Is it best to get dental implants before or after orthodontic treatment?

Both dental implants and braces can greatly improve a person’s quality of life by increasing oral function and enhancing the aesthetics of a person’s smile. Since implant dentistry and orthodontics both require careful treatment planning, patients will visit an orthodontist and an oral surgeon for treatment. If a patient is receiving both braces and dental implants, the timing of both treatments will be carefully determined based on the person’s unique needs. For instance, a dental implant may need to be placed after orthodontics so that braces can make enough room for the implant to be embedded. In other cases, an implant might be used to anchor orthodontic appliances if a person is missing multiple teeth and needs something for braces to anchor to. This scenario is beneficial to patients who are missing teeth for congenital reasons, too. For the most part, however, implants are placed after a person completes orthodontic treatment.

Who should get dental implants?

Anyone with tooth loss should consider dental implants as a tooth replacement option. Those who have lost teeth to disease and dental trauma along with those missing teeth for congenital reasons might make good candidates for implants. Dental implants are best for adults. This is because the jaw is still developing well into one’s childhood.

Most of the time, patients with a history of gum disease and/or bone loss might be dissuaded from implants and encouraged to choose another tooth replacement method.

How long do implants last?

Dental implants have a very long lifespan when compared to other prosthetics like conventional bridges and dentures. Their long lifespan is attributed to a couple factors. First, dental implants are made from the durable metal titanium. Second, titanium is biocompatible meaning that living tissue like bone will fuse to its components. A stabilized dental implant is locked in place by the bone surrounding it in the jaw, making it an excellent base for holding permanent restorations and custom prosthetics.

If you have questions about implant dentistry, call our team at Great River Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to schedule a consultation.