My question is regarding some potential orthodontic work I would want to have if it’s feasible to do so. I am having some wisdom teeth removed very soon along with teeth numbers 5 and 12, which need removing as a result of a long period of having no dental access and many years of soft drink consumption. My last dentist wasn’t the most honest man so I didn’t trust his judgment. Anyhow, I was wondering if braces would still be advisable in my case or if I would need something like an implant on each of the sides where there will be an extraction. I also have two crowns (one from an injury and another cavity that got too big) and I was wondering if that would impact my ability to have braces as well.
Ivan in California
Ivan,
You can still have braces even if you have crowns on your teeth.
However, you need to be sure you’ve conquered your decay problem before getting braces. If you’re drinking a lot of soft drinks or snacking a lot, putting braces on could ruin your teeth, because they catch food and can lead to decay unless your mouth is kept pretty clean.
Teeth numbers 5 and 12 are your upper first premolars. You definitely don’t want spaces left there. Implants could be used to replace your missing teeth. Or dental bridges. If the adjacent teeth have a lot of decay, bridges would actually probably make more sense than dental implants.
Dr. Hall