Can You Get Invisalign if You Already Have Veneers?
Many patients in Los Angeles dream of a “Hollywood Smile,” but achieving it often requires a combination of cosmetic and orthodontic treatments. If you already have veneers or are planning a total smile makeover, a common question arises: Can you get Invisalign if you have veneers?
The short answer is yes, but the timing and technique are critical. As a Board Certified Orthodontist, Dr. Amir Assefnia at Super Orthodontics specializes in these complex “hybrid” cases, ensuring your existing dental work is protected while achieving perfect alignment.
The Basics: Veneers vs. Invisalign
To understand how these treatments work together, it is important to distinguish their roles:
- Veneers: Custom-made porcelain or composite shells bonded to the front of the teeth. They fix aesthetic issues like chips, deep stains, or misshapen teeth.
- Invisalign: A series of clear, removable aligners that apply gentle pressure to move the roots and crowns of your teeth into the correct position.
How Invisalign Works with Existing Veneers
A common misconception is that “veneers don’t move.” In reality, the tooth root moves within the jawbone, and the veneer moves along with it. However, treating a patient with veneers requires specialized clinical considerations:
- Bonding Challenges: Invisalign often requires “attachments” (small tooth-colored bumps) to grip the teeth. These bond easily to natural enamel but require specialized agents to adhere to porcelain.
- Pressure Management: Dr. Assefnia carefully calibrates the movement to ensure orthodontic forces do not compromise the bond between the veneer and the tooth.
- Integrity Checks: We monitor the margins of your veneers throughout treatment to prevent any chipping or debonding.
The Ideal Sequence: Invisalign First, Veneers Second
If you are just starting your smile journey, the Invisalign Clear Aligner First approach is the gold standard for conservative dentistry.
Why Invisalign should come first:
- Conservative Prepping: When teeth are straight, your cosmetic dentist needs to remove significantly less natural tooth enamel to fit the veneer.
- Better Symmetry: Aligning the “foundations” first allows for perfectly symmetrical veneers that look natural and balanced.
- Functional Health: Correcting your bite first prevents you from accidentally chipping your new, expensive veneers due to improper tooth contact.
Why You Must See a Board Certified Orthodontist for This Treatment
When you have veneers, your margin for error during orthodontic treatment disappears. This is not a case for “DIY” aligners or general dental platforms. It requires the high-level expertise of a Board Certified Orthodontist for several critical reasons:
- Advanced Biomechanics: Non-experts may not understand how to anchor movements properly when working with porcelain surfaces, which can lead to inefficient treatment or unwanted tooth tilting.
- Restoration Safety: A specialist understands the chemical bond between the tooth and the veneer. Using the wrong attachment material or excessive force can cause permanent damage to your expensive cosmetic work.
- Complex Treatment Planning: As a Board Certified specialist and UCLA faculty member, Dr. Assefnia uses advanced 3D modeling to predict how your veneers will interact with your bite—something “mail-order” aligner companies simply cannot do.
Don’t risk your investment. Choosing a non-expert to move teeth that have veneers can lead to debonding, porcelain fractures, and expensive restorative repairs. Ensure your smile is in the hands of a specialist who understands the physics of tooth movement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Will Invisalign damage my existing veneers?
When performed by a Board Certified Orthodontist, the risk is very low. We use advanced 3D planning to ensure pressure is distributed safely. If a veneer is already old or compromised, we will discuss potential replacement options before starting.
2. How long does the combined treatment take?
Invisalign typically takes 6 to 18 months or more depending on the complexity. Once the teeth are in their final position, the veneer process usually takes only two to three appointments.
3. Can I get Invisalign if I only have one or two veneers?
Absolutely. Invisalign is highly customizable. We can customize your treatment to move specific teeth while maintaining the position of your existing restorations.
Why Choose Super Orthodontics in Encino & Los Angeles?
Combining orthodontics with cosmetic restorations requires precise coordination. Dr. Amir Assefnia is a Board Certified Orthodontist and UCLA Clinical Faculty member who works closely with top cosmetic dentists to ensure your veneers and aligners work in perfect harmony.
Ready to transform your smile? If you are in the greater Los Angeles area, schedule your digital smile scan at Super Orthodontics today!
Final Word: Choose a Board-Certified Orthodontist—Not Just Any Dentist
Orthodontic treatment is an investment in your long-term health, function, and confidence. You only get one smile—make sure it’s in the right hands.
If you’re looking for a trusted, experienced, and highly-ranked orthodontist , come see us at Super Orthodontics. Your perfect smile starts here.
Smiles That Speak for Themselves
Hear From Our Happy Patients!
Dr. Assefnia is a top-notch clinical orthodontist with a big heart and superb service! Unlike him, most dentists act like businessmen. Their contract is simple and straightforward without any high-pressured sales pitch or intention to deceive or to pressure you to sign. Their office is so clean that you could literally eat off the floor. Definitely consider getting a consult here especially with free parking. He truly cares about his patients. He takes into account of all the important clinical information about his patients when creating their treatment plan. I had taken my sons to get many consults, and he was the only orthodontist who took notice of and inquired about my son’s epilepsy that I had noted on the new patient intake form.
As a general dentist and a mom when my 8 years old son needed braces, I trusted Dr Amir with his care. My son went thru phase one with Dr Amir. Every visit was fun and my son looked forward in seeing him. Dr Amir is very kind and has a great sense of humor . We had a fantastic experience and Results were excellent! He is forever my family orthodontist!
So glad I stumbled upon Super Orthodontics Dr. Amir is truly one of the best orthodontists!! He’s very kind, caring and pays great attention to detail.10/10 would recommend.
Dr Amir Assefnia is the best orthodontist! I would’ve started my braces way earlier if I came across him sooner! Super happy with my results 😁. Highly recommend!
Best orthodontist! Great “bedside manner” Dr. Amir explains everything very well and gives us time to ask questions. Dr Amir treated both my kids and myself on our braces journey, and he made it pleasant and comfortable as can be. Thank you, Dr. Amir, for giving us a great smile! I would highly recommend Dr. Amir.
Dr. Amir is the BEST orthodontist, he straightened my teeth and gave me such an amazing smile! Definitely would recommend to anyone looking for a good orthodontist!
