What do I do if I have crooked teeth, still have baby teeth, have two missing teeth, and am 41 years old? I feel I am too old for traditional braces. However, I’ve been told by my dentist that Invisalign doesn’t work with missing teeth. So, what do I do?
Kyra
Dear Kyra,
Actually, Invisalign can work with missing teeth. My guess is your dentist doesn’t have a high comfort level with Invisalign in general. You’ll just need to find an Invisalign dentist who is willing to work with you. The baby teeth will need to be dealt with. I’m guessing, at your age, the baby teeth have congenitally missing teeth. In that case, those (along with your other missing teeth) will need to be replaced.
My suggestion is to use temporary tooth replacements, like a dental flipper. Then, when all your teeth are in their correct alignment you can get a permanent replacement. The best tooth replacements are dental implants. They are the most like having healthy, natural teeth in your mouth.
However, if you are going to straighten your teeth you might as well take advantage of this opportunity to give yourself a mini smile makeover at a fraction of the cost.
Your Invisalign aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. All your dentist will have to provide you with is the whitening gel, which doesn’t cost much. This means you can straighten and whiten your teeth simultaneously.
One other thing. If your missing teeth are visible when you smile, make sure it is a skilled cosmetic dentist so that the implant crown will look natural.
This blog is brought to you by La Jolla Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Stephen Doan. An AACD accredited dentist.