Can You Get Invisalign® With a Dental Implant?

You might have had a dental implant some time ago for your missing tooth. Now you’re interested in straightening your teeth, and Invisalign® may be one treatment option. If you already have a dental implant, you may wonder whether clear aligner treatment is still an option. The good news is that you can still be a candidate for this orthodontic treatment. Keep reading!

Can You Get Invisalign® If You Already Have Dental Implants?

Yes, you can. Having one or a few more dental implants doesn’t automatically mean you are ineligible for Invisalign® aligners. You can still get this treatment, but there’s one thing to remember: Invisalign® won’t move your implants.

Dental implants are fixed into the jawbone. Once the bone grows around them, they remain stable in one place. The consistent pressure from the aligners won’t shift them away from their positions.

Then how does Invisalign® work with implants? The aligners shift your healthy teeth. This all comes down to very careful planning from your orthodontist to move the teeth around the implant and correct their alignment.

Should You Get Invisalign® Before or After Implants?

In most cases, getting teeth straightened with Invisalign® first is a better option. Your treatment would be comparatively less complicated, because there would be less worry about moving the teeth around a fixed anchor.

In fact, Invisalign® can actually help retain space or create more room for an implant if the adjacent teeth have started to shift into the missing tooth gap.

Your orthodontist can align your bite first, make sure everything is perfect, and then ask you to proceed with implant placement.

When Dental Implants Don’t Restrict Invisalign® Treatment

For those who already have dental implants, Invisalign® treatment can still be very effective. For example, some people may have an implant in a part of their mouth that does not actively involve teeth straightening with Invisalign® (e.g., at the back of the mouth).

Another situation is where the implant can be used as a fixed anchor to help move other teeth.

Why Invisalign® Is a Preferable Choice for Those With Dental Implants

Invisalign® is usually considered a better option compared to braces for patients who already have a dental implant. First of all, these aligners are removable. You won’t have to fuss so much about cleaning your teeth as you might do with braces.

This is a big benefit for patients with implants. They easily remove the trays, clean around their teeth and implants, and simply put them back in.

Plus, there won’t be any need to bond a bracket to your implant crown and risk damaging it.

Some aligners may even carry a tooth-colored pontic to conceal the gap. You can then continue to smile confidently in your social settings.

The final treatment decision, whether braces or aligners are the right choice for you, is made by your orthodontist after a complete assessment.

Ending Note

You can still consider Invisalign® treatment, even if you have dental implants. To know if this treatment would work for you, have a consultation with our certified orthodontist and dental implant expert, Dr. Azi, today. Contact our team at Smile in Style by calling (512) 333-4443.