What to Do When Invisalign Doesn't Work

The effectiveness of Invisalign is rarely in question. However, sometimes treatment with the Invisalign aligner doesn't give you the quick teeth straightening results you want. If this happens, it's essential to contact your cosmetic dentist. If you've followed all of the steps and your teeth still don't move, you may need to ask your dentist to review your Invisalign treatment.

Braces have the power to shift the teeth into position, while Invisalign can only achieve limited movement in the front teeth and almost no movement in the back teeth. If a patient has had dental work done, such as a porcelain crown or veneers, after Invisalign retainers have been made, they may not fit correctly or may not be successful in manipulating the teeth into place. In extreme cases, braces can be combined with Invisalign and some cases of underbite cannot be treated with Invisalign. Invisalign can close the gaps to create a healthier mouth and a more attractive smile, but there are restrictions in terms of the amount of space that must be closed.

Invisalign can correct an open bite (when the upper and lower teeth don't meet) by moving the upper and lower teeth into position so that they close properly. Whether there is one gap between two teeth or multiple spaces that the patient wants to close, Invisalign can only reliably close up to 6 mm of space per arch (upper or lower teeth). Invisalign can correct a midline discrepancy of 2 mm to the left or right per arc, but anything larger must be treated with braces. It's also worth noting that some patients who have been disappointed with Invisalign later find that facial orthopedic treatment helps them fix their bites, so this is another option you may want to consider before getting braces.

Invisalign chews are soft, flexible rolls of chewable material shaped like a cotton roll or earplug. Still, it's not fair to pay twice for the same Invisalign treatment that didn't work, so if you want to request a refund for the part of the treatment that didn't go as planned, you'll have to work it out very tactfully with your original treating dentist. In this blog post, I'm sharing five reasons why your Invisalign isn't working and what you can do to stay on track. With technological advancements and the growth of orthodontists' experience in using Invisalign, limitations are becoming increasingly reduced.

A patient with porcelain veneers or crowns may not be able to use the attachments with their Invisalign because they cannot adhere to the surface.