Dental implants are extremely beneficial in patients with missing teeth. Braces will help to gain enough space for replacing the missing teeth.

IS BRACES NECESSARY FOR IMPLANT PLACEMENT?

When there is not enough space for the replacement of missing tooth with a dental implant, braces are necessary to get enough space for dental implants.

BRACES FIRST OR DENTAL IMPLANTS FIRST?

If you are having missing teeth and if you don’t have enough space for replacing them with dental implants, braces will help to create room for the dental implants. If you need both braces and implants, having braces first is the better option because implants once placed will get surrounded by bone making them unable to move even with orthodontic treatment.

Sometimes, it is okay to place dental implants before orthodontic treatment like when the teeth around the implant do not have to move or when it is to be used as an anchor teeth for orthodontic treatment.

HOW DO BRACES HELP IN DENTAL IMPLANT PLACEMENT?

The space left for replacement of a missing tooth often tends to decrease overtime due to shifting of adjacent teeth into the space of missing tooth. Orthodontic treatment uprights the roots of teeth and helps in aligning teeth, thereby gaining enough space for replacement of the missing tooth.

The minimum distance between an implant and root of a tooth should be 1.5 mm and the interim plant distance between two adjacent implants should be ≥ 3 mm. Space needs to be evaluated clinically and radiographically. The radiographic examination is a crucial part of treatment planning. A CBCT scan may be recommended where there is need for a 3D view of bony structures.

HOW DO ALIGNERS WORK WITH IMPLANTS?

If you opt for aligners instead of braces, they also work in a similar way like braces in gaining space for replacement of the missing tooth.