December 2018 | Dr. Currie's Dentistry Blog

I have been putting off dental work for many years because I couldn’t afford it. Now that I have saved up, I need dental implants and braces. What would you recommend getting first?

I am missing three back molars. One of them is on the top and the others are on the bottom.

-Lindy in Iowa

Lindy,

Generally, it is best to have the dental implants done after your orthodontics are completed. The main reason is that your teeth will be moved to their ideal location prior to the implants being placed. Then, the dental implants will be placed to blend in naturally. Your other teeth will be in their permanent location and the implants will be placed afterwards.

Also, dental implants are surgically implanted to your jawbone. They don’t have ligaments like your natural teeth do. So, the ligaments are important in orthodontics because they enable the teeth to be re-positioned. The dental implants are not movable once they are placed.

Although, in some cases an orthodontist may recommend placing the dental implants first. This does happen on occasion when the molars are missing because they may be required to support the braces. They would serve like anchors for treatment. However, dental implants require significant time to heal in order to be strong. So, going this route would delay your orthodontics.

The best thing to do is to meet with the orthodontist and make a plan based on your specific case. Every orthodontics case is different.

This post is sponsored by Donald H. Currie, DMD, a dentist in York PA.

I have been using Invisalign for almost two years now. I love my new smile and have gotten really comfortable wearing my aligners. To be honest, I don’t want to stop wearing them. They are comfortable and no one notices them.

At my last appointment, the dentist told me that I will need to wear a retainer when my last set of Invisalign is done. I really am not looking forward to having to wear a metal retainer. I don’t want to see metal in my mouth and don’t want others to see it either. Is it okay if just continue wearing the Invisalign aligners? If so, I think I’ll just cancel my appointment to get a retainer because I’d prefer the aligners that I’m used to.

-Tiana in North Carolina

Tiana,

Unfortunately, it is not recommended to continue wearing your Invisalign aligners after you’ve completed treatment. Honestly, they probably won’t damage your teeth. But, they weren’t meant to wear for an extended length of time. They will likely become worn and break down. They simply aren’t made for that purpose.

There is good news though. There are many types of retainers now that do not show the traditional metal bar. There are some types that are made of plastic, and others that resemble the aligners you’ve been wearing that wrap around your teeth. They even offer customized retainers that come in assorted colors. It is also a possibility that you will require a lingual retainer, which is a certain type that attaches to the back of your teeth and are not visible.

So, don’t cancel your retainer appointment. Talk with your dentist about your different options to figure out the right type of retainer for you.

This post is sponsored by Donald H. Currie, DMD, a dentist in York, PA.

Do I get dental implants before or after braces?

Will Invisalign aligners work instead of a retainer?

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