So, you have decided to get a dental implant for a missing tooth. A dental implant is the best way to create a natural-looking and functional replacement that is indistinguishable from your natural teeth.
With a dental implant, you will be able to smile with confidence, enjoy all your favorite foods, and have a restoration that can last for decades, if not a lifetime, with proper care.
However, if you have been missing a natural tooth or teeth for some time, orthodontic treatment may be necessary prior to dental implant placement. So when and why would orthodontic treatment be beneficial before dental implants?
Why Orthodontic Treatment May Be Necessary Before Implant Placement
If you want to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant, you will need enough space for the implant.
However, people who have been missing teeth for months or even years often experience bone loss and teeth shifting around where the natural tooth was. As a result, there is less space where the natural tooth used to be, which makes proper implant placement challenging, if not impossible.
When this happens, orthodontic treatment is typically beneficial prior to dental implant placement. Orthodontic treatment will open the gap where the tooth would have been, creating space for proper implant placement that allows you to have a restoration that will look and feel like your natural tooth.
Your prosthodontist will work with your orthodontist to ensure the surrounding teeth are moved appropriately to allow enough space for an implant for a seamless process and the highest chances of success [1].
When Would Orthodontic Treatment Need to Happen Before Dental Implants?
Orthodontic treatment would need to happen before your implant placement procedure, but after you have presurgical planning with your prosthodontist. This is because the dental implant will essentially be replacing your tooth’s root, so your prosthodontist and orthodontist need to work together to ensure that the positioning of your neighboring teeth is ideal for successful dental implant placement [2].
Since both orthodontic treatment and dental implant procedures can take several months, you may want to start planning your smile restoration well in advance of when you would actually require your new tooth.
If you are missing bone in your jaw and need a bone graft before dental implant placement, your prosthodontist will advise you on whether you will need the graft before or after orthodontic treatment.
Consult with an Experienced Prosthodontist
A prosthodontist is a specialist at restoring missing teeth and can help you successfully plan and execute your dental implant treatment, accounting for any orthodontic intervention required.
How do you know if you need orthodontic treatment before dental implants? Schedule a consultation with a prosthodontist today to find out.
Sources:
1. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/11/5566
2.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/296419485_Orthodontic_Therapy_in_Impla
nt_Dentistry_Orthodontic_Implant_Site_Development
