Braces vs Invisalign in a patient with Sjogrens?

Question

I am already prone to decay due to the dry mouth and am afraid the Invisalign trays may cause more problems since the teeth will be covered not allowing air to circulate. I am 66 yrs old and need to correct a crowding issue that is buckling my front tooth. I have gotten 2 consults and both differ in opinion. Please advise.

Steven Davidowitz, DDS · Answer

I have treated a good amount of patient who have Sjogrens disease with Invisalign therapy to better align their teeth and deliver cosmetically straightened and healthier smiles.  The benefits come down to the ability to perform proper oral hygiene as there are no wires or plaque grabbing metal brackets.  In addition there are a good handful who actually experienced an increase in salivary flow from the aligners alone!  With that said some have had a dryer mouth feel when wearing the aligners.  The suggestion was to suck on xylitol mints with the aligners in to help moisten the mouth and protect against cavities.  In addition the aligners can be lined with drymouth pastes ie biotene to help protect and mositen the mouth.  Another benefit of aligners is there is less risk of ulcerations, and trauma to the gums, lips and cheeks that can occur with braces.  These irritations are more dangerous and persistent in those with sjogrens when they have traditional brackets.
Hope this helps.

Neal Nealis, DDS (retired) · Answer

Sjogren's is a nasty disorder. So sorry that you have it. You can treat your teeth with either brackets and wires or with Invisalign clear aligners. In either case you have to be extra careful to prevent tooth decay. If you do brackets and wires you might consider having a tray made to fit over the teeth into which you could place a fluoride gel and do at home treatments. With aligners, you could place the gel directly into the aligners.

Braces vs Invisalign in a patient with Sjogrens?

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