Case Study Spotlight: How Invisalign and Ember Light Therapy Helped Tricia Avoid Surgery and Extractions
Being told you may need teeth removed or even surgery to improve your bite can feel overwhelming. For many adult patients, the biggest concerns are:
- Choosing the least invasive option
- Finding a discrete treatment option
- Finishing treatment in a reasonable timeframe
- Saving money (and surgery is expensive)
Tricia came to Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics concerned about the protrusion of her teeth, her bite alignment, and how difficult it was to clean her teeth. She wanted a solution that improved her smile and function without braces, extractions, or surgery.
What Made Tricia’s Case More Complex
Tricia’s case was more advanced than it appeared at first glance. She had:
- Protrusive upper teeth
- A deep bite
- Limited lower jaw growth
- Overcrowding
In cases like hers, natural lower jaw growth often helps correct the bite. Because Tricia was an adult, her lower jaw was no longer growing. This meant we couldn’t use jaw growth to our advantage the way we do with patients whose jaws are still developing. This made her case more difficult to address and was likely why previous providers had recommended surgery and/or removing some of her upper teeth to better align them.
However, in skilled hands it is possible to get improvements without the need for surgery.
How Hatcher & Frey Diagnosed the Case
At Hatcher & Frey, every complex case starts with working backward from the ideal outcome. For Tricia, that meant evaluating:
- Where her teeth should be positioned for smile balance
- How both arches (her top and bottom rows of teeth) could be adapted to fit together properly
- Whether we could achieve an excellent result without surgery or braces
- How to make treatment as efficient and comfortable as possible
Because Tricia did not want braces, Invisalign was the clear choice. (As we often tell patients, “If you don’t want braces, you don’t have to get braces.”)
Why We Chose Invisalign Instead of Extractions
Dr. Frey says it best: “Other providers wanted to treat Tricia’s case by removing two upper teeth and retracting the upper teeth only. We did not feel like this was going to result in the most balanced outcome or one that fit her bone structure and enhanced her facial features.”
To clarify, tooth extraction can be a necessary part of orthodontic treatment for some patients, but greater understanding of facial harmony, growth, and other impacts has made this less necessary and rare.
In many cases, removing teeth can impact overall facial balance and aesthetics. While other providers recommended extractions for Tricia, our team believed a more conservative approach would lead to a better, more harmonious result. Her treatment included:
- Invisalign clear aligners
- Rubber bands to help shape the bite
- Ember Light therapy to support movement and comfort
Ember Light therapy was especially helpful in making treatment more efficient. Tricia was very consistent with using the device throughout her care which made the process more comfortable (and speedy).
The Outcome
Tricia completed treatment in about a year and achieved a result that was both functional and aesthetic. Her smile looked more balanced, her bite was improved, and the lower crowding was corrected, making her teeth easier to clean.
When completing Invisalign treatment, consistency and diligence is extremely important for achieving your dream results. Spending hours without trays in and missing follow-ups can cause you to fall behind schedule. As the #1 Invisalign provider in Hampton Roads, Hatcher & Frey orthodontists are prepared to guide you successfully through your Invisalign journey.
Why a Second Opinion Matters
Tricia’s case is a strong reminder that invasive treatment is not always the only path forward. If you have been told surgery or extractions are necessary, it is worth getting a second opinion. Your smile is extremely important, so it is worth making sure you explore all your options before deciding on something irreversible like surgery or extractions. At Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics, we are proud to provide advanced Invisalign treatment for patients in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and across Hampton Roads. If you are looking for an experienced orthodontist or a second opinion on a complex Invisalign case, schedule your complimentary consultation today.