How Can Missing Teeth Affect Invisalign Treatment?

For millions of people, the Invisalign treatment has made a significant difference in how their teeth look and function. If you have a problem with your teeth, this might be the right solution for you too. A great way to find out is to talk to a general dentist. With a consultation and examination, you will quickly know if you qualify for the Invisalign treatment.

Why Invisalign?

Clear retainers have become all the rage. However, not all stand up to the quality of Invisalign, a registered trademark brand. Made from a flexible thermoplastic material, these retainers fit comfortably. At the same time, a dental laboratory custom-makes every tray. After all, patients all have different tooth-related problems. These include an overbite or underbite, gaps and crooked teeth. Even so, these retainers work remarkably well for all of them.

What about missing teeth?

Unfortunately, some people think that Invisalign retainers are not an option for them because they have missing teeth. In reality, they are. The fact is, a patient can have missing teeth anywhere in the mouth and still get Invisalign retainers. Depending on the location of the missing tooth, a general dentist might first place an implant. In some cases, a mini dental implant works well. This is much smaller and requires no incisions.

The good news is that implants and Invisalign retainers work well together. The reason is that the implant becomes a permanent tooth. While not natural, it looks and feels like the real deal. Therefore, when someone wears an Invisalign tray, it has no impact on whether someone is missing a tooth or not. Instead, the retainers work the same way.

During the consultation with a general dentist, that professional will determine the proper type of implant needed. Now, if a traditional implant is necessary, the dentist would recommend a visit to an oral surgeon. In a traditional implant procedure, the oral surgeon would make incisions in the gums. Then a titanium pole screws into the jawbone.

With the procedure done, most patients require about three to four weeks for complete healing. At that point, the individual returns to the surgeon’s office to have the artificial tooth attached. From there, the patient would go back to the general dentist for the Invisalign retainers. To ensure an optimal fit, the dental professional takes impressions of the patient’s teeth. Included in that is the now implanted tooth.

That means when the impressions go to the dental laboratory, the professionals there make the retainers to fit. The biggest part of an Invisalign treatment with a missing tooth is getting the implant. As for the retainers, the dentist sends the patient home with four trays. The patient wears a tray for two weeks and then replaces it with a new one.

Missing teeth — no problem

For Invisalign retainers to work, you can have one or several missing teeth. However, there is a chance that a general dentist would recommend an implant first. Without replacing a missing tooth, there is a risk of the bone deteriorating. Overall, there is no reason you cannot have the Invisalign treatment — even when missing teeth.

Request an appointment here: https://whiteflintfamilydental.com or call White Flint Family Dental at (301) 273-1085 for an appointment in our Rockville office.

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