Invisalign and the Canines

[qikshot]

Hello All!

This is my first post and hopefully forum members may be able to to share some of their experiences with invisalign and put my mind at ease...

I am currently booked up to get invisaligns in about a month on both my top and lower jaw. All orthodontists I visited have said that I would need at least 3 extractions - the two teeth either side of my front teeth and the equivalent to the left of my bottom front teeth.

My concern is that I have very large canines - and they will rest on either side of my two front teeth at the end of this process... large and sharp I should say! My ortho has said that aesthetically, there can be no gaurantees with invisalign and that this can be dealt with later....

Has anyone else had these teeth extracted? and if so - how did it turn out? And could you get the canines reshaped?

Regards

EJ

[Sunny]

Welcome to this forum and great that you're soon to begin treatment qikshot!

I'm interested to know what reason you've been given for having your lateral incisors removed? I've not seen these teeth removed before, but then I've only worked in one orthodontic practice, so I'm keen to learn about things that are different to what we do. We rarely extract teeth, but when a patient does need them removed, it's usually the first premolars that are removed - either all four, or from one arch only. When I've seen the 'one tooth' only approach, it's usually a lower central incisor ... and the results are great.

In my case, I have an impacted canine on my right side, and my first premolar is being moved forward to act as a canine. My ortho is planning to do some shaping to this premolar to assist with my bite. Your canines can be shaped, but how much they can by how much I don't know.

Please talk to your ortho about your concerns. Good luck!

[Punkin]

Hello All!

This is my first post and hopefully forum members may be able to to share some of their experiences with invisalign and put my mind at ease...

I am currently booked up to get invisaligns in about a month on both my top and lower jaw. All orthodontists I visited have said that I would need at least 3 extractions - the two teeth either side of my front teeth and the equivalent to the left of my bottom front teeth.

My concern is that I have very large canines - and they will rest on either side of my two front teeth at the end of this process... large and sharp I should say! My ortho has said that aesthetically, there can be no gaurantees with invisalign and that this can be dealt with later....

Has anyone else had these teeth extracted? and if so - how did it turn out? And could you get the canines reshaped?

Regards

EJ

I had four teeth extracted; first premolars top and bottom (the teeth on the other side of the canines).

I have been very impressed with how my teeth have moved in and filled that gap, but it took a good year for it to happen.

I would not have been happy, and probably would not have pursued the course of treatment, if I had to have those front teeth out. I was extremely concerned over the visibility of the missing teeth; I found that you could only see them if I laughed really hard

I would express the concern to your orthodontist; I would think they could remove other teeth if necessary.

Also, I wonder why they would only take out three. My ortho took out four, to maintain symmetry; I would think three would be awkward.

[Zoso]

It does indeed sound unusual to remove the laterals - I'd continue to seek other opinions were I you.

As to reshaping the canines, I'd say no way - the canines are special teeth - their special shape allows them to control the bite in a particular way that helps reduce how much you can damage the other teeth if you grind.

[myhollywoodsmile]

I have to sat that seems a little odd. My ortho told me most problems can be solved without extractions these days, and those teeth in particular would seem very visible ones to remove. If I were you I would check the Invisalign website, find the ortho's with the most experience in your area and get more opinions.

I had to get several opinons until I was happy with my ortho and I am extremely glad I did.

[Adam]

Hmmmm... My orthodontist told me he rarely does extraction, much prefering IPR.

[Punkin]

I don't think extraction is this issue; they may not be common, but I know there was no way to remove enough material using IPR to make room for my teeth without making them look all funky, so my ortho opted for extraction.

I think what is odd is the fact that they want to remove visible teeth, instead of the first pre-molars.

And another thing I forgot to mention, and read this knowing it's rather gross, but when you have extractions, there is a spot in the aligners for that tooth; there is nothing there, but the spot is there. Essentially, you have a cavity that would be clear. It's not bad with bottom teeth, but with the top teeth, saliva tends to gather in that cavity, and it gets pretty gross. And it would most certainly be visible, which is what you are trying to get away from with Invisalign.