Can Invisalign Realign Upright Lower Molars Due to Extractions?

I had my lower 12-year-old molars extracted 50 years ago. They were never replaced. Result is that the teeth behind them have tilted forward so that it is impossible to replace the missing teeth.

This has had terrible consequences: terrible bite, painful chewing, preference for soft food, etc. Can Invisalign work to upright these teeth and provide space for a permanent bridge?

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5 Doctor Answers | Asked by sassyfafa in Providence, RI

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Invisalign has limitations

Molar up-righting is difficult, even for wire braces. If orthodontics is a desire, then I would suggest brackets and wires. If your bite is a problem, that should be addressed first. It is possible to find a position of your jaw that is comfortable and then use braces to repeat that bite. If you simply move teeth, you might make the bite issue worse.

Invisalign can upright molars.

It may be better to go with conventional braces to upright the molars due to the density of your bone at this point in your life. Consult with an orthodontist that does both and he will give you his opinion. Invisalign is easier for you to wear and may take longer but conventional braces of few more options for molar uprighting treatment.

TMJ evaluation may be needed for bite problems

Before you get going on braces or anything else, you may want to have a TMJ evaluation. Uprighting a molar is very difficult and best done with braces. Depending on the condition and current state of your mouth, you may benefit from full mouth reconstruction, but I need much more information to help you out with a decision like that. Also I am curious as to what you mean by painful chewing and preference for soft foods, that is a flag to me that means you might want the TMJ evaluation,... more

Uprighting Molars

Invisalign can do some uprighting, however it sounds as if you have more major instabilities in your bite than just a minor tilt of the molars. You mentioned in your story that it's your 12-year molars that are missing. The 12-year molars are numbered #2, 25, 28, and 31. I just want to be sure it's your 12 year molars (if so, there should still be a molar in front of the space as well as behind). Then the molars behind the space would be your wisdom teeth and the molars in front of the... more

Braces to upright a molar

Braces are needed to upright a molar. The biomechanical forces and vectors needed to upright a molar are too much for invisalign. Molars are large teeth with multiple roots and to upright them the roots must be moved through the bone. An alternative to full lower braces may be miniscrews with brackets on the back molar teeth.