Some few months ago, we had a peculiar case here at RunRex. A patient reported that his 2 front teeth were protruding forward and he was looking for the best solution to help retain the shape of the teeth and maintain a good smile. At first, we all thought this was going to be an easy case- retainers or braces would have effectively addressed the problem-or so we thought! Turns out the guy had 3 implants on the 2 upper teeth and one in the lower jaw. This changed the complexion of the matter completely.
Although this is not the first case of its kind here at RunRex, it was a moment of awakening to our able dentists and they required every bit of their experience and dexterity in dentistry to address the matter appropriately. Obviously our dentists were able to administer the right treatment and from the success of the procedure, we drew our inspiration to come up with this blog post.
So, can one get dental braces if they have dental implants fitted? We all know how magical braces can be when it comes to correcting overcrowded or crooked teeth but are they suitable after getting dental implants? Before delving deep into the matter, we would love to differentiate between dental implants and dental braces for those readers who might be caught in the quagmire of comprehending why the two might need to be used together.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is an artificial root fitted into the jawbone to act as an anchor for a prosthetic tooth replacement. It is a faux root which is surgically placed in your mouth to anchor a crown, bridge or full denture. The dental implant is made of titanium and is cemented into position to ensure that it is stable and sturdy enough to replicate missing teeth.
Dental braces
Dental braces on the other hand, are made up of metallic or ceramic brackets attached to each tooth using a special adhesive and then held together using an arch wire which runs through each bracket. The braces have an elastic ligature with is a small elastic that holds the bracket onto the arch wire. The braces work by exerting pressure on the teeth and move them into the desired position. The arch wire is tightened from time to time to exert more pressure on the brackets which in turn press against the teeth moving them into the desired position.
Now that we know the definition of the two terms, let’s explore the possibilities of the two dental procedures being put to use simultaneously;
Dental braces after dental implants
If you ask any dentist about the appropriateness of getting dental braces after getting dental implants surgery, they will most probably advise against it. This does however not mean that the procedure is impossible. Most dentist prefer the order to be the other way round- dental braces proceeded with dental implants.
It is always best to carry out the orthodontic treatment first before thinking about implants. By starting with the orthodontic treatment, dentist will ensure that the teeth are in the perfect position and even if an implant is needed, the prosthetic will be made to perfectly fit the already straight set of teeth.
In the unlikely event that one requires braces after dental implants though, it becomes a little bit more difficult. As we all know dental braces work by pushing back teeth into a desired position. Unfortunately for teeth with implants, the artificial roots don’t move like natural roots of teeth and altering the shape of these teeth becomes a problem. The dentist will need to come up with a way to move the teeth surrounding the implant and in most cases, fixed braces or even clear invisalign can do the trick.
The only positive about trying to get braces after dental implant surgery is the fact that the implant and crown are placed in their desired position. Even if the other surrounding teeth move therefore, the implant won’t move and will be in the right position. The dentist will only be required to target the other teeth with natural roots and the teeth will be back in shape. In the example we gave earlier, our dentists easily rectified the teeth using a fixed brace.
In the event that the implant looks out of place once the orthodontic treatment is over, then your dentist will advise accordingly. He/she can choose to replace the crown only or entirely replace the implant with another one and fit a new crown on it for improved aesthetics.