Which option -6 months of invisalign or braces with implant?

Message

#1 Post by **G's Mom** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:55 pm

Hi - I am new to this board, and have tried reading other posts to see if anyone has had options presented like mine. I had braces as a teen, but was born without the tooth right next to my front tooth, I think a lateral. The dentist just moved all my teeth together with braces. I wore retainers for a few years, but eventually stopped. Now, at 38, my teeth have totally shifted (pretty predictable I realize now). My midline is off quite a bit and I have gaps between my front teeth. My midline was never near being aligned, really.

I went to an orthodontist, who said I have 2 options:

1. Get Invisalign for 6 months to close the gaps but my midline would still be off. This would be less expensive and would look much better than I look now but not as close to esthetically perfect

2. Get braces for 24-30 months, creating a gap for an implant. He also suggested 3 veneers as a possibility for the 3 front teeth, to "match" the implant, but veneers don't have to be done. (I don't want veneers at all.)

I was wondering if anyone else has this missing tooth problem and how it is being addressed? I am tempted to get the Invisalign to at least get a better smile, but am thinking I am rushing into this. And the veneers suggestion put me off because I was thinking "Why not just go and get veneers, then, without all the pain of braces!?" Thanks for any input you have.

#2 Post by **Marley** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:14 am

Hi G's Mom,

I share your same problem. I was born without a lateral incisor. My teeth shifted over and my midline is quite off as you can see in the picture.

My treatment plan is 16-20 months. They will be shifting all my teeth over to make room for an implant.

I wouldn't rush just yet. Maybe you might want to have a consult with another ortho to help you with your decision! I look forward to hearing about it though!

#3 Post by **Betty Bat** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:59 am

Me too! Me too!

I'm missing two permanent teeth (lower premolars). I had baby teeth - one pulled when I was 12 and the other pulled when I was 53. My upper teeth had shifted around and the front two were overlapping because of the space left by the tooth pulled when I was 12. I never had braces and the shifting really wasn't noticeable until I was well into my 40's, so I can't compare my experience with yours directly.

But, I'm going the implant route. Invisalign was never an option for me. I had sapphire (clear) upper braces for 18 months. They went on in October, 2005 and came off in April, 2007. I still have Damon lowers and I'm really hoping to get them off before my 55th birthday in July.

All in all, it hasn't been too bad. I guess the reason to think about implants as opposed to the Invisalign is that your teeth might shift again after the Invisalign?

There was a pretty good thread recently about implants. I remember that rsprouse had a LOT of info on implants. The thread was a different context for implants, but there was a lot of good info there. With that in mind, I will repeat that there is some concern about osteoporosis drugs and implants - not sure if that would impact you or not.

#4 Post by **G's Mom** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:36 am

I can't tell you how much better I feel knowing there are others out there with the same issues, or at least close to mine. I will post on the invisalign site later as well. Thanks for the suggestion.

And I just made another consult appointment with a second orthodontist. I think that is a good idea. I am so curious to see what he will say. I have waited this long to decide to get a healthy, better smile, I guess it won't kill me to wait a bit longer to decide what to do. I'll let you know what happens.

The orthodontist did not discuss how my bite will line up. I had assumed that it would be lined up, but after these repiles maybe that was not a good assumption! I will talk to him about it. I had not looked at it from the perspective of what is the healthiest way to go bite-wise, just what looks the best with the least effort.

Betty Bat and Marley, were you ever presented the option of braces or invisalign without going the implant route as an option, just bringing everything together?

#5 Post by **Marley** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:51 am

Hi G,

Way to go on getting another consult!

Invisalign was never an option with me because I knew I wanted that tooth! My main reason for getting braces was to correct my crossbite, shift my teeth over so they were in the correct spot and make room for the implant.

Also, maybe another ortho will give you a different timeframe.

#6 Post by **Betty Bat** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:17 pm

Howdy,
My regular dentist discussed a lot of options with me. He said that if I wanted to, I could just get veneers and make my teeth look better. But, I was more interested in getting things better - not just looking better. He talked about getting braces to make more space, then getting a bridge, but I didn't really want a bridge.

I asked my ortho about Invisalign, but I wasn't a good candidate for them. Now, my dentist and ortho are exploring options to the implants, such as having some type of spacers built onto the retainer. My ortho and my dentist both said that I could wait a while after the braces come off to get the implants.

Hope this helps. I'll write more when I find out about the retainer stuff.

#7 Post by **Betty Bat** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 3:57 pm

Meryaten,
Yep, that's the thread I was thinking of. I thought it gave a realistic assessment of the success rates of implants.

And, the answer to "cake or death?" is CAKE, of course! Is this like the unofficial state motto of Wisconsin - "eat cheese or die"?

#8 Post by **G's Mom** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:08 am

Well, my appointment is in 2 weeks, but now I will be able to ask a lot more questions, especially about implants. I think I was so overwhelmed by the options that I did not have doubts/questions until after I left the appointment, then have gone back and forth so many times on what to do.

I do think once I get at least one more consult it will help me decide. I'll keep you posted on what happens next. And Betty Bat I would be very interested to hear what happems with the retainer.

Thanks!

#9 Post by **chicklets** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 11:01 am

So glad you're getting another consult, G's Mom.

My son has a similar problem to yours. He is missing BOTH laterals. It seems to be a pretty common problem, although when we first found out about it, I was horrified. My son has been in his braces for 2.5 years -- closing gap in front, waiting for canines to come down naturally, and making space for laterals. My son's option is either implants or he can have his retainer fitted with *flippers* (a/k/a fake teeth). I read that term here for the first time. At this point, the plan is to go with the flippers on the retainer until he's full grown (he just turned 15). Then if he decides to get the implants as an adult, maybe he'll have a dental plan that could cover some of the cost. We'll have to reevaluate in a few years depending on college expenses. To date, all dental work other than cleaning has been out of our pocket 100%, so with both he and I in braces . . . well, cha-ching is all I can say.

#10 Post by **cece** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 12:58 pm

I had/have 2 baby teeth w/o permanents behind them (both the 5th tooth from the front, so not as in front as yours). One on the upper right is still hanging on but only by a thread....one on the bottom left I lost in 7th grade due to it cracking and being extracted.

My bottom teeth shifted over the years trying to fill in the space. Midline way off and unsightly gaps getting worse as I got into my 30's. My ortho has opened the space at the bottom for an implant and did not even bracket the baby tooth at the top b/c it wouldn't have been able to handle it. Once the braces are off, I will get the baby extracted and get implants in both spaces.

Good luck to you whatever you decide!!!

#11 Post by **G's Mom** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 2:36 pm

Cece, did you get evaluated first to see if implants for each missing tooth would be a suitable option for you? The orthodontist I saw gave me a couple of cards for dentists he trusts who could do the implants or veneers if I went that route, but I did not understand if I was supposed to go see them first, before I make my deicsion, or later. I know from reading a thread others directed me to that sometimes implants don't work out, then, I suppose a bridge would be the next option?

#12 Post by **Betty Bat** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:42 pm

Well, you didn't ask me but I'll respond anyway!

I got evaluated first for implants, before I got my braces. My regular dentist gave me recommendations for the implant guy (don't know what his title is), a couple of ortho's and a couple of oral surgeons. I went to the implant guy, the ortho and the oral surgeon, in that order, with a few trips to the regular dentist to get an overall assessment and some coordination on things.

If you haven't gone to an implant specialist, maybe you should. You might be worrying about something that may not happen!

#13 Post by **G's Mom** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:59 pm

Thank you for explaining how you went about it all, Betty Bat. That makes sense. (The question was for anyone who can answer not just CeCe, but I am new to posting on a message board and don't know (have not taken the time) to figure out how to look at all previous posts except the very last one while I am actually replying to remember who said what.)

And it does sound like I should get evaluated first to see if implants are even an option before I agonize further! It is nice to have a place where I can get input from people who have been there, done that.