After you lost a tooth, you may have gone ahead with your dentist’s suggestion that you get a dental implant. That was a wise choice! With proper care, your implant may just be with you for the rest of your life. It also offers strength, stability, and benefits for your jawbone health. But what if your teeth are misaligned? Since dental implants work a bit differently than natural teeth, you might wonder if you can still get orthodontic treatment, such as braces or Invisalign. The chances are good that you can! This blog post explains what you should know.
Implants Cannot Move
One major difference between dental implants and natural teeth is how they are connected to the jawbone. Natural teeth are held in place by stretchy connective tissues called periodontal ligaments. As braces apply pressure to the teeth, the ligaments stretch or get compressed, and the bone remodels around the teeth. This is an efficient biological process that is highly effective.
Dental implants, on the other hand, do not have the natural capacity for motion granted by periodontal ligaments. Rather, these prosthetic tooth roots fuse directly with the jawbone. Applying too much pressure to them could damage either the implants themselves or the surrounding tissue. Therefore, implants cannot be moved by braces, clear aligners, or other forms of orthodontia.
The Surrounding Teeth Can Still Move
Even though your implant cannot move, you may still be a good candidate for orthodontic care! Braces or Invisalign can be used to move the surrounding teeth. Your dentist or orthodontist will simply plan your treatment in a way that shifts your teeth without negatively affecting the implant. Often, this means that no brackets will be placed on your implant crown. If you use clear aligners, they will be made in a way that they do not put pressure on the implant.
As the surrounding teeth move, you will notice that your entire bite becomes more harmonious, and visible signs of dental misalignment start to go away. Your immovable implant is likely to blend in beautifully with the new positioning of your other teeth.
A dental implant should not prevent you from getting orthodontic treatment! Talk to your dentist to learn more about your prospects for straightening your teeth.
Meet the Practice
At Northborough Dental Associates, our team is proud to provide both traditional braces and Invisalign clear aligners. We also offer comprehensive dental implant services. If you are curious about what it would take to address your misaligned bite, we would be pleased to welcome you in for a consultation. Contact us at 508-571-0358.