If you have crowns, bridges, fillings, bonding, or dental implants, you might think orthodontic treatment is off the table. The good news? It’s not! In most cases, you can still achieve a straighter, more confident smile with braces or clear aligners.
In fact, at Fresh Orthodontics, Dr. Ankush Khanna and the team have helped plenty of adult patients with dental work get outstanding results. In this post, we’ll discuss the orthodontic considerations for the different types of restorations.
Will Fillings or Cosmetic Bonding Impact Orthodontic Treatment?
Both dental fillings and cosmetic dental bonding consist of a composite resin material that’s bonded to the tooth. These types of restorations are extremely common and don’t impact orthodontic treatment. As long as your teeth and gums are healthy, braces or clear aligners will be just as effective even with fillings or bonding.
Can You Get Clear Aligners or Braces With Crowns?
Absolutely! Dental crowns cover the entire tooth to the gumline to restore its appearance, function, and strength. Because your natural tooth and its roots are still in place, you can have braces with crowns and get excellent results. The same holds true for options like Spark™ Aligners.
But can you place braces on crowns? The bonding material we normally use for brackets and aligner attachments doesn’t adhere as well to restorations, therefore, Dr. Khanna may have to use a different bonding process.
Can You Get Braces or Invisalign® With Veneers?
Yes, you can get braces, Spark Aligners, or Invisalign with veneers. Veneers are wafer-thin shells that are bonded to the front of the teeth to mask minor imperfections like discoloration, enamel wear, and chips.
However, similar to crowns, the bonding material used to secure braces to the teeth isn’t as effective on veneers. Additionally, veneers are thinner and more fragile than crowns, and attaching brackets to the veneers puts pressure on them, potentially causing damage.
For this reason, clear aligners may be a better option than braces. Aligners don’t put direct pressure on your restorations, and we can usually avoid having to bond attachments to the teeth with veneers.
Will Orthodontic Treatment Work With a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is used to replace a missing tooth or teeth. It’s generally comprised of two crowns that are bonded to the teeth on either side of the gap. The crowns support a pontic, or false tooth, in the middle that replaces the tooth that was lost.
The bridge will move as one unit, as opposed to three individual teeth, in response to the pressure from your appliance. Though tooth movement will be more limited, braces or clear aligner treatment isn’t impossible. Dr. Khanna can carefully design a treatment plan focused on improving alignment without compromising your restoration.
What About Braces and Dental Implants?
Can braces and a dental implant go hand in hand? Yes, but there is a catch. Implants fuse with the jawbone so orthodontic appliances can’t move them.
If you get clear aligners or braces with a dental implant, your Park Slope orthodontist will often shift the teeth around the implant to create a straighter, more balanced smile. Sometimes, the implant can even serve as an anchor point to achieve certain tooth movements.
In the ideal scenario. you would get clear aligners or braces before getting a dental implant. Once you completed orthodontic treatment, the dental implant would then be placed to fit the new alignment of your teeth and bite.
Why Straighten Your Teeth After Restorative Work?
Some people find their bite is off after dental work, while others experience gradual changes due to aging or forgetting to wear their retainer. The truth is, even with crowns, bridges, veneers, or implants, your teeth can still shift over time.
Misalignment may lead to uneven wear, difficulty cleaning between teeth, and jaw pain. Orthodontic treatment can prevent these issues and improve oral health, function, and aesthetics.
The Bottom Line
You can get Spark Aligners or braces with crowns, veneers, and other dental restorations.
The American Association of Orthodontists estimates that one in three orthodontic patients are over the age of 18. Considering how rare it is to meet an adult who has never had any restorative or cosmetic dental work done, it goes to show that it’s never too late to get a confident, aligned smile with orthodontic treatment.
Ready to Explore Adult Orthodontics in Brooklyn, NY?
At Fresh Orthodontics, we’re experienced in treating patients of all ages, including adults with dental restorations. Book a complimentary consultation today, and let’s find the perfect solution for your smile!
