Are You A Candidate For Orthodontic Treatment?
Healthy, straight teeth are key components of the ideal smile. If you've been unhappy with your teeth for a while, orthodontic treatment can help you realign your teeth for a healthier and more beautiful look. However, you may be wondering if you're a candidate for orthodontic treatment due to prior dental issues. Here's what you should know if you have veneers, a crown, or dental implants:
1. You have veneers.
Veneers are often used to give people a more even smile and to hide chipped teeth. They're also permanent, since the bonding process removes part of your teeth's natural enamel. If you have veneers, you can't get braces since the process of removing brackets from your veneers might damage them. However, you can still straighten your teeth using clear retainers such as Invisalign. Your orthodontist will take a mold of your teeth and create your retainers to fit around your veneers. This procedure is totally safe and won't harm your veneers at all.
2. You have had a root canal.
Root canal treatment can be necessary when a cavity progresses into the root of a tooth. This can lead to infection, inflammation, and eventually root death which requires endodontist intervention. After a root canal, your dentist will fit you with a crown. If you have a crown on one or more of your teeth due to a root canal, you are still a candidate for braces. Your dentist will attach the bracket to your crown as they would to any other teeth, and the capped tooth will move into place under the pressure of your braces.
3. You have dental implants.
Dental implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth. During this procedure, your dentist attaches a prosthetic tooth to a metal implant fused to your jaw. Due to the nature of dental implants and the sturdiness of their attachment to your jaw bone, braces will not be able to move them. However, this doesn't mean you can't get braces. Although your implant will stay put, your orthodontist can still shift the teeth around it to achieve better alignment.
If you've had dental work done in order to preserve the health and function of your teeth, you are probably still a candidate for orthodontic treatment. When in doubt, schedule a consultation with an orthodontist clinic, like Eberting Orthodontics, to ask their medical opinion. In general, your orthodontist should be able to work with you to come up with a treatment plan that suits your individual needs.