Each tooth, regardless of its position, has its own function, whether it is for aesthetic purposes or for biting and crushing food (except wisdom teeth). Missing a tooth can affect the entire jaw structure. Among the solutions to help overcome tooth loss, braces are of most interest to many people. So, can you get braces if you have lost teeth? Follow the article below to find the answer!
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1. What is the structure of teeth?
An adult’s jaw has a total of 32 teeth, divided equally between the upper and lower jaws (16 teeth each). The teeth in each jaw are divided into 4 main groups: incisors, canines, premolars and molars. Each group has a certain position and role on the jaw.
The incisor group will consist of 8 teeth (teeth number 1 and number 2) with 4 located in the upper jaw and 4 located in the lower jaw. The role of the incisor group is both aesthetic and to bite and tear food.
The canine group has 4 teeth (tooth number 3) with 2 in the upper jaw and 2 in the lower jaw. The main function of the canine teeth is to grip and tear food.
The group of small molars (premolars) includes 8 teeth (teeth number 4 and number 5) with 4 upper molars and 4 lower molars, used to tear and crush food.
The molar group (molars) has up to 12 teeth including teeth number 6, 7 and 8, of which tooth number 8 is also known as wisdom tooth. The molar group will include 6 upper molars and 6 lower molars with the main task of chewing and crushing food before sending it to the stomach.
2. Can people with missing teeth get braces?
Many people who have lost teeth often wonder if they can have braces if they have lost teeth or if they have lost teeth for a long time. The answer is yes, they can have braces. In some cases, tooth loss can even facilitate the teeth to move smoothly to the desired position, shortening the orthodontic time and achieving high efficiency.
People with missing teeth can apply the following orthodontic solutions:
2.1. Braces
This is a method that uses a system of tools such as braces, archwires, rubber bands, etc. to create force to pull the teeth together, filling the gap of missing teeth to help the teeth not shift to the empty position, causing many negative effects to the entire jaw.
Braces come in many different forms, depending on your needs and budget. You can choose between conventional or self-ligating metal braces, conventional or self-ligating ceramic braces.
2.2. Clear braces (braces without brackets)
This is a form of braces that uses a series of clear aligners, crafted based on each person’s tooth structure to push the teeth into the correct position on the jaw. This solution is being chosen by many people thanks to its high aesthetic ability and flexible disassembly.
Both braces with or without braces work based on the principle of creating pulling/pushing force to bring the teeth closer together. However, in some cases, the gap between missing teeth is too large, accompanied by buck teeth, crooked teeth, wearing braces will have the purpose of maintaining the gap for the tooth restoration process. After braces have stabilized the teeth, the doctor will restore the lost teeth with the solution of dental implants. Therefore, when you lose teeth and need braces to both fill the gap and correct the tooth defect, you should have braces first and then proceed with dental implants to complete the structure and chewing function of the teeth.
3. Can braces pull teeth to replace lost teeth?
When losing teeth, doctors often advise patients to have orthodontic braces to preserve their real teeth as much as possible. Except in cases where real teeth cannot be pulled to fill the missing tooth position, doctors will advise on porcelain bridges or implants.
Can long-term tooth loss be treated with braces? The orthodontist will perform the following:
Case 1: Pulling tooth number 8 to replace lost tooth number 7
If you have lost tooth number 7 and the adjacent tooth number 8 is intact, straight, has no deformities in size and root, and does not have any oral diseases, you can have braces to pull the tooth number 8 to replace the position of the lost tooth.
However, this is a relatively difficult technique, requiring the doctor to be highly skilled and experienced to be able to correctly predict tooth movement, bringing the best results to the customer.
Case 2: Braces to close the gap when tooth number 6 is missing
In case of missing tooth number 6 accompanied by one of the dental misalignments in the front teeth group such as crowding, overbite, underbite, etc., the space of missing tooth number 6 can be used to rearrange the front teeth group or pull the front teeth group back to reduce overbite.
In cases where the jaw is even, the 8th tooth has grown and this tooth grows completely normally like the other teeth, the doctor can pull the 7th and 8th tooth clusters forward to close the gap of the missing 6th tooth, helping you have a beautiful, healthy set of teeth without using dentures.
Case 3: Braces pull the front teeth to replace missing tooth 4 or tooth 5
If you are missing tooth number 4 or 5 along with overbite or crowding of the front teeth, the doctor will take advantage of this space to evenly spread, arrange and pull the front teeth back to reduce overbite.
In general, depending on each person’s tooth loss condition, the doctor will have different treatments. The most important thing you need to note is to choose the right reputable dental address, with a team of highly skilled orthodontists to ensure the best results for you.
4. Orthodontic procedure for people with missing teeth
The process of braces for people with missing teeth at Westway Dental includes the following steps:
Step 1: Examination & consultation
The doctor will conduct a general oral health examination for the patient. Then, a Conebeam CT scan will be performed to check the condition of the jawbone.
Through the results of the examination and CT scan, the doctor will plan the braces and advise the most suitable type of orthodontics for the patient.
Step 2: Clean teeth and take jaw impressions
Before installing the appliances, the doctor will thoroughly clean the patient’s mouth to clean the oral cavity, ensuring the braces process is safe.
Next, take a dental impression to record the patient’s dental parameters using specialized dental tools to facilitate monitoring the treatment process as well as serve as a basis for evaluating orthodontic effectiveness.
Step 3: Attach braces/install aligners
Based on the treatment plan, the doctor will attach orthodontic appliances to your teeth and you will begin the braces period.
In case of braces, the doctor will send part or all of the braces. At the same time, he will instruct you on how to remove/install the braces, how to clean them and advise you on how long to wear the braces.
Step 4: Schedule a follow-up appointment
After the appliances are installed on your teeth, your dentist will advise you on a follow-up appointment. Every 1 month (with braces) or 2-3 months (with aligners), you will have to return to the dentist so that the dentist can check the movement of your teeth and make appropriate adjustments to ensure that the schedule is met.
Step 5: Finish braces and wear retainers
Normally, the time for braces for missing teeth will be around 12 – 36 months, depending on many factors such as the patient’s tooth loss condition, braces…
After the braces period, the doctor will remove the braces, ending the braces process for you. At the same time, he will also make a retainer to maintain the results for you. The retainer can be fixed or removable depending on the patient’s request.
Most cases of braces require tooth extraction to create space for the teeth to move to the correct position and bite. Therefore, in some cases, tooth loss can help the braces process go more smoothly. However, to know exactly whether your tooth loss condition can be treated with braces, you should go to a reputable dental clinic specializing in braces so that the doctor can examine and advise on the appropriate treatment method for you.
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