How to Manage an Invisalign Case with Existing Implants

Ideally, Invisalign patients do not have existing implants before they receive aligners. However, there are cases in which patients want Invisalign after they have an implant. These Invisalign cases might not always be possible, and patients with implants should straighten their teeth first before receiving an implant in most cases.

But you might still be able to help your patients achieve the goal of a straight smile after they have received an implant if their case is right. In this article, we will discuss how to proceed with an Invisalign case if you have come across a case in which your patient already has implants.

How to Manage an Invisalign Case with Existing Implants

As always, each case is different, requires a level of examination, and has a different level of complexity. Implants are a fundamental complication with Invisalign because they are teeth that are unable to move. When we straighten teeth or reduce crowding, we need to be able to move teeth in order to straighten them. This is done by expanding arches, using anterior bite turbos, or proclining teeth—all of which cannot be done in most cases where a patient has an implant. 

Distalization could be an option depending on the placement of the implant because sequential distalization is the movement of the teeth one by one in order to make space. However, if there are posterior implants, this is no longer an option because the teeth won’t be able to have extra room to move.

In these cases, they are considered limited due to the immovable teeth. You could potentially proceed with Invisalign in cases where there are small gaps between the front teeth and a posterior implant, for example. Other options that might be preferable include restorative services, such as veneers or other cosmetic dentistry.