Invisalign Lite Re-orthodontic Treatment: Reopened Extraction Space?

Hello.

Today, I want to talk about how much treatment is possible with Invisalign Lite.

We’ll look at a case in which severe overbite and reopened extraction space were treated with Invisalign Lite, and see how much improvement is possible.

24.03

This is a patient in their 30s who came in last March for retreatment because of an overbite and reopening of the extraction space.

The overbite is so severe that the lower teeth are barely visible.

24.03

When the overbite is severe, a wire retainer cannot be attached behind the upper front teeth. It becomes uncomfortable because it is bitten by the lower teeth, and the wire also comes off quickly.

24.03

You can see about a 2 mm gap behind the canine.

This was the space where the first premolar had been extracted during orthodontic treatment abroad 10 years ago, and the space reopened due to relapse.

If orthodontic treatment is finished while the overbite remains, a wire retainer cannot be attached, and that leads to relapse. If the wire retainer had been properly bonded, the extraction space would not have reopened by as much as 2 mm. This is why, at the finishing stage of orthodontic treatment, the overbite must be fully corrected.

Because the patient lives overseas, Invisalign was more suitable than bracket-and-wire orthodontic treatment. They were able to visit once every six months. At another clinic, they were told that Invisalign Comprehensive would be necessary during consultation.

However, if orthodontic mini-screws and elastics are used together, Invisalign Lite is sufficient.

By making good use of the Invisalign Lite 14-aligner + additional 14-aligner program, we set up a treatment plan on a one-year schedule.

24.09

However, because the overbite was severe, it was difficult to resolve with clear aligners alone, so an orthodontic mini-screw was placed in the front teeth area and elastics were used together.

This is the result after wearing all 14 aligners over six months, from April 2024 to September 2024.

24.09

The overbite improved, and the lower front teeth are visible.

24.09

The extraction space had mostly closed, but a slight gap still remained.

We decided to use one more set of additional aligners to further improve the overbite and finish the extraction space tightly, so we proceeded with a remake.

This is the result after wearing all 14 additional aligners over six months, from October 2024 to April 2025.

The overbite improved further,

and the extraction space was finished tightly, so a wire retainer was also attached.

After improving the deep overbite of the front teeth, we were finally able to bond the wire retainer.

Now let’s look at the before-and-after results.

The treatment was done with Invisalign Lite, and the treatment period was 1 year and 1 month.

24.03~25.04

You can see improvement in the overbite and the midline.

24.03~25.04

The reopened extraction space has been neatly closed, and the wire retainer has been bonded as well.

24.03~25.04

24.03~25.04

A neat smile line

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A clean angle of the front teeth

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The lip incompetence, where the lower lip caught on the lowered upper teeth and the mouth was difficult to close, has been resolved. Now the mouth closes comfortably.

25.04

Even though this was retreatment, there is no root resorption. You may wonder whether moving the front teeth roots inward into the bone shortens the tooth roots, but Invisalign does not seem to cause root resorption easily, perhaps because it does not apply strong force to the teeth all at once like wire orthodontics does.

This is something I feel from clinical experience, but more research is needed on this point.

As you saw in today’s case, Invisalign Lite can do more than you might expect.

Thank you for reading this long post.