Expert: Dr. Randolph Myerson - 3/5/2006

Question
Hi Dr. Myerson,

 I am 19 years old, and have had my braces off since I was about 14 or so.  Being the idiot that I was, I didn't wear my retainer very much.  Since then, my two front teeth on the bottom have become crooked due to crowding.  The rest of my teeth are fine.  
 However, this is still very problematic, as I am constantly trying to keep my bottom teeth hidden behind my lip.  Additionally, I think it's clear that I've wasted a lot of my parents' money.  I'm aware of how expensive my braces were, and I feel awful for not being more responsible.  I have considered getting myself Invisalign, but I can't afford it at this time, and I'm not about to ask my parents for money to correct something that they thought they had paid to fix years ago.
 My question is this: since only two teeth are making me self-conscious, is it possible to get some kind of treatment that only targets these two front teeth?  My reasoning is that it would be less expensive, and therefore something that I could finance on my own.  I realize that crowding is caused not just by the two crooked teeth, but by the teeth around them as well, so I understand if this "two tooth approach" is not plausible.  I also understand that there is very little you can do over the internet, so I am not asking for any kind of diagnosis or anything like that.  What do you think my best course of action would be?  Am I better off waiting until I can afford Invisalign, or does waiting only build on the problem?

 Thank you for your help!

Brendan

P.S.  Is there any limit on the degree of crowding that Invisalign can effectively treat?

Answer
There is certainly a limit on the degree of crowding that can be corrected by Invisalign, or any other non-braces approach for that matter.  Invisalign is a terrific way to correct some mild to moderate problems, although there are other less expensive techniques that might also help in your case.  It all depends upon the degree of crowding as well as other factors.

I would suggest that you have an evaluation by an orthodontist and discuss your options.  Then you can decide if there's something reasonable that can be done now or perhaps it would be best to wait until you can afford Invisalign.