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Implants: How They Relate to Orthodontics
by Alexander Waldman DMD MMSc
Placement of dental implants has become a common dental procedure that is usually employed to replace missing teeth. Do implants have anything to do with orthodontics? Absolutely!
The first major use of implants in orthodontics is in a situation where a patient is missing one of their teeth from birth ("congenitally missing") Interestingly, certain types of teeth are more prone to be missing than others. Some of the more common culprits are maxillary (upper) lateral incisors and mandibular (lower) second premolars.
Orthodontic treatment in these cases generally will involve managing the space to allow for replacement of the missing tooth. After orthodontic treatment is complete, a space is left where the tooth is missing, and in the past, this space was filled with a traditional bridge, or a more conservative marlyand bridge. The major disadvantage of a bridge is that it involves cutting down and placing crowns on adjacent teeth that are otherwise healthy. Often, a better alternative is to place a dental implant to replace the root of the missing tooth. A porcelain crown is then made to replace the crown portion of the tooth, resulting in conservative and esthetic replacement of the tooth. The implant is placed by a periodontist or an oral surgeon, and the crown can be made by a general dentist or a prosthodontist. Careful coordination is needed between all of the specialists involved, and I pride myself on the communication I maintain with the other dentist on the "team" to deliver truly excellent care.
Another major use of dental implants is to serve as anchors for tooth movement. Since implants become fused to the bone, they become excellent anchors to move teeth, especially in a situation when using natural teeth as anchors may lead to unwanted side affects. One of the more recent developments in orthodontics is the use of mini-implants which can be used as temporary devices to help the orthodontist move teeth in certain difficult situations. These are especially helpful in cases of missing teeth. Another application of these mini-implants is in adult treatment, to help achieve tooth movement that was previously impossible, or extremely difficult.
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Dr. Alexander B. Waldman, Orthodontist |
99 N La Cienega Blvd Suite 301, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 |
Tel. 310.652.1515 |
Fax. 310.652.1717
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Orthodontic Website by Sesame Design™
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