Is It Better to Do Braces First and then Crowns or Vice Versa?

Great question and since I am doing braces for a third time before I do my dental work I can't emphasize how important it is to have your teeth in alignment and your bite correct before any care.  The only exception will be if you have decay,  then you want your dentist to do a filling but not any crowns until your teeth are in the correct position.  Hope that helps!

I think doing the orthodontic treatment (braces) first would usually be the best idea. Having said that, everyone is different, your dentist and or orthodontist are the ones who really should determine the order of treatment.
 

A prudent question might be; "What are the crowns for?".  If the crowns are for cosmetic reshaping of the teeth, then definitely wait until after the orthodontics.  You and your dentist may find that the crowns may not be needed or something less invasive such as cosmetic bonding or porcelain veneers may be more ideal.

Orthodontics can take years to complete.  If significant decay exists, the decay can advance during the orthodontic process and destroy the teeth. If significant decay exists or the existing dental restorations in your teeth are problematic or mis-shaped, then the dentist can/may create temporary crowns or composite tooth buildups to protect the teeth while the orthodontic treatment is being done.  The bottom line is that is rare to ever place a permanent restoration until after the braces are off.

I recommend doing the braces first and then the crowns an exception to this is if your teeth are so bad you can't put braces on and then I would suggest putting the crown on first good luck

 

Kevin Coughlin DMD, MBA, MAGD    CEO Baystate Dental PC

Orthodontics first, then crowns is the general rule for most people.  There are exceptions to the rule, but generally it is better to line teeth up in their proper angulations and locations then do crowns afterwards.  This method will allow your crowns to have minimal reduction of your natural tooth and will look closer to a normal tooth because the dentist will not have to overbulk to make teeth look 'right'.  Good luck!

There are many factors that go into answering this question, among the most important is the reason why crowns are needed.  Generally speaking, cavities and severe fractures should be taken care of prior to beginning orthodontic treatment.  If the crowns are needed to rehabilitate your bite (occlusion) or for aesthetic purposes, they should be done after orthodontic treatment.  

Your orthodontist or general dentist can provide you with answers to suite your particular situation, but it you will be working with an orthodontist, it is important to find one who can work very well with your general dentist to plan this together.

It depends on the condition of your teeth and the length of time the braces are expected to be on.  If your teeth are in great need of crowns, then I would suggest doing provisional crowns first.  Typically they will cost about 1/3rd of the amount of permanent crowns.  However, they will protect your teeth and are easily integrated into orthodontic treatment and adjusted when necessary.  They can last for 2 years or more.  Once your teeth are aligned, then you can replace them with the final porcelain crowns.  I do many cases this way. 

Do the braces first.  Then, depending on the new tooth positions, you will get a better result.  Talk to your dentist