3 Ways That Dental Implants Can Work With Braces

When you're trying to achieve your ideal smile, you might need more than one dental treatment. For instance, you might need to replace a lost tooth with a dental implant and straighten your teeth with braces. Fortunately, these treatments can work together.

If you need orthodontic treatment and a dental implant, then you might be wondering how the two treatments can occur at the same time. Although the timing might differ, braces and dental implants can work together.

1. Braces can make space for Dental implants (After)

Braces straighten teeth and make more room for teeth. And this means that braces can also make room for a dental implant. Sometimes, when a tooth has been missing for a while, the space closes as the adjacent teeth drift into the gap. As a result, you can begin your orthodontic treatment first and open up enough space for a dental implant.

Your orthodontist may want you to wait until after your orthodontic treatment to place the implant. This is because the bone needs to heal after orthodontic treatment since braces move teeth through bone, and dental implants require stable bone for placement.

2. Dental implants can serve as anchors for braces (Before or during)

If your orthodontist thinks that your dental implant might assist in the orthodontic treatment, then you can go ahead and place your dental implant first. You'll need to wait several months for the bone around the dental implant to heal. But once it does, your orthodontist can use the dental implant as an anchor point. The anchor point will help to provide force to move the other teeth.

3. Dental implants can heal during orthodontic treatment (During)

Even if a dental implant doesn't work with your orthodontic treatment, you can still place one before your braces are put on. This is possible if your orthodontic treatment won't move the teeth adjacent to the dental implant. You'll be able to first place the dental implant, and then have your braces put on afterward since the braces won't interfere with the healing dental implant.

Dental implants take six to nine months to heal. So your dental implant will probably be healed and useable before you complete your orthodontic treatment if you choose to take this route.

Dental implant and orthodontic treatment can occur at the same time to help you achieve your ideal smile. Your orthodontist and prosthodontist will work together to ensure you get the smile you want.  

To learn more about dental implants, contact a local dental professional.


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