Which types of misaligned teeth can invisible aligners correct?

Category: Invisible braces · 1 August 2019

Invisible aligners have revolutionised the world of braces. The clear plastic aligner system has helped over five million patients worldwide to a more beautiful smile.

But the aligner method isn’t suitable for every orthodontic problem:

Which issues can we treat with invisible aligners, and which can’t we?
And: can we carry out orthodontic treatment with aligners if you currently need other dental treatment?

Crooked teeth – a clear case for invisible aligners

If you want to correct crooked teeth, clear aligners are a good option:

Malocclusion: overbite

It can make chewing more difficult if the upper teeth overlap the lower row of teeth significantly.

Yes, in many cases the aligners can align the teeth correctly.

Malocclusion: underbite

An underbite can cause your teeth to wear on one side. This bite can also cause difficulties with speaking.

Yes, clear aligners can treat underbites. With aligners, we align the lower row of teeth behind the front row of teeth.

In more extreme cases, we can combine the aligners with fixed braces.

Malocclusion: crossbite

A crossbite (the upper row of teeth doesn’t rest on the lower row but lies outside the natural position of the bite) can mean that you can’t chew properly, that your teeth wear more heavily or that your gums recede prematurely.

In many cases, the aligners can treat a crossbite. We always clarify individually whether invisible braces are suitable for a particular bite problem.

Gaps between teeth

When there is a space between two or more teeth, we call it a gap. The excess space becomes a problem when food gets between the teeth and gums, causing pain and gum disease.

The aligners can close the gaps, giving you a healthier mouth and a more beautiful smile. However, it depends on how large the gap is. If there is too much space, we may need to treat it with fixed braces.

Large gaps between the teeth

Regardless of whether just one gap between two teeth or several gaps need to be closed: the aligners only reliably close gaps of up to 6 mm of space per row of teeth.

Malocclusion: open bite

If the upper and lower rows of teeth don’t meet, this is called an open bite. Invisible aligners can correct an open bite by aligning the two rows of teeth correctly.

Malocclusion: crowding

If there isn’t enough space in the jaw for all the teeth, the teeth may not erupt fully or may remain entirely in the jaw. If they do grow through, they may overlap and/or twist.

This problem with the bite leads to food getting stuck, which forms the ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Tartar and plaque are also a problem because they can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

In some cases, we can use invisible aligners for crowding. This depends on the severity and complexity of the problem.

Limitations of invisible aligners

Aligners don’t apply the same fixed forces as fixed braces. That’s why we have to use fixed braces for complex orthodontic problems or for cases in which we need to move the teeth considerably.

Below we list some situations in which invisible braces may not be the best solution.

Restrictive tooth shape:

Your teeth may not be suitable for aligners. Short, round, blunt teeth or very pointed teeth make it difficult to fit the aligners and may not allow them to grip well. In such cases, the aligners cannot align the teeth as desired.
Tooth position

With crowding, a single tooth can become a challenge: if a back tooth is rotated by more than 20 degrees, the problem is too severe for aligners.

If canines, premolars and incisors are too crooked, clear aligners are probably not the right form of treatment.
If there is too little space in the jaw, the teeth can tilt strongly forwards or backwards. If the tilt is more than 45 degrees, treatment with aligners is not recommended.

Intrusion and extrusion

Orthodontics can raise or lower the position of the teeth in the jawbone so that the height of the teeth is evened out. Braces have the force to push all the teeth into position, whereas aligners can achieve only limited movement of the front teeth and almost no movement of the back teeth.

Midline

Some patients’ front teeth don’t line up with their midline (the imaginary line down the centre of the face). Invisible aligners can correct a deviation between the midlines of 2 mm to the left or right per row of teeth. Larger deviations have to be treated with braces.

Would you like to correct your teeth without braces?

Invisible braces are the innovative technology that aligns your teeth without wires or brackets. Make an appointment today – we’ll check whether we can enhance your smile with invisible aligners too.

Previous & upcoming dental work

Some dental treatments hinder correction with aligners or even make it impossible. A bridge, for example, porcelain veneers or crowns can make it harder for the aligners to adhere. That’s why we can’t always use aligners.

If you need additional dental work such as crowns or a porcelain veneer during your aligner treatment, this may change the shape of your teeth and we may no longer be able to move the rows of teeth effectively.

We will therefore check the impact of all previous and upcoming dental treatments before recommending orthodontic treatment with clear aligners.
Once the aligners have been fitted, you must postpone all restorative dental work until the aligner treatment is complete. Even work on just one tooth can hinder the orthodontic treatment so much that the aligners are no longer effective.

Tooth extraction

Invisible aligners are not suitable for patients who need to have a tooth extracted immediately before or during treatment.

Conclusion: orthodontic treatment and technology are constantly changing

Progress and technological innovation, combined with the experience orthodontists gain during treatment, are constantly improving treatment results with aligners.

This means that today we successfully treat cases that were too complex for aligner treatment just a few years ago.

If you have questions about whether invisible aligners are suitable for you, or which braces are best for you, make a no-obligation appointment or contact us online. We’re happy to help.

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