign and Bridges
A multi-unit bridges connects at least two teeth together, with at least one artificial tooth between them. The different units of the bridge all constitute one piece, so they cannot be shifted by orthodontic treatment. If the teeth under a bridge do need to be moved, your dental team will have to take special measures to make that happen, which may result in you needing an entirely new bridge after you complete your orthodontic treatment.
On the other hand, if your dental misalignment is fairly mild and the teeth beneath the bridge do not need to be moved, there should be no problems with Invisalign. Your aligners will be designed not to apply pressure to those specific teeth, so your orthodontic treatment will not adversely affect your restoration.
Planning Your Invisalign Treatment
Of course, the above information speaks in generalities. To know for sure how your crowns, bridges, or veneers might affect your Invisalign treatment, you should schedule an in-person consultation with a qualified provider. Not only will they assess the alignment of your teeth, but they will also inspect your restorations and take them into account as part of your Invisalign planning process. After the exam, your dentist will be able to give you a personalized preview of the road ahead.
Would you like straighter teeth? For most patients with restorations, clear aligners are a better option than traditional braces. A local Invisalign provider would be happy to talk to you about how you can achieve your ideal smile.
Meet the Practice
Drs. Erin Page is the highly skilled dentist at Capital Smiles. She is committed to promoting optimum treatment outcomes for all patients, including Invisalign patients who have crowns, bridges, or veneers. If you would like to learn more about how Invisalign may be able to work for you, contact our team at 518-374-0317.