Is Invisalign Appropriate for Jaw Alignment Treatment?

Question

I'm told my jaw is out of alignment and the dentist wants me to do Invisalign.  Will that help?  It will take all my savings but all I know is that it hurts to eat and I'm tired of my jaw popping out and tired of the headaches.

Lance Timmerman, DMD, MAGD · Answer

TMJ issues are complicated and if treated orthodontically then traditional brackets and wires have more control. Often the bite issues are resolved first and once stable (3-6 months of stability), the orthodontics can be started. Invisalign usually is not effective in these cases, and the relationship between orthodontics and jaw dysfunction is hotly debated.  If you  are reporting no pain and are just being told your jaw is not aligned, I would suggest another opinion just to be safe.

Pamela Marzban, DDS · Answer

I will definitely do a little bit more research! Almost all your symptoms can be taken care of if you look into TMD or most common called TMJ.Many people who suffer from headaches, chronic neck or facial pain, or even ringing in the ears do not know that their bite may be to blame. Only a trained neuromuscular dentist can tell if an incorrect bite is causing these problems. Our state-of-the-art application of neuromuscular techniques can help relieve such pain, and the results are often immediate, dramatic, and life-changing!. The bite can be a factor in many types of pain or functional problems because of the inter-relationship of the overall musculoskeletal system.

	Since there is a relationship between the teeth, jaw joints, head and neck muscles, and head posture, a problem in any one of these areas may affect others. It is suspected that you suffer from this type of problem and treating your TMD first will be your best shot .

Mazyar Moshiri, DMD, MS · Answer

My opinion with this matter is that your TMJs should by symptom free before starting any irreversible changes to your bite, due to the fact that initiating orthodontic changes , regardless of Invisalign, in an unhealthy joint may actually make your symptoms worse.  

	What does syptom free mean? In my practice, if a patients has reduced opening of their jaws, pain in their joints (sometimes expressed as headaches, ringing in the ears, etc), or locking of their jaw, then they have to go through an initial phase of treatment of palliative therapy to alleviate their symptoms.  This phase of treatment also serves as a diagnostic tool for us, letting us know if your symptoms are caused by your potential "bad bite" , or if we need to look into something further beyond your bite as MANY things may cause TMJ pain.

Kent Lauson, DDS, MS · Answer

Ignoring the TMJ Dysfunction to straighten the teeth can be a big mistake.  Make sure you  consult with a dentist with a great deal of experience in  correcting jaw misalignments.  Once the misalignment is corrected and stabilized for a number of months (at least 6 months) with symptoms 90% eliminated, then the straightening of your teeth is appropriate.  You now do this knowing that you now have healthy stable jaw joints to support the new teeth positions.  You wouldn't want to build a house on shaky foundation, would you?  Neither do you want to correct a bite with the jaw joints out of alignment.  You will likely end up with straight teeth and painful jaws and be faced with more years of retreatment to correct the ignored TMJ problem.

Robert Waxler, DMD, MS · Answer

The relationship between the  "bite" and TMJ (popping jaws, headaches, etc.) has always been very controversial!  No one can promise that fixing the bite will correct your problems...maybe yes maybe no, but the scientific literature does not show a clear relationship between bite and TMJ....I certainly would get a 2nd or even a 3rd opinion before starting treatment.

Is Invisalign Appropriate for Jaw Alignment Treatment?

Answers (6)

Answer: Fix TMJ Dysfuncion first, then correct the alignment with braces or Invisalign

Answer: Fix TMJ Dysfuncion first, then correct the alignment with braces or Invisalign

Answer: Jaw out of alignment

Answer: Jaw out of alignment

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Everything you need to know about Invisalign

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Is Invisalign Appropriate for Jaw Alignment Treatment?

Answers (6)

Answer: Fix TMJ Dysfuncion first, then correct the alignment with braces or Invisalign

Answer: Fix TMJ Dysfuncion first, then correct the alignment with braces or Invisalign

Answer: Jaw out of alignment

Answer: Jaw out of alignment

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Invisalign

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.