Embarking on your Invisalign® journey is an exciting step toward achieving the smile you’ve always wanted. But not so fast. Before you can pop in your first set of trays, your oral health needs to be in top condition. After all, you need a firm foundation to build that new smile.
As your trusted dentist in North San Antonio, we at Park Hill Dental believe in a comprehensive approach to orthodontic care. This means preparing your teeth and gums for the changes ahead. This guide will walk you through the essential treatments you might need before starting Invisalign and will explain why they are so important.
Why Pre-Invisalign Treatments Are Necessary
Invisalign aligners work by applying gentle, consistent pressure to shift your teeth into their ideal positions. For this process to be effective and safe, your teeth and gums must be free of any underlying issues. Moving teeth that have decay or are surrounded by unhealthy gums can lead to more significant problems down the road. Think of it like this: you wouldn’t start decorating a house before fixing the cracked pipes and broken flooring.
Addressing these issues beforehand helps your treatment progress without interruption and prevents discomfort and complications. To get an idea of your specific Invisalign prerequisites, our dentist in North San Antonio will conduct a thorough examination to create a personalized pre-treatment plan for you.
1. Comprehensive Dental Cleaning and Exam
The very first step for anyone considering Invisalign is a professional dental cleaning and checkup. Even if you brush and floss diligently, plaque and tartar can build up in hard-to-reach areas.
Why It’s Important
Invisalign trays fit snugly over your teeth, which can trap bacteria and food particles against the tooth surface. Starting with perfectly clean teeth minimizes the risk of cavities and gum inflammation during your treatment. A thorough cleaning removes plaque and tartar, providing a pristine environment for your aligners.
What to Expect
- Our hygienist will professionally clean, polish, and floss your teeth.
- Our dentist in North San Antonio will then perform a detailed exam, often including X-rays, to get a complete picture of your oral health.
2. Cavity Fillings
If your initial exam reveals any cavities, they must be filled before you begin Invisalign. After all, any time we discover decay, it needs to be treated promptly to keep it from spreading.
Why It’s Important
A cavity is a form of tooth decay that weakens the tooth structure. Placing an aligner over an untreated cavity won’t help matteres. The aligner can trap sugars and acids against the weak spot, accelerating the cavity’s growth.
Plus, the shape of your tooth can slightly change after a filling is placed. Since your Invisalign trays are custom-molded to your teeth, getting a filling mid-treatment would require a new set of scans and new aligners, causing delays and extra costs.
What to Expect
Our North San Antonio dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and fill it with a durable material, such as composite resin. Your dental filling restores the tooth’s shape and strength, making it ready for the gentle pressure of the aligners.
3. Addressing Gum Health
Healthy gums are the foundation of a healthy smile. If you show signs of gum disease, such as gingivitis or the more advanced periodontitis, we need to manage it before you can start Invisalign.
Why It’s Important
Gum disease causes inflammation and infection in the gum tissue. Applying orthodontic pressure to teeth with active gum disease can accelerate bone loss and potentially lead to tooth loss. Your gums need to be strong and healthy to support the teeth as they move.
What to Expect
For mild gingivitis, a professional cleaning and improved at-home care may be enough. For periodontitis, our team at Park Hill Dental may recommend a deeper cleaning procedure called scaling and root planing. This treatment removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line and smooths the tooth roots to help the gums reattach.
4. Tooth Extractions
In some cases, particularly with significant crowding, we may need to remove one or more teeth to create the necessary space for other teeth to align properly.
Why It’s Important
Overcrowding is one of the most common reasons people seek orthodontic treatment in the first place. But if there isn’t enough room in your jaw for your teeth to fit correctly, tooth extractions can create the space needed for Invisalign to work effectively. Wisdom teeth are also commonly removed before treatment if they are impacted or could cause future alignment issues.
What to Expect
Our dentist in North San Antonio will discuss this possibility with you after reviewing your X-rays and treatment plan. We understand that some people think of pulling a tooth as an ordeal, but an extraction is typically a straightforward procedure. We’ll give the site time to heal before you receive your first set of aligners.
Fix Your Smile Before You Fix Your Smile
At Park Hill Dental, we’re here to get you both the smile care you want and the smile care you need. Ready to find out if you’re ready for Invisalign? Book a consultation with our team today.
