Am I a candidate?

[Toothless]

Hi Invisaligners! I have been wondering if I would be a candidate for clear aligners. I am missing the 2 teeth on the top that should be positioned between my front teeth and my canines, I was just born without them I guess. So, my canines have shifted over and are next to my front teeth and I have gaps between my canines and the rest of the teeth on the top. It doesn't look horrible, but I am self-conscious about it. What I would like to do is get some form of braces to move my canines back to where the should be and close the small gap between my front teeth, and then get implants to replace my missing teeth. I am over 30 so the idea of getting metal braces is not appealing. My teeth are otherwise very straight, I wouldn't need any work done on the bottom teeth. I also have an overbite, I would consider it severe, but I guess I'm not sure. I haven't had a consultation, but I have heard from others that I would not be a candidate because my bottom teeth don't need braces. Any thoughts?

[45wantsnicesmile]

Go to an orthodontist and get checked out. Only they can answer this question. 1st appointment is usually free.

[bucky!]

Before I got Invisalign I was always posting on the internet wanting to know if I would be a candidate, but really you can't know until you go and speak to an ortho. As the previous poster said, it is usually free which is great because you can get all the info you need (approximate time of treatment, costs etc.) without wasting your money if you decide against it. Good luck!

[Robin8]

Toothless, with your missing teeth and overbite, sounds like you have a complex case. It’s a good idea to consult with a couple of experienced certified orthodontists who are also experienced with Invisalign. Orthodontists are dentists who have several years of specialized training on moving and fixing teeth so they’d be more capable in treating your problems. Some of them would charge for consultations but it’d be worth it.

I think that even if your bottom teeth don’t need braces, you could still be an Invisalign candidate.

[shekhinak]

I didn't think my teeth were all that crooked, and my spouse had a good result with Invisalign, so I decided to give it a try. My general dentist was all set to do the Invisalign, but my daughter's orthodontist was closer to where I work, so I decided to go there instead.

From what I've gathered, most orthodontists won't go with Invisalign unless the patient already has had braces before, and they only need minor movements (bear in mind, I'm not a DDS). I went in to the orthodontist office we the idea that if they wouldn't do Invisalign, I wouldn't bother. But, I had so much emotionally invested in the idea, that when they said I wasn't a good candidate for Invisalign - I agreed to the ceramic braces.

I've had the ceramic braces for a week, and when I've let go the secret that I'm wearing them, my coworkers have all said that they never would have guessed. I only have the braces on the top, so they may be more noticeable on the bottom teeth, but I suppose I'll find out soon enough.

So, I'm in for the ride now

[goodteethby2013]

Toothless, I agree with the advice you've received from others about consulting with multiple orthos, and I would add that you want to also consult with the prosthodontist who would do your implants now as well, and make sure the ortho and prosthodontist are used to communicating about a shared patient - you will need both of their realms of expertise to get the results you want. Good luck!