Orthodontic treatment in the presence of fixed dentures

Content:

1. Conditions that must be met
2. Do I need to install new dentures before fixing braces?
3. Preparing to install braces
4. Installing braces on teeth
5. Risks and complications you may encounter

Since correction of malocclusions is most often carried out in adolescence and young adulthood, most patients in dental clinics do not even think about whether it is possible to put braces on crowns?
This question is relevant for older people who decided to make their appearance more attractive even when they were faced with partial edentia. It is possible to place braces on permanent crowns, but certain conditions must be met for this to happen. Therefore, before planning the installation of braces, you should consult your doctor. He will conduct an examination and tell you what can be done to improve the aesthetics of your smile in a particular situation.

Relative contraindications

These include contraindications that, in different individual cases, may interfere with treatment, or may not have a significant impact on the process.

• Several crowns.

If prosthetics have been performed in the past, then when preparing for treatment you need to pay close attention to the crowns. On what teeth are they installed? What is the condition of the roots of these teeth? Have the crowns and their connection points begun to collapse? Which teeth will be impacted the most and which will move 1-2mm? By answering these questions, your doctor will be able to tell you whether you can wear aligners or braces. Sometimes you need to first have the crown redone and then be treated by an orthodontist.

Crowns, unlike implants, can be moved (but carefully)

• A large number of fillings.

If you have 10 or more teeth filled, the fillings themselves are large (they take up more than 50% of the tooth’s volume), and nerves have been removed in some teeth, this does not mean that the bite cannot be corrected. You just need to more carefully examine all the fillings and find out if they have begun to collapse. The doctor may recommend replacing old fillings. Modern materials for treatment make it possible to save even “dead” teeth.

• Previous tooth restoration.

Veneers are not installed if there are malocclusions, since improper closure of the teeth can lead to destruction and abrasion of the plates. Therefore, there is no point in talking about this technology. However, if in the past one or more teeth were restored using filling material, then, as a rule, this does not prevent you from subsequently wearing aligners or braces - the only question is the quality of the restoration and its condition.

A restored tooth, if its root is not damaged, is not an obstacle to treatment

Conditions that must be met

The main requirement, subject to which it is possible to install braces on dentures, is that the roots of the teeth must be “living”. If they are not, due to the pressure exerted by the corrective system, the tooth may become loose and then fall out altogether.

It is also important to remember that the arc will give one long and strong. This can cause a change in the shape of the coronal part, that is, make it unaesthetic and curved. After removal of the orthodontic apparatus, most likely, the artificial dental structure will no longer be able to restore its previous shape. Thus, it may be necessary to manufacture a replacement. And this is troublesome and expensive.

If there is an element made of plastic, then it is strictly forbidden to stick braces on it. This material is very tiny. He is not able to withstand pronounced pressure from the outside. The breakdown of the plastic element will happen faster than the braces have time to somehow affect the curvature of the dentition. This means that treatment will have to start from the very beginning.

How are crowns installed?

Crowns are protective shells obtained in the laboratory and placed on a broken or decayed dental organ.

First of all, a crown differs from a filling in that it must first be made in the laboratory using impressions and photographs taken in advance, and then installed on the tooth. It is important to take into account all the individual characteristics of the patient’s bite and jaws.

The crown is placed on a previously ground tooth to create the effect of a natural dental organ. In addition to changing the size of the tooth, it is also given the desired shape, which will facilitate better installation of the crown.

You can use different crowns. A dozen years ago, metal crowns were more often used, and gold items were especially preferred. Today, more natural-looking ceramic crowns are most often used.

Do I need to install new dentures before fixing braces?

There is no need to do anything with the existing systems before orthopedic treatment.
They must remain in their places. There is no point in replacing them with new ones, since, as noted above, they can become deformed due to arc pressure. But no one can rule out the fact that new crowns will have to be made after straightening the dentition. There is one “but” here. If there are elements in the mouth that are loose, cause pain, or do not adhere well to the dental stump, then, of course, it is not recommended to fix braces on their surface. In these situations, replacement of low-quality crowns is mandatory.

Some patients want their crowns removed and replaced with cheaper temporary alternatives during treatment. In principle, this is possible, but not always advisable. Once your braces are removed, many units will change their position. No one can give a guarantee that the removed elements will be able to “sit” tightly in their original places. Then we will definitely have to make new designs.

It is important to understand that the success and safety of installing braces on artificial supports largely depends on the qualifications and experience of the doctor who conducts orthodontic treatment. You should not trust your oral health to specialists whose professionalism is questionable. At the Line of Smile dental clinic, we see orthodontists who know how to straighten teeth, even if you already have several crowns in your mouth. Feel free to contact them.

Installation with seals

Since it is mandatory to sanitize the oral cavity before installing braces, fillings must be installed. But in addition to the ordinary ones, bite-sized structures are installed in the kit. They will help not only to apply even pressure on the teeth, but also to protect them from destruction and damage.

The bite elements are special fillings or plates. The second option consists of a bite pad, a labial arch and metal clasps. Such devices are connected to the front teeth and palate. The plate itself is installed at an angle at the required angle and can be removable or permanent.

Preparing to install braces

Before gluing the leveling system, all existing dental diseases are treated. It is necessary to treat all carious cavities, pulpitis, and replace damaged dentures.

If an infection is diagnosed, anti-inflammatory therapy is carried out. It is forbidden to work with an incorrect bite until the pathology enters the “dormant” phase.

All teeth must be cleaned of plaque and tartar. For this purpose, the dental hygienist uses an ultrasonic scaler. It “knocks off” particles from the enamel and makes the tooth surface as smooth and clean as possible.

In what cases are braces placed?

Braces are designed to correct the bite, which may be incorrect due to:

• deficiency of fluorine and calcium in the body or poor posture, causing delayed eruption of fangs;
• with breathing problems through the nose and constant breathing through the mouth;
• as a child, the patient had habits such as sucking a pacifier or thumb;
• hereditary predisposition;
• as a child, the patient mainly ate only soft foods, and due to insufficient chewing, the jaw did not receive the necessary load for its normal development;
• the presence of jaw injuries, as well as dental diseases.

It is best to correct the bite of children and adolescents when the teeth are still easy to correct. In general, braces will help at any age, but the older the patient, the longer he will have to wear the braces.

Braces can correct malocclusions, impaired chewing function, and also eliminate large interdental spaces.

Installing braces on teeth

Fixation of the orthodontic apparatus if the patient has crowns in the mouth is carried out according to the traditional scheme:

1. Dental surfaces are thoroughly cleaned and dried.
2. The enamel and surface of the prosthesis are etched with a special dental composition. Due to this they become more porous. This is necessary for strong adhesion of surfaces. If necessary, a certain area of ​​the crown to which the clasp will be glued can be treated with a drill. Again, to make it rougher.
3. Then cement is applied and locks are glued. Excess glue is removed and polymerization is carried out. As a result, the adhesive composition hardens.
4. The final procedure is to thread a pressure arc through the braces. If we are talking about a ligature system, then various wires and elastic bands are used for fixation. In the case of self-ligating devices, the arc is simply snapped into place with locks located on the plates.

When installing braces on crown supports, the orthodontist must very competently assess the progress of the upcoming correction and predict all possible problems. The fact is that the tooth and the “cap” covering it are not a solid element - they are separated by a layer of cement.

If the pressure applied to the top is too strong, it may unravel, but the pin inside it may remain intact. It also happens that the upper element, on the contrary, remains motionless, and the remains of the tooth covered with it begin to rotate. It is very important that the turn touches the entire structure.

Not a contraindication

• Childhood.

The whole question is which method of treatment to choose. For younger children, removable aligners are often chosen, and teenagers can wear the same aligners as adults. But you can start correcting your bite immediately after diagnosing the existing problem at any age.

• Older age.

There is no upper age limit. If your teeth are preserved and there is a need to correct their position, you can be treated by an orthodontist at any age.

• General diseases (with very rare exceptions).

Metabolic disorders, asthma, allergies and other systemic diseases almost never interfere with wearing orthodontic structures, since the materials are hypoallergenic, and no surgical intervention (as when installing implants) occurs. If the patient's general condition is satisfactory and he can visit the clinic, then most likely there are no obstacles.

Correcting your bite will not only give you a beautiful smile, but will also prevent many problems with your teeth and the health of your body in general. If you are unsure whether you can undergo orthodontic treatment, please contact your orthodontist and ask all your questions.

More articles on the topic:

• Can veneers correct crooked teeth?
• Reflections ceramic braces: advantages and features

Risks and complications you may encounter

If the orthotic system is attached to a prosthesis, there are certain risks. This means:

• An artificial element can suffer significant mechanical damage. Then you will have to replace it.
• Only the crown can unfold, but the root itself will remain in its original position.
• The pressure of the arc can cause unsightly chips on an expensive crown. You will have to put up with them.
• If the roots are dead, they may break. This is a very serious complication. Then you will need to remove braces, remove the prosthesis, and pull out the roots. After healing, it will be possible to carry out implantation or think about making a dental bridge.

• Slight change in facial symmetry. This is possible due to incorrect displacement of the roots located under the dentures.
• Unaesthetic appearance of the crown after removing braces. While natural enamel can regenerate, artificial materials cannot.

Considering the possible problems, the orthodontist must weigh the pros and cons and give his verdict to the patient. If the doctor says that orthodontic therapy is undesirable, then it is better to listen to his words. If, after an in-person examination and diagnostic procedures, the doctor concludes that the bite correction should take place without significant complications, then you can safely begin the alignment.

Temporary contraindications

These are the ones that are easy to fix. Having identified them during the examination, the orthodontist will give recommendations, and soon after treatment it will be possible to begin correcting the bite.

• Caries.

When wearing any orthodontic structures, plaque forms much faster, and it is more difficult to clean it. Although braces and aligners themselves do not cause caries, attention to hygiene during orthodontic treatment should be much higher. Therefore, removal of all foci of caries, including superficial ones, is an indispensable condition before starting treatment.

• Plaque, tartar.

The reasons are the same as described above. The bite is corrected with perfectly clean teeth. To prepare, it is enough to undergo ultrasonic cleaning (it perfectly removes hard plaque) and air flow (removes soft plaque).

Those who want to correct their bite should get used to more careful dental care. This is a great habit that will help you stay healthy for many years and avoid prosthetics in the future.

• Inflammation of the gums.

Minor inflammation may occur due to accumulated soft plaque. After professional dental hygiene, as a rule, it is enough to follow the doctor’s recommendations for several days (usually the use of local antiseptics) to eliminate the problem.

Which braces are best to use?

Most orthodontic specialists prefer metal structures. They are the strongest when compared to products made from other materials, and are able to cope even with serious malocclusions. They are better fixed to artificial crowns than other types of leveling systems. At the same time, the fixation to living teeth is even stronger.

If a patient who has braces has artificial teeth, it is important not to put too much stress on them and avoid eating hard foods and chewing gum.

Useful tips about dental implantation from an orthodontist

The most important recommendation to patients is to try to preserve their teeth for as long as possible. Don’t rush to remove them, strive to treat them, even if their lifespan after that is five to seven years. Your own teeth are always better than the highest quality and most beautiful crowns and implants.

If dental implants are being considered, it is helpful to review the following recommendations from your orthodontist:

1. Do not delay installing an artificial root if necessary. Timely restoration of the integrity of the row will prevent loss of bone tissue in the area of ​​the formed defect and stop the movement of neighboring units to the empty space.
2. Listen to your specialist if he recommends not installing an implant in favor of moving the remaining molars. The orthodontist may suggest, for example, to move the “eight” to the place of the seventh unit, and it, in turn, should be directed towards the removed “six”. This technique is not used often, but sometimes it makes sense.
3. Make sure that implantation and orthodontic treatment are carried out by the same team of specialists.

It is very important that the orthodontist and surgeon communicate with each other. We jointly developed a competent, well-thought-out treatment plan and followed it. This can only be done if implants and braces are installed in the same clinic, with preliminary treatment planning in which all specialists participate.

Photos before and after

It is impossible to create a truly Hollywood smile without straightening your teeth and correcting your bite. Therefore, if a patient has orthodontic problems, braces are included in the mandatory treatment plan. Incorrect bite and crooked teeth are one of the main contraindications for the installation of aesthetic restorations. If you ignore orthodontic treatment and proceed straight to veneering, the veneers simply will not stick to the teeth. This fact is confirmed by personal example by many celebrities who, for the sake of a perfect smile, put braces on their teeth.

Tom Cruise decided to fix his teeth with braces only after 40 years.

After the breakup of the Spice Girls, Melanie Jane Chisholm had to seriously work on her image, and, above all, straighten her teeth.

Cristiano Ronaldo was not always handsome, as his impeccable smile might lead you to believe. According to rumors, he spent more than a million euros on teeth straightening and other procedures.