Can You Get Invisalign with Crowns?

Invisalign has quickly become one of the most popular options around for straightening teeth. When you’re looking into your own treatment options, you may be wondering if you’re eligible for your own invisible aligners. One common question asked by potential Invisalign patients: Can you get Invisalign with crowns? 

What is a Crown?

If you have a crown, chances are you already know what they are. Just in case you need a quick rundown, though, a dental crown is a cap put in place to cover a damaged, decayed, or heavily stained tooth. Often, the original tooth is reshaped to fit the replacement crown, which is then put in place to restore the appearance and function of the tooth. To learn more about crowns and the process for getting one, see our guide to crowns

“What is a Tooth Crown? Understanding Dental Crowns and Their Benefits”

They can be made of all kinds of materials, but the most common are:

• Metal
• Resin
• Ceramic
• Porcelain

Crowns are one of the most common procedures performed in dentists’ offices, and more than 15 million people in the US have dental crowns. Our dentistry in Raleigh offers both Invisalign clear aligners and dental crown treatments.

Can You Get Invisalign if You Have Crowns?

If you have had this procedure in the past, you might be wondering if it will affect your eligibility for Invisalign. Luckily, you can successfully straighten your smile with Invisalign even if you have crowns on your teeth. 

Because the crown is bonded to your tooth, and the invisible trays are custom-made to fit your unique smile, they can be made to fit perfectly over both teeth with and without these “caps”. When your dentist takes the molds of your teeth to create your trays, they will include the crown just as if it were any other tooth. When you get your trays, you can easily pop them in and out, they are not bonded to your teeth like traditional braces, so they will not damage the crown itself. 

Your dentist will likely check to be sure your crown is very securely bonded to your tooth so that it will be able to be shifted properly along with all your other teeth during treatment. In some cases, your dentists may need to place buttons on certain teeth to help them shift into place. These buttons are hooks that attach to the surface of the tooth or crown, but they will not damage either of them. 

What Disqualifies You From Getting Invisalign? 

While crowns don’t affect your eligibility for invisible aligners, there are some dental procedures and conditions that do. 

Some patients might not be a good candidate for Invisalign if they have or have had any of the following:

• Active gum disease
• Active cavities
• Conditions that require a shift of the jaw, like a severe under or overbite
• Dental bridges
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
• Small or misshapen teeth

In these cases, your orthodontist or dentist may instead refer you to a treatment plan involving traditional braces.  

Mint Leaf Dentistry Invisalign Options 

Ultimately, only your dentist or orthodontist can tell you definitively if you are a good candidate for Invisalign. Many people are pleasantly surprised to find out that they are, and before they know it they are on their way to a straighter smile. 

If you’re looking for an Invisalign dentist in Morrisville, North Carolina, contact us at Mint Leaf Dentistry, call us at  919-330-1710, or book with us online! Our Gold Plus Invisalign dentists near Raleigh and Morrisville are ready to help you get the smile you’ve always wanted!