You're probably going to be relieved when your orthodontist tells you that Invisalign is the best choice to correct your particular issue, as this treatment is non-invasive and not all that obvious (with Invisalign often called invisible braces). It's not suitable for everyone and is most effective for mild to moderate occlusal issues with a person's bite. Invisalign helps to reset the overall configuration of your teeth, but you might be wondering if the physical state of your teeth will somehow make your treatment less effective. Is your Invisalign still going to work if you have a chipped tooth?

Some Relevant Considerations

For many patients, yes, Invisalign will be perfectly effective if you have a chipped tooth. But there are still relevant considerations. When the tooth's chip is significant and is likely to speed up the deterioration of the tooth's structure, it can be wise to have the tooth restored before you begin treatment.

Pressure on Your Tooth

The thermoplastic Invisalign aligners fit snugly over your upper and lower sets of teeth. Directing pressure across the tooth's surface and down to its root, the trays stimulate bone remodelling. Bone tissues partially dissolve as the dental socket is repositioned, with osteoblasts (cells that synthesise bone) forming around the socket's new position. This is how orthodontic work repositions (and straightens) teeth. If a chip in your tooth is likely to make it too weak to withstand the required pressure for Invisalign treatment, having it restored can be mandatory.

Smaller Chips

When the chip is relatively small and is unlikely to compromise the structural integrity of the tooth, having it repaired is at your discretion. Sure, it's in your interests to have it done (which will help to prevent further deterioration of the tooth in the future), but it won't be essential to have the tooth restored as a prerequisite for your Invisalign treatment. You can delay this restoration until your orthodontic work has been completed. 

Midway Through Your Treatment

What you can't (easily) do is have a chipped tooth repaired in the middle of your Invisalign treatment. Those aligner trays are not one-size-fits-all and have been manufactured to hug the contours of your teeth—including the chipped tooth. If the chip is restored midway through your treatment, your trays won't fit quite so well, which will greatly hamper their effectiveness. 

To be frank, any chipped tooth should be repaired sooner rather than later. When the chip is large enough to weaken the tooth, then you must have it repaired prior to beginning Invisalign treatment. When the tooth is still structurally sound, you can generally wait until your treatment has finished (even though this isn't the best option). What you can't do is decide to have the chip restored during your treatment.