You knew you were in need of orthodontic work, and probably had your heart set on Invisalign. And why wouldn't you? The transparent aligner trays are practically invisible and simply hug your teeth, instead of being permanently attached to them. It can be discouraging when your orthodontist tells you that your particular set of issues can only be corrected with traditional dental braces. But don't lose heart. You might be eligible for a hybrid approach, utilising both traditional braces and Invisalign for treatment that's effective while also being achieved as promptly as possible.

Tooth Rotation

Invisalign is perfect for mild to moderate orthodontic issues, but the system has limitations, and presumably, these limitations are applicable in your particular case. For example, certain teeth in your upper or lower dental arch may have significantly rotated (twisted) in their dental sockets, and you need to have traditional braces manually bonded to the teeth to restore them to their correct position.

Angle and Gaps

It's not only tooth rotation that creates a limitation for Invisalign clear aligners. Your teeth may have developed at a conspicuous angle, and an aligner tray fitted over the tooth won't be capable of applying sufficient force to restore the tooth to an appropriate vertical position. Additionally, the gaps between your teeth may be too wide for Invisalign to close. These limitations mean that the preliminary tooth movement needed in your case must be accomplished by traditional braces.

Traditional Braces

Your braces will feature a bracket bonded to each tooth, regulated by an archwire affixed to each bracket to apply the required pressure. The braces will achieve the preliminary reconfiguration, de-rotating teeth as needed, while also correcting any excessive tilting. The very position of your dental sockets can be gradually moved, helping to close any wide gaps. Essentially, your significant orthodontic issues have now become mild orthodontic issues.

Transitioning to Clear Aligners

You can conceivably have your braces removed ahead of schedule, allowing you to wear Invisalign for the remainder of your treatment. This may or may not speed up treatment, and switching to Invisalign is more for convenience, as this convenience can be considerable. Instead of having to regularly visit your orthodontist to have your braces tightened, you can simply change your own trays at home for the next set in the series. There's less effort involved on your part, and you can also benefit from the inconspicuous look of the trays—which is in stark contrast to the obvious appearance of conventional dental braces. 

Just because your existing orthodontic condition means you're not eligible for Invisalign, it doesn't mean that this will always be the case. Many patients opt for the convenience of a hybrid system—using traditional braces, followed by Invisalign.

Reach out to an Invisalign provider to learn more.