Can I Get Invisalign® if I Had Braces as a Teen?
Can I Get Invisalign® if I Had Braces as a Teen?
Had braces as a teen but your teeth have shifted over time? You are not alone—many adults notice that their smile is not as straight as it used to be. We treat patients who are interested in straightening their teeth as an adult from throughout Northern Virginia, including Middleburg, Aldie, Ashburn, Purcellville, Warrenton, Marshall, South Riding, Leesburg, Haymarket, and more.
Why teeth shift after braces
Even after successful orthodontic treatment, teeth can gradually move due to everyday chewing forces, aging, clenching or grinding, or not wearing retainers as directed. This “orthodontic relapse” can show up as new crowding, small gaps, or a bite that no longer feels quite right.
If you are hesitant to go back into metal braces as an adult, there is good news: Invisalign® clear aligner treatment can often correct these changes more comfortably and discreetly than your first round of braces.
Can you get Invisalign® if you had braces before?
In many cases, yes. Adults and older teens who had braces in the past are often excellent candidates for Invisalign®, especially when the current issues involve mild to moderate crowding, spacing, or bite refinements rather than major jaw corrections. Because your teeth were already aligned once, treatment to fix a relapse is often shorter than your original braces—sometimes taking months instead of years, depending on your specific case.
At Middleburg Smiles, your dentist evaluates your teeth, bite, and gums to determine whether Invisalign® is a good fit or if another approach would serve you better. A customized treatment plan is then created using digital scans and a series of clear aligners designed to move your teeth in small, precise steps.
Benefits of choosing Invisalign® as an adult
Invisalign® aligners are removable, nearly invisible, and made of smooth plastic, which makes them a popular choice for adults who want to straighten their teeth without drawing attention to their treatment. You can take the aligners out to eat, drink anything other than water, and brush and floss, so there are no food restrictions and oral hygiene is typically easier than with brackets and wires.
Wearing your aligners as directed—usually 20–22 hours per day—and switching to a new set on schedule helps keep your treatment on track. After your Invisalign® treatment is complete, long‑term retainer wear is essential to protect your investment and keep your smile aligned over time.
Invisalign® at Middleburg Smiles
Middleburg Smiles offers Invisalign® treatment for adults and responsible teens who want a more confident, well‑aligned smile with minimal disruption to their daily life. From the office in Middleburg, they welcome patients from Aldie, Ashburn, Purcellville, Warrenton, Marshall, South Riding, Leesburg, Haymarket, and throughout Northern Virginia who are interested in revisiting their smile after braces.
If your teeth have shifted since your teen braces—or you never quite finished treatment—this article explains what to expect from Invisalign®, who makes a good candidate, and how the team at Middleburg Smiles can help you decide on the right next step for your smile and bite. Contact Middleburg Smiles to make an appointment and learn more.