Maybe you’re ready to start the summer with a new smile—you finally feel like it’s the right time to begin your journey to better oral health. But what if you have veneers or dental implants? It can be confusing to know if having these will make orthodontic treatment still an option for you. While the questions surrounding this issue and orthodontic treatment in general can be overwhelming, we’re here to help answer your questions. 

What are veneers and dental implants?

Dental implants are basically false teeth that are designed to replace a lost adult tooth. The reasons for missing adult teeth can be many—injury, decay, gum disease. Up to 23% of adult Americans have a dental implant, so having to replace a missing tooth is a common occurrence. Dental implants look and feel like real teeth and can make eating easier, improve your appearance and self-confidence, and improve your speech. 

Veneers are essentially fake teeth fronts, made out of porcelain or composite resin. People often get veneers to improve the look or color of their natural teeth, with porcelain veneers being more expensive and harder to apply than composite resin veneers. 

Can I get braces with veneers and dental implants?

Every orthodontist will recommend getting braces before getting veneers. Veneers will not fix crooked teeth or a misaligned bite, they only mask the problem, so it is important to fix these issues with orthodontic treatment before getting the veneers placed. The exception to this would be if you have a minor orthodontic issue, like one or two crooked teeth, that could be fixed with veneers only. 

Braces bond better to the natural enamel found on teeth rather than veneers. If you get braces on veneers, they might not stick and need frequent replacement. You can also decide how many veneers you actually need once your braces treatment is complete—you might need less than you originally thought! If you already have veneers and are interested in braces, Invisalign aligners would probably be the best choice for you. Since braces have a hard time bonding to veneers, using trays would eliminate that issue while still correcting your teeth. There would also be no fear of the veneers being damaged or becoming stained due to the brackets found on braces.

For dental implants, braces can be done before or after you have it inserted. Typically, if you do not have the dental implant yet, your orthodontist will recommend braces first. Braces may actually close the gap left by the missing tooth, making it unnecessary to get a dental implant. Or, you might need braces to create more room for the missing tooth to be replaced. If you already have a dental implant and are interested in braces, your orthodontist may recommend treatment in spite of the implant, especially if the treatment is minor or if the dental implant helps anchor the rest of the teeth in your mouth.  

If you feel ready to begin your journey to a better smile, contact Bruno Orthodontics today for your free consultation!