Kristen Berning, DDS

It is hard to answer this without a photo, but cosmetic dental bonding can be used to solve a variety of problems with front teeth.  How damaged is your front tooth?  If there is enough healthy tooth structure remaining, then dental bonding may be an option.  Cosmetic bonding can close most gaps (if not too large) and this procedure is less expensive than something such as porcelain crowns and veneers.  

You may have a variety of treatment options available to improve the appearance of your small teeth.  I'd recommended you seek out a well-trained cosmetic dentist.  After a thorough exam and x-rays, you can then learn what can be done.  It is hard to tell from your photos what the best option may be.  You asked about dental bonding and veneers... in addition to those treatments, sometimes a gum tissue lift or orthodontics can help give the right proportions so your teeth don't look so small.  It is definitely not a decision that can be made without a detailed dental exam.  Good luck and thanks for your question! :)

When root canal therapy is needed, a small opening is made in the back of the tooth, and this often can be done without touching the porcelain veneer.  What your doctor is telling you is correct. 

Based on this photo (and assuming you are biting down completely on your back teeth), your open bite probably cannot be corrected with Invisalign.  Your upper jaw looks under developed in relation to your lower jaw, and this difference makes your situation more complex.  Your dental arches appear narrow, which is contributing to the crowding.  You should get an opinion from an orthodontist to learn what your different options are to improve your bite, as it will benefit the long-term health of your teeth.  

Based on your photos, Invisalign may be able to help correct the crowding and overbite.  My main concern is how rotated your lower left canine is--- and this may be a difficult tooth for Invisalign to straighten to an ideal position.  Canines have the longest roots and can take longer for Invisalign to move.  This may slow down Invisalign treatment, or this tooth may not be able to be rotated to an ideal position with Invisalign.  

I would recommend you have an evaluation by a dentist with considerable Invisalign experience, so you can find out more about what Invisalign can do for your smile!

It appears that Invisalign may work for your situation.  Invisalign is able to straighten teeth as crooked as the tooth you are concerned about.  

However, from the photo it is hard to tell how your top teeth and bottom teeth fit together, and this (your "bite" or "occlusion") also will affect whether or not you are a candidate for Invisalign.  

After a consultation with an experience Invisalign dentist, you will definitely know whether or not Invisalign will work for your situation!  

Yes, an Invisalign case can be transferred if necessary due to a patient moving.  The Align company does allow it and your computer records will be transferred with your permission, but the treating dentists have to agree to give and accept a transfer.  Both dentists will need to be compensated for their time, skills, and materials so a patient might end up paying extra for this situation. 

Yes, it is correct to say that Invisalign must be worn nearly all the time except for when eating and then brushing and flossing your teeth.  We recommend at least 22 hours per day.  If the aligners are only worn 15 hours per day, as you asked, then there will definitely be problems.  There will not be enough active time in the day for the aligners to work.  There will be problems with the teeth tracking (fitting in the aligners), and the teeth will not get as straight as planned.  There could actually be a point when the aligners do not even fit on the teeth.  

It looks like you would qualify for Invisalign treatment, but a detailed plan needs to be set up from the start so that both you and your dentist have a clear understanding of your goals.

After an exam and x-rays by an experienced Invisalign dentist, he or she can explain the various options for working around the "fake teeth" you mentioned.  If they are just single crowns, they can be incorporated into the Invisalign process with no problem.  If they are bridges (connected to adjacent teeth), they may need to be removed before Invisalign, and the Invisalign trays can be filled with a material so it looks like a tooth is still present when you smile.  

If it is just the space between your front teeth that you are concerned about, you could also consider cosmetic bonding to close that gap without braces or Invisalign.  

Yes, your frenectomy can be done during the Invisalign process, and having it done soon will benefit you by allowing the space to close better.  We do many frenectomy procedures using a diode laser.  There is no bleeding, no stitches, and it is a quick healing and recovery process.  

The Invisalign aligners can be modified if they have to, so that they do not touch the healing frenectomy site.  There is a good chance, however, that the aligners will barely touch that area since they do not extend much over the gum tissue.