The Connection between Braces and Poor Gum Health

At Smile Montreal, we proudly offer traditional orthodontic treatment as a means of guiding the teeth into their proper positions in the mouth to resolve problems with alignment and occlusion. However, treatment with traditional metal braces requires both time and commitment on the part of the patient. Considerable effort can be wasted if the teeth that were realigned are at risk of being lost due to periodontal disease. For this reason, we often recommend that patients undergo reconstructive dentistry to restore good gum health before commencing orthodontic treatment.

Many people are unaware of the relationship between braces and poor gum health until their consultations at our Montreal, QC cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry practice. Depending on the state of an individual’s gums, it may be possible to improve his or her periodontal health to the extent that he or she can undergo orthodontic treatment without having to undergo simultaneous periodontal care.

If you are in need of improved gum health prior to undergoing traditional orthodontic treatment with metal braces, please schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Patrick Casey at Smile Montreal today.

The Link between Poor Gum Health and Treatment with Braces

Because of its name, you might think that “gum disease” affects only the gums. However, it also impacts the jaw bone that underlies and supports the teeth and the gums. During the advanced stage of gum disease, periodontitis, the jaw bone begins to degrade, becoming less dense and therefore providing less support for the teeth. At this stage, the risk of the teeth becoming loose and falling out increases. It increases even further as the gums begin to recede and pockets begin to form between the gums and the teeth.

The loss of bone density can also sabotage one of the primary treatment goals of traditional braces, namely bone remodeling. As braces guide the teeth toward their proper positions in the mouth, they remodel the jaw bone. If that bone is weak and thin, it will not retain its remodeled form, and the teeth will move back into their original positions. Likewise, without support from the gums - which will also have receded - the teeth are unlikely to remain in their optimal positions. Orthodontic relapse is a very real risk when people with gum disease undergo treatment with braces.

Equally likely, people with gum disease will not experience proper movement of their teeth in the first place.

If, however, reconstructive procedures are performed to build up jaw bone density and restore the periodontal tissues, the likelihood of successful orthodontic treatment increases substantially. This is why Dr. Casey carefully screens each patient who wishes to undergo an orthodontic procedure to ensure that he or she is a good candidate for treatment.

Learn More about Braces and Poor Gum Health

If you would like to learn more about braces and poor gum health, or you wish to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Patrick Casey, please contact Smile Montreal today.