If you’re thinking of getting braces, there must be many concerns coming to your mind regarding the treatment, particularly if you have previously spent money on other dental procedures, such as crowns. You can still have the straighter, healthier smile you’ve always desired with braces, even if you have a crown on one or more of your teeth. Let’s discuss this in detail!
What is a Dental Crown?
A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is used to restore the size, shape, strength, and look of a tooth that has been injured or weakened. They are usually glued onto the tooth and composed of porcelain, ceramic, metal, or a mix of these materials.
How Can You Get Braces with a Crown?
Orthodontists are qualified to work with a crown. They usually take the following strategy when gluing brackets to crowns:
- Etching the Crown: The orthodontist may occasionally apply a very gentle etching solution to the crown’s surface. This produces tiny imperfections that improve the adhesion of the bonding agent. Extreme caution is used throughout this procedure to prevent crown damage.
- Specialized Bonding Agents: Crown materials may not stick to traditional dental adhesives used on normal teeth well enough. For this reason, orthodontists use bonding chemicals and procedures that are particularly made for surfaces made of porcelain, ceramic, or metal. These substances provide a solid, dependable connection that is resistant to the pressures of orthodontic therapy.
- Bonding to the Natural Tooth (If Possible): The orthodontist may be able to attach the bracket to the tooth’s remaining natural structure if the crown is modest or only partially covers the tooth.
- Mechanical Retention: Your orthodontist may use a somewhat different bracket type with a mesh-like base or microscopic grooves that enable it to hold the crown surface more securely.
Things to Consider
When you visit your orthodontist, they will examine your crowns in detail and consider a number of criteria, including:
- Crown Age: The surface features of older crowns may differ from those of more recent ones. During your consultation, your orthodontist will evaluate this.
- Crown Material Type: Slightly different bonding methods may be needed for various materials. Although they are all doable, porcelain and ceramic crowns are often simpler to bond to than metal crowns.
- Crown Location: Due to visibility and the pressures used when chewing, a crown on a front tooth may receive slightly different treatment than a crown on a rear molar.
Summing Up!
Don’t let having a crown stop you from working for a more confident, healthy, and straighter smile. Getting braces with a crown is a fairly common and successful procedure when done by a trained orthodontist. Make an appointment with your orthodontist and let them evaluate your unique circumstances, respond to any of your inquiries, and provide you with a detailed plan for achieving your ideal smile.
Bay Colony Dental and Orthodontics is here to help you achieve a beautiful and healthy smile. Call our experts at (281) 337-9000 and get started today!