Misaligned teeth can be a major problem, making it difficult to properly clean your teeth and prevent decay or damage. But, if you’re missing a few teeth, you may believe it isn’t a reliable option for your smile. You may feel that traditional braces are your only option for straightening your teeth and achieving your dream smile.
While missing teeth can create a challenge for your orthodontic journey, this shouldn’t stop you from seeking expert dental care. If you’re considering starting your orthodontic journey and want to learn more about how and why missing teeth may impact your treatment options, keep reading.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign clear aligners are an advanced orthodontic option for individuals who want to straighten their teeth without wearing metal braces. Many dental patients find they can straighten their teeth more quickly with clear aligners than if they wear traditional braces. Additionally, they allow you to avoid frequent in-office appointments.
This quick treatment and ability to skip frequent office visits make Invisalign the perfect orthodontic device for busy adults. If you have a busy schedule, travel frequently for work, or live too far from the office to justify regular visits, you may want to talk to your dental team about whether Invisalign is the best option for your smile.
Can You Get Invisalign with Missing Teeth?
While you may be interested in getting Invisalign, you may worry that you can’t get them with missing teeth. If you are missing teeth, you don’t typically need to be concerned about this negatively impacting your Invisalign treatment. However, there are a few dental conditions that prevent you from getting this orthodontic device.
When you go in for your exam before getting Invisalign, your dental team will assess your current oral health condition and determine why you’re missing teeth. If you’ve lost your teeth as a result of poor oral hygiene or rapidly evolving oral health conditions, you may not be able to get this device until you address this problem.
The Benefits of Invisalign Treatment
Investing in Invisalign offers many benefits to dental patients who’ve long considered starting orthodontic treatment. Some of the benefits include:
- Orthodontics Without Bulky Hardware: While you might want to straighten your teeth, you may want to avoid the bulkier metal hardware that comes with orthodontics. With Invisalign, you avoid the bulk and can comfortably begin straightening your teeth.
- Improve Your Oral Health: Misaligned teeth can be more difficult to clean, especially when brushing and flossing. Cleaning food particles and debris from between teeth becomes easier as you straighten your teeth, reducing your risk of tooth decay.
- Easy to Clean: Not only is it easier to clean between your teeth with Invisalign, but it is also easier to clean the device itself. With this orthodontic device, you can gently brush and sanitize it with a soft-bristle brush, ensuring it’s clean when you wear it.
- Increased Confidence: Some orthodontic devices may make you self-conscious. However, wearing clear aligners, you won’t be shy about showing your teeth when smiling in photos or talking with your loved ones.
Options to Address Missing Teeth
If you are preparing to replace missing teeth after finishing your Invisalign treatment, there are a few options you can choose from. While it is best to speak to your dentist about what they believe is best for your smile, it is even more important to know what options are available. The most common options to address missing teeth include:
- Dental Bridges: If you are missing a few teeth in a row, your dental team may recommend a bridge. This prosthetic attaches to the surrounding teeth and bridges the gap, helping to prevent future tooth shifting.
- Implants: If you have enough jawbone to support it, you may want to consider investing in an implant. With dental implants, you don’t have to worry about the shifting and moving that comes with poorly fitting devices.
- Partial Dentures: Partial dentures are a good option for anyone missing teeth in several parts of their mouth. Prosthetics are positioned to fill gaps while anchoring to the surrounding teeth like a dental bridge.
Tips for Maintaining Straight Teeth After Invisalign
Once you’ve finished your Invisalign treatment, it is important that you do everything in your power to maintain your straight teeth. Some of the easiest ways to maintain your smile after orthodontic treatment include:
- Wear your retainer as recommended by your dental team.
- Brush twice daily and floss at least once daily to remove bacteria.
- Address oral health problems, like TMJ and grinding, as soon as they emerge.
- Limit sugary and starchy foods and eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Schedule twice-yearly dental cleanings and checkups.
If you follow this advice, you should be able to protect your smile from further shifting and avoid damaging your chosen prosthetics to address your missing teeth. However, if you notice any shifting, it is best to reach out to your dental team as soon as possible to ensure they can help you take steps to prevent further problems.
Perfect Your Smile in Bismarck, ND
Invisalign is a great way to make positive changes to your smile, even if you have missing teeth. If you’re considering investing in Invisalign, turn to our team at Bismarck Advanced Dental & Implants. We can help you determine whether your oral health is in the right condition for this orthodontic treatment or if you need to schedule other treatments before beginning this process. No matter your oral health condition, we’re confident that we can help you achieve your best oral health and perfect your smile.
If you’d like to learn more about our clear aligners and treatment for missing teeth or schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to contact us today.