It can be a sensitive topic for someone with missing teeth to commence the process of seeking orthodontic treatment. Whether it be an adult who has suffered tooth loss from a sporting accident, or a teenager who is missing teeth from birth, the good news is that it is entirely possible to get braces as an adult and if the individual is missing one or a few teeth.
How Do Braces Work with Missing Teeth?
In childhood, children can suffer from malocclusions that affect their jaw growth or the eruption of some of their adults’ teeth, this can cause them to undergo orthodontic treatment from a young age, usually in the form of braces or spacers to ensure teeth are correctly spaces and allow room for adult tooth eruption. Sometimes, braces are needed in children to ensure that adult teeth erupt at all.
Missing teeth in adults can cause remaining teeth to shift, cause bone loss or strain on your remaining teeth and jaw and can also change your bite. In these cases, the best course of action would be to replace the missing tooth with a dental implant first, however, if your teeth have already shifted, orthodontic treatment may be needed first to create space for the replacement.
Closing the Gap
As mentioned above, braces can be used to close gaps left by missing teeth and can be particularly effective when teeth are overcrowded. Braces can also realign the teeth and utilise the space from a missing tooth more efficiently and by doing this, orthodontists can enhance the smile's aesthetics and prevent potential dental problems that may arise due to misalignment.
Creating Room for Restoration
In cases where a missing tooth requires eventual replacement, orthodontists can strategically position braces to ensure adequate room for a future restoration. If the space is insufficient for replacement, orthodontic techniques can be utilised to widen the gap, facilitating the placement of an implant or bridge placement. Also, orthodontists possess the skills to maintain a specific area open, preventing neighbouring teeth from shifting and maintaining the necessary space for restoration.
Treating Alignment Issues
Missing teeth can often lead to shifts in surrounding teeth, resulting in alignment problems. Orthodontic treatment can effectively correct these issues by guiding teeth back to optimal positions. This approach restores the smile's aesthetics and improves oral health and function.
Physical Benefits of Closing the Gap Created by Missing Teeth
Beyond aesthetic improvements, orthodontic treatment offers numerous physical benefits. Gaps between teeth can make chewing certain foods uncomfortable and impact speech clarity. Orthodontics can alleviate these problems by closing the gap from missing teeth, allowing patients to enjoy a more comfortable and functional oral experience.
Orthodontics: A Safer Solution.
The method of orthodontic treatment presents a lower-risk alternative to traditional restorative dentistry options like bridges or dental implants. Rather than resorting to invasive procedures that may impact neighbouring teeth, orthodontists can gradually shift surrounding teeth to close significant gaps. This approach offers patients a less intrusive and more conservative solution.
Your Specialist Orthodontist in Oldham
At Oldham Orthodontics, we specialise in providing the best quality care regardless of your treatment. All our specialists are highly qualified and experienced orthodontists, well-known in the orthodontic sector for their expertise and knowledge.
At our orthodontist in Oldham, we treat a wide variety of patients from children under 18 who qualify for NHS treatment through to adults, so whether closing gaps, maintaining space for restorations, or correcting alignment problems, you can rest assured that our specialist orthodontist in Oldham can help you achieve the beautiful, straight smile you have always dreamed of.