When you need an orthodontist
Severe crowding, large gaps, bite problems (overbite, underbite, crossbite), significant rotations, and cases needing extractions or jaw correction need in-person orthodontic care.
Also known as complex cases, bite problems.
The descriptions on this page are InvisibleBraces editorial summaries. The research behind them is counted and linked below, each count opening the search that returns it.
At a glance
Updated monthly · checked 11 d agoWhen you need an orthodontist: a question of who at-home aligners suit, not a product or a treatment. Its research-volume score is ~24/100, from 120 indexed papers. Our verdict: For anything beyond mild-to-moderate, see a licensed orthodontist. Aligners by mail are not the tool for a complex bite.
Remote-only brands rarely turn complex cases away up front.
For anything beyond mild-to-moderate, see a licensed orthodontist. Aligners by mail are not the tool for a complex bite.
What the evidence says
Our summary of the research, then the counts it rests on. Each count opens the search that returns it.
The ADA and the American Association of Orthodontists hold that moving teeth without an in-person exam, including x-rays, risks irreversible harm, and complication rates in unsupervised users are not trivial.
The score is the one figure here we compute ourselves: a logarithmic blend of the three counts above (every indexed paper, the randomized trials, and the systematic reviews), with a trial or a review counting for more than an ordinary paper. It measures how much research exists on the topic, not whether a product works for you. The same method grades every topic on the accessories index.
Source: Europe PMC · as of Nov 2, 2026
What to watch for
Red flags: jaw pain, loose teeth, bleeding gums, or a bite that no longer meets correctly. Stop and see a dentist or orthodontist.
InvisibleBraces editorial guidance, not a clinical instruction. For the professional-body positions on moving teeth without an exam, see what the ADA and AAO say.
Other candidacy topics
Our verdict: If your case is mild-to-moderate, at-home aligners are a sensible, lower-cost option. Match the tool to the case.