Orthodontic treatment is carried out with various defects in the structure of the dentition. For example, a special correction helps eliminate problems such as teeth growing at the wrong angle, crowding of row units, and forming gaps between them. Some of these problems are common in adult patients. In such cases, sometimes there is a question of whether it is possible to put braces if one tooth is missing, which is far from uncommon after 30 years. Consider different situations with single adentia and the possibility of using traditional orthodontic treatment.
Is It Possible to Put Braces If There Is No Front Tooth?
The absence of an incisor is a difficult situation when installing a bracket system. In this case, you may need to consult not only an orthodontist but also an orthopedist and an implantologist. After that, a treatment plan is drawn up, at one of the stages of which correction is carried out with the help of braces. It may be necessary not only to correct the bite but also to expand the space for tooth implant procedure if the units adjacent to the defect have already shifted or changed the angle of inclination. In some clinical situations, temporary micro prostheses or other structures may be installed before orthodontic treatment.
Installation of Braces With Missing Teeth
In some cases, for successful correction of the dentition, the absence of one of its units is not a hindrance but a necessity. Most often, the fourth and eighth units, premolars, and the so-called wisdom teeth are removed. Indications for this may be:
- Lack of space in the jaw to move the dental units and line them up in a straight line;
- The need to eliminate the gap in the row and evenly distribute the load on the teeth without resorting to the installation of an implant;
- The need to maintain symmetry and the correct oval of the face after orthodontic correction.
Is It Possible to Put Braces If One Molar Is Missing?
As a rule, braces in the absence of a tooth in the chewing group cannot be installed in only one case. This is the removal of the last remaining molar in the dentition. The orthodontic system is always fixed on the supporting chewing unit. If all molars are removed, normal pressure transmission from the working archwire to the teeth being corrected may not be possible. But even in such a situation, the doctor can find a competent solution that will help to successfully carry out orthodontic treatment.
In most cases, the perspectives for orthodontic treatment may look like this:
- Braces can be installed in the absence of one or several units of a row.
- Replacement of a lost lateral tooth or molar is not always required, and in some cases, removal is indicated.
There are also a number of situations in which it is impossible to correct the bite without restoring lost teeth. For the correct orthodontic treatment tactics for single adentia, you should first undergo a diagnosis and receive an in-person consultation from a specialist.
If Implantation Is Necessary, What to Do First?
Orthodontic treatment is always carried out before implantation, since an artificial root, unlike a natural one, cannot change its position and is firmly fixed in the bone tissue. When it is required to combine implantation and orthodontic treatment, braces are first installed, considering the subsequent surgical stage and prosthetics.
It is important to consider how long ago the tooth was removed. If missing for a long time, adjacent teeth have changed position and left no room for an implant –– orthodontic treatment is aimed at making room for an artificial root and crown. If the tooth has been removed recently, but implantation is planned after the braces are removed, a spring is put on the adjacent teeth to prevent them from coming together and leave space for the implant.