Implants or Braces? I Have a Bad Allignment.

While dental implants are among the longest lasting treatments in dentistry, nothing is perfect and CAN fail.  If the crooked teeth are otherwise healthy, removing them and placing implants borders on malpractice and it may be difficult to find a dentist to treat.

Also, consider the cost.  Fees for ortho will be around $4000-6000.  To do extractions and implants will range close to $12,000 for the upper and another $12,000 for the lower.  Braces will be considerably less expensive.

This is not necessarily an either or situation. Most often they go hand in hand. If your teeth have been rendered to be hopeless short and long term (due to decay or gum disease) and need to be extracted, then you can extract your teeth and discuss with your dentist or orthodontist whether braces are indicated to created more favourable spaces between your teeth for dental implants. You may not need braces at all. All you may need, if you indeed need your front four teeth removed, is a simple as two implants on either end and a 4 unit bridge between the two implants, resulting in replacement of your original four teeth. this will look and feel great. 

If your natural teeth can be realigned there is nothing better than what nature has provided you with . Just  fix what you already  have !!

If your teeth are healthy and bad alignment is the only issue, I think braces (orthodontics) would be the best and most conservative treatment. If there are cavities, shape issues, fractured teeth or if gum disease is involved, then bonding, veneers, crowns or implants would be appropriate to consider. If you really need implants, they are a great option, but I would take a healthy tooth over an implant in my own mouth any time. I have done cases where we did a combination of both implants and orthodontics, so it's a good idea to talk to an orthodontist before you decide.

If at all possible and ideal, orthodontics (braces) is better to align mis-aligned teeth. Implants is often reserved for replacing hopeless teeth. A consultation with orthodontist is a good place to start to learn about what is involved in treatment. Without having any x-rays and evaluation information at hand, that is my recommendation.

 

dr. kazemi