Dental implants are used to replace lost teeth and restore the natural appearance and function of teeth. When a tooth is extracted, the neighboring teeth have the tendency to migrate. If this migration is not controlled, the overall look of the teeth alignment might be unpleasant. Controlling teeth movement is usually done with dental braces which can be used to rearrange teeth and fill the gap left by the missing tooth, or to prepare teeth alignment for insertion of an implant.
Dental Braces for Missing Tooth
Dental braces are orthodontic devices used to correct teeth alignment and control teeth movement. They are mainly used in children and teenagers, but adults can also wear them and correct both structural and aesthetic deficiencies. Generally, teeth have the tendency of moving towards the central line of the mouth, that is, they move towards the front. If you lose a tooth, the alignment of the other teeth will change as well. Braces can be used to correct and control teeth movement.
If the space left by the missing tooth is small and the wisdom tooth has not come out yet, this gap can be corrected by arranging the other teeth in the mouth and there will be no need for implants. In order to obtain the best final result, measurements have to be made so that the new alignment respects the patient’s natural bite.
Dental Braces before Implants
In case the gap cannot be corrected with braces and an implant is still needed, dental braces are generally used to prepare teeth alignment for implantation. In this case, dental braces have the role of aligning and fixing the position of teeth in order to create the best configuration for the implant.
Dental braces are made according to specific patient’s needs and need several adjustments during the period of treatment. Therefore it is important that the patient and the dentist work work closely together for the best treatment outcome.
Dental Implants for Missing Tooth
Dental implants are artificial teeth used to replace missing natural teeth. The procedure consists of inserting a titanium screw into the patient’s jaw and then fixing the artificial tooth on that screw. Unlike other tooth replacement options, dental implants are more stable and do not damage neighboring teeth.
Dental implants have both a functional and an aesthetic purpose. They restore the normal appearance of teeth as well as the natural bite. Before having a dental implant, some preparation might be required, including the rearrangement and alignment stabilization of teeth. For this, the patient might need to wear braces.
If the teeth alignment needs correction after a dental implant is installed, braces can still be used. However, the position of the implant cannot be changed by braces and the dentists needs to monitor the movement.
It is recommended that you plan ahead before the procedure. Let your dentist know about other treatments you are planning in the following five to ten years.
