Invisalign 13 Years After Braces?

asked 2 years ago by motiger in kansas city, mo
Latest answer by Gilbert H. Snow, DDS
Question viewed 1,563 times
Tags: age 25-34, male, crossbite, gap

I had braces about 13 years ago when I was 15. My bottom teeth are straight but my top teeth are crowded now. My four front top teeth are out of alignment. There is also a gap between my top front teeth and bottom front teeth.

My dentist told me he would put brackets on my front teeth and use elastics to pull down my front teeth some first. He would also file down my bottom canines a little. And after that he would order Invisalign trays to straighten them. Is this a good treatment plan? Total cost of $4,950.

7 answers to Invisalign 13 Years After Braces?

This is a complex situation

As Dr Timmerman says above, there's a lot going on here. In my experience, it's almost never a good idea to file down canines, as they are the cornerstone of you bite, regardless of what philosophy a well trained dentist subscribes to. Obviously I don't know the whole story here, but I agree that you should dot all your i's and cross all your t's before pursuing any treatment. Find a top notch orthodontist to be sure the breathing issues are addressed.... more

John Whittemore, DDS
Memphis Cosmetic Dentist

Do Invisalign first

I can clearly see from your photo that you have a narrow upper archa and a few of your teeth are in cross bite. If you first expand your upper arch with Invisalign then your front teeth will be allowed to move down on there own because the molars are seating together deeper--it's hard to explain over the internet. Also your dentist can use attachments and elastics with Invisalign if he knows what he's doing, where you wouldn't need brackets at all. The other answers to your question... more

Michael J. Thomas, DDS
Los Angeles Cosmetic Dentist

30% of those with Invisalign had braces before

You look like one that has trouble breathing through his mouth. When that happens the tongue drops down automatically to narrow the upper jaw and open the bite. You have a hard time biting small things in the front. Your tongue needs to be trained to touch the roof of your mouth as you rest. The upper jaw should be the shape of your tongue. Yours is not. The upper needs to be expanded. As the jaw narrowed your teeth then did not have room to remain straight... more

Gilbert H. Snow, DDS
Encino Orthodontist

Crossbite and airway issues should be addressed when treatment planning braces

Teeth fit together like gears and when they don't it can create an "end to end" relationship (and distance the nose and chin). When this is corrected, some of the front teeth can appear to "come down" more. But the cause should be addressed. Sometimes there is a tongue positioning habit, and if not fixed it will push everything right back. There should be an airway evaluation as well (which could create the tongue positioning habit). This could help avoid serious... more

Lance Timmerman, DMD
Seattle Cosmetic Dentist

Combination case

It sounds like the treating dentist has a plan from beginning to end. You have had orthodontics before and your teeth relapsed to where they really wanted to be. Treating the malocclusion may disrupt the balance that your body has naturally found by putting the teeth back into a crooked position. The picture is blurry, but it seems like one of your central incisors is discolored. You may be able to fix the color on that and do 4 veneers on the front teeth and get a reasonable straightness... more

M. Andrew Atwood, DDS
Bellevue Cosmetic Dentist

Please see an orthodontist

I would recommend seeing an orthodontist who can give you different treatment options as it seems like you have seen a general dentist. An orthodontist is a specialist that has 2-3 years of additional training and specializing in treating malocclusions, I have not seen your full records, but it would seem to me that you should do either fixed braces with elastics to align the teeth and close the open bite OR invisalign with elastics to align the teeth and close the bite.

Gabriela Hricko, DDS
New York Orthodontist

Crowded Teeth and Open Bite in Front

It sounds like your dentist is going to do a combination of metal brackets and Invisalign Express. This may be a good plan for you. If this is, in fact, the treatment plan,my only concern would be that the Invisalign Express does not allow for refinements. So it would be more difficult to do the finishing touches at the end of the case. For your bite (filing down the canines), make sure your dentist has specific training in this area. When I alter someone's bite, I have to make sure I'm... more

Susan Goode Estep, DMD
Atlanta Cosmetic Dentist

www.atlantadentalspa.com

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