Peter Tomaselli, DDS

In a word, YES! Invisalign allows for specific teeth NOT to be moved, so depending on the position of the impacted adult canine, and the shape, size and location of the retained "baby" canine, your dentist may choose NOT to move one or more of the teeth in that area. The cosmetic issue of the baby canine may be resolved with a veneer, crown or implant after the completion of the first stage of Invisalign treatment. Once the baby canine tooth is appropriately restored, an Invisalign refinement may be resumed as determined by you and your dentist. Otherwise, get some Vivera retainers and call it a day. Be sure that the impacted canine does not interfere with implant placement if that option is chosen. Good luck!

Great news! With over 1,000,000 patients treated with Invisalign, you are nearly guaranteed to be able to treat your adult orthodontic issue with Invisalign aligners. The versatility of Invisalign allows you to plan and control the movement of the teeth immediately adjacent to the future implant site. If there is no tooth movement in the area, feel free to place the implant in good quality bone at any time before, during or after the Invisalign treatment without event. If the teeth immediately adjacent to the implant site are being moved, your dentist may advise you to wait for that phase of treatment to be completed prior to placing the implant.

The removability of the aligners is a clear advantage over braces during multi-disciplinary dental treatment of this type in that they allow for more varied treatment staging to better accommodate the specific needs of each patient. Once the implant is healed, about 14 to 16 weeks, it may be restored and integrated into the next stage of Invisalign treatment. It may also be possible to find a dentist who is experienced and proficient in both Invisalign treatment and dental implant placement, simplifying your treatment further. As with any type of health care treatment, be your own advocate and do your due dilligence whan choosing a provider for this type of treatment.

Depending on the implant number, location, available bone and health of the patient, dental implant placement should be a comfortable and uneventful procedure. Single implant placement in areas of well healed bone can often require no downtime, with patients returning to routine activity immediately. Surgeries of a more extensive nature which require bone and gum grafting, and/or multiple implants have the potential to require more post-operative rest, and your dentist may recommend that you NOT maintain your usual routine for one to several days.

Once the implants are placed, they will require 14 to 16 weeks to heal or integrate with the bone. During this time normal comfort, function and speech are expected. Again, local factors including patient health and surgical site condition vary, and may adversely effect your result, but this is much more the exception than the rule. Be sure to ask your dentist lots of questions and determine his/her availability should the need arise. If your dentist is willing to spend the time with you before the treatment and address ALL of your concerns, you will likely have fewer post-op surprises and untoward issues.

For the most part, improvements in diagnostics, and the surgical proficiency of your dentist can work to the advantage of the patient with respect to decreased post-op discomfort and healing complications. Careful implant planning, placement and follow-up can make your dental implant visit more pleasant than you would expect, and likely more pleasant than the extraction of the tooth needing replacement. As always, ASK YOUR DENTIST for their post-op recommendations, and follow them dilligently for your best outcome. More care taken during the planning stages should translate to fewer post -op complications. Good Luck.

I have corrected many deep bites with Invisalign and they typically are resolved with the following three methods.

1. Intruding lower teeth: In most of the deep overbite cases I have seen in adults, the condition is caused by the supraeruption of the lower teeth. This is easily corrected with Invisalign aligners by simply intruding the lower teeth back into their natural position, which results in the lower teeth being more visible.

2. Intruding upper teeth: Overbites are sometimes a result of the upper teeth covering the lower teeth too much, so aligners can be used to intrude the upper teeth to reveal the lowers. This is only recommended for cases where the uppers are very prominent because intruding upper teeth too much can result in an aged appearance.

3. Proclining teeth: Lower teeth can appear hidden if they are tipped inwards and crowded. Invisalign can push them forward and intrude them to correct the overbite look.

I have spoken with many patients who have told me they were quoted a wide range of prices for Invisalign, from as low as $4,000 to as high as $9,000. Invisalign has stated that the national average is $5,000.

Listed below are a few key questions to ask to help determine if you are getting a good value:

1. How many cases has the dentist done? (You don't want to be the first case-or if you are you should at least make sure you are getting a large discount). To find out a doctor's level of experience you can find their practice on www.invisalign.com and see if they have a "Premier" or "Elite" designation from Invisalign.

2. Are the diagnostic records included in the case fee (x-rays, exams, impressions)?

3. Are refinements included in the fee or will there be additional fees if more aligners are needed at the end of treatment?

4. What is the cost of retainers at the end of treatment?