Before you could start Invisalign, did you have to get any fillings?

[IHIC]

I have a couple of old fillings. But, tonight while checking out my teeth in the mirror (I do this alot), I saw what I thought was a hole (very small hole, just slightly larger than a sewing needle) on my 1st molar on the bottom left side.

I know this was probably a stupid thing to do - but to make sure I wasn't imagining things I very lightly ran a dental tool (I got it with some tooth brushes) over the area, and the tool dipped inside, so it is infact a tiny hole.

I visit my NHS dentist once every 6-12 months for a regular normal check up.

The hole I can see in my tooth looks like this one:

(this is NOT my own tooth, I Googled an image to find one with a similar hole).

I'm guessing the hole is a cavity? and if so, I will need this filled (and any others if I have any) before starting/wearing Invisalign?

I see my NHS dentist (this is just my regular dentist, it is not the ortho I will be seeing for Invisalign) in February, so will mention the hole to him then.

[Sunny]

It's best to see your dentist for a thorough check before your treatment is started, so that your teeth are in their best possible condition. Also you need to make sure that if you need fillings, that these do not impact on your aligners.

Good luck with having your oral hygiene A1.

[IHIC]

It's best to see your dentist for a thorough check before your treatment is started, so that your teeth are in their best possible condition. Also you need to make sure that if you need fillings, that these do not impact on your aligners.

Good luck with having your oral hygiene A1.

Thank you Sunny.

I will make sure I book my next check up appointment first before seeing the Ortho.

I'm not sure why I 'have a cavity', I always thought I looked after my teeth pretty well, and during my 6-12 monthly check ups my dentist always comments on how my teeth are in 'great condition' .

[mommamorin]

Yes, get any and all filings done BEFORE your impressions for your aligners. No matter how good the filing is done it will never match your tooth impression exactly and your aligners will be off.
good luck

[350GT]

I had most all my amalgam fillings replaced w/ composite material before I got my Invisalign. The metal fillings were at least 15 years old, one had actually cracked.

Get them done first!

[havingitdoneintheuk]

I would definitely get it done first but would also people that if you HAVE to have one done mid-course it doesn't have to be a problem.

I had a filling that cracked and fell apart half way through, my orthodontist took care of it and ensured that the aligner fitted it perfectly

[IHIC]

Thank you all. I will definitely get them checked first!

Is it important to fill a cavity prior to starting/wearing Invisalign aligners to avoid the cavity getting worse? (due to lack of saliva on teeth because of the aligners).

Merry Christmas all

[Sunny]

Always have your teeth in the best possible condition ... and this means having possible cavities checked immediately!

[IHIC]

I would definitely get it done first but would also people that if you HAVE to have one done mid-course it doesn't have to be a problem.

I had a filling that cracked and fell apart half way through, my orthodontist took care of it and ensured that the aligner fitted it perfectly

I have seen old posts saying you should always get fillings done first before starting Invisalign treatment, because if they are done during treatment the aligners wont fit exactly like they should - which I can understand. But I emailed the Ortho the other day after making this thread and they said it's possible to have a filling done during treatment, like you did.

I have a check up appointment booked with my dentist for February, but if I can I will try and get in to see my dentist earlier, in January to get the tooth checked out.

[Coop22]

I needed to have 2 teeth filled DURING my process. It was 2 of my bottom teeth and my dentist suggested it at a routine cleaning. This was near the end of my bottom trays and my ortho had me get it done after I was finished with the last tray, before I had new impressions for refinements. It sounds like you should definitely have this done before you start treatment. You wouldn't want to let it go and end up with a root canal!

[liccledevil83]

Humm I've just started my treatment and need a filling, I didn't find this out til after the impressions. Need to ring my ortho to find out what to do. I'm hoping I can have the filling done and it won't be too much of a problem. Fingers crossed!!!

[Coop22]

My ortho told me to take my trays with me to the dentist and to make sure they still fit while I was there. Luckily he dentist that did my fillings also had experience with Invisalign so he was great about making sure what he didn't did not change the way my trays were fitting. I'm sure you will have to go through something similar, but ask your ortho of course.

[myhollywoodsmile]

You can get fillings that fit your Invisalign but it is difficult so as everyone else has said it is much better simply to get everything sorted before the impressions are taken. (NOT before first fitting!) That way hopefully with good hygiene you can avoid needing any more until you are finished.

[IHIC]

Thanks for the replies, looks like it's best to get all/any problems seen to first prior to starting.

It sounds like you should definitely have this done before you start treatment. You wouldn't want to let it go and end up with a root canal!

I don't know much about fillings or infections that are caused because of cavities etc (the last filling I had was about 10 years ago, when I was 13)... but I can see I definitely have at least 2 visible holes in my first lower left molar I have been keeping an eye on it, and it looks to me (could be imagining it) like the hole on the top of the tooth seems to have gotten slightly larger in the past couple of weeks. Anyway, it's really starting to give me grief now. When I eat (no matter what I eat/drink) the tooth really hurts. I'm also starting to get pain throughout the day on and off even when I haven't eaten on it...

I phoned my dentist today because I don't think I could wait until my check up appointment in late February - I managed to get an appointment for this Friday to get it sorted.

I am thinking of getting a white filling done, but not sure what it will cost me yet. I wouldn't bother if it was one of my top teeth, but because it's one of the lowers I am worried a silver filling would be too visible when I talk/laugh lol vanity eh.

[havingitdoneintheuk]

Heh heh next time one of my fillings needs replacing I will be going for white too!

[IHIC]

Well I went to my dentist appointment today... I didn't get anywhere.

My dentist said the holes are not cavities , they look like cavities to me! Why the hell else would someone develop needle sized holes in their teeth? lol.

He had a 'poke' around and said all was fine, no soft bits etc (he didn't really give an explantation of what the holes were... I did ask outright "are they cavities?" and he said no... he said they are just parts of the indentations of tooth surface...). When he was poking (I'm sure that isn't the best thing to call it) around/in the holes I didn't feel a thing... although it has started niggling since I left the surgery.

He said he is more worried about the molar next to it... because it has black lines on the top of the tooth (I will upload a photo of my teeth later). So maybe the pain isn't coming from the 1st molar and is coming from the 2nd. I just thought the pain was coming from the 1st because I could see 2 holes in it.

Anyway, he refused they were cavities... said a big fat no to filling the tooth, because he doesn't need to and it isn't necessary. He said why mess up a perfectly good tooth by drilling and filling it when there isn't even a problem.

I am still getting pain though. He said to get some sensitive toothpaste.

[mommamorin]

Your dentist, he is the professional. If he says you do not have a cavity, well then you don't have a cavity. It also makes much sense that you are having referred pain from the other tooth. You are second guessing your professional, will you be appeased if you got a second opinion? It sounds to me you will not take comfort unless you hear it from another professional.
As far as the sensitivity, just a little off on your aligners where you may be biting and grinding more in one spot will give quite a lot of pain in that entire area. that is probably what you are feeling right now and will go away after an aligner or two as your teeth move.
good luck and stop picking around your teeth!

[IHIC]

Your dentist, he is the professional. If he says you do not have a cavity, well then you don't have a cavity. It also makes much sense that you are having referred pain from the other tooth. You are second guessing your professional, will you be appeased if you got a second opinion? It sounds to me you will not take comfort unless you hear it from another professional.
As far as the sensitivity, just a little off on your aligners where you may be biting and grinding more in one spot will give quite a lot of pain in that entire area. that is probably what you are feeling right now and will go away after an aligner or two as your teeth move.
good luck and stop picking around your teeth!

He is an NHS dentist, I cannot afford private.

I am yet to get Invisalign... that is why I made this thread to find out if I did have a cavity would I definitely need it filled prior to starting. My dentist is not my ortho, just regular dentist.

I cannot afford a 2nd opinion unfortunately, not right now anyway.

I'm not sure why one would have holes in their teeth that weren't there 2 years ago?

I am worried, I certainly don't want to have fillings! But if they need doing they need doing. Maybe when I upload the photo someone with more experience than me will be able to tell me if the holes are cavities, but the holes have a dark brown appearance... I'm convinced, but I could be wrong!

[IHIC]

Here is a picture of the tooth I can see two holes in. It's not a great picture, slightly out of focus, but best I could do.

You can see the hole on the right side of the tooth, and the one on the top of the tooth.



Also, incase anyone can help... here is a picture of the tooth my dentist said he'd be more worried about, but looks ok and doesn't need a filling etc:



Anyway, I will just have to go with it. I hope to see the ortho in the next couple of months - I am sure he'll let me know if any work needs doing .

[mommamorin]

wow, i can see your concern. I have been blessed that I have really great insurance so I often don't think of other's circumstances and for that I am sorry.
It is so blatant in the pics that I would think someone with a professional eye, and they are here on this board, that they can give you some advice on this matter.
I am sure, too, that your ortho would be able to advise you as well.

[IHIC]

wow, i can see your concern. I have been blessed that I have really great insurance so I often don't think of other's circumstances and for that I am sorry.
It is so blatant in the pics that I would think someone with a professional eye, and they are here on this board, that they can give you some advice on this matter.
I am sure, too, that your ortho would be able to advise you as well.

No worries mommamorin, no one is to know if personal circumstances aren't mentioned. At the moment things are a little tough at home, hopefully soon I'll be able to afford 'better treatment'.

It would be great if someone could suggest whether they may be cavities, but I understand it isn't easy for people to comment on just pictures alone, so that's no problem.

I will leave my tooth for now, I am due to see my dentist again at the end of February anyway.

[Sunny]

IHIC could this just be a grove on your tooth with staining? That's what I'd think it was if your dentist was certain it wasn't a cavity.

Staining will make the groves look worse, but it's not uncommon for teeth to have marks that get stained ... but aren't and never will be cavities.

Hope this is your case. Good luck!

[Coop22]

My regular dentist had referred me to have ONE tooth filled. I didn't want to use him to get the filling as he does the old method of injections for pain, drilling.. etc. I chose to go for laser dentistry for my filling. There is no numbing required at all as they use a water pic/laser to do the filling. Anyway, they filled the first one and the dentist mentioned the one beside it should be checked also since it had black in the crevices similar to the above picture. He pulled out a laser tool that shoots a beam through your tooth to measure the enamel to see if there is a cavity below the surface. Sure enough, there was! He said if he hadn't found it, I would have been back for a root canal in a few months. My regular dentist missed this one completely! You should get a second opinion, especially since you're not convinced. Try to find someone with more advanced technology than just poking around.

Good luck and keep us posted!