Do I Need a Special Dentist for Invisalign?

I want to get my teeth straightened with Invisalign. Do I go to a special dentist like an orthodontist or cosmetic dentist or will my regular dentist do?

Charles I.

Dear Charles,

A woman placing her Invisalign aligners

There are certain things which require a specialist, but Invisalign isn’t one of them. In fact, not even cosmetic dentistry is a recognized specialty. Any general dentist is technically allowed to call themselves a cosmetic dentist. Obviously, a patient needs to be cautious about getting an advanced smile makeover done by just any dentist because skills vary from dentist to dentist, so you’ll want to check out why type of results they get before committing.

Even though orthodontist is a recognized specialty, a general dentist can do braces and other orthodontics if they’ve invested the time in training. Many have, and many patients find they save money by going to their family dentist for their braces.

Invisalign is different from all of those procedures. The treatment plan and design of aligners is done by computer with a special software program designed to make your treatment plan as efficient as possible. Results are likely to be the same across the board no matter which dentist you go to for treatment. If your dentist offers Invisalign, you’ll be safe to get it done from him (or her).

Bear in mind, not everyone is a candidate for every procedure. If you’re not, you have options.

Options to Invisalign

  • Traditional Braces: Most people are a candidate for Invisalign. Every so often, though, we run up against a case that has much more severe issues than normal with their bite. In that case, traditional braces may be the better route for you.
  • Porcelain Veneers: If there are more things you’re interested in changing about your smile than just some orthodontics, a smile makeover may be just the thing. While these won’t actually straighten your teeth, they can be designed to make your smile look straight. Additionally, they can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth at the same time.

I hope this helps. Talk to your dentist about your goals. Together you can come up with all your best options.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Matt Roper.