Can you get braces with a crown?

A quick note first: Richmond Dental Care doesn’t place braces. If you need orthodontic treatment, we’ll refer you to an orthodontist. We can still help before and after, with an exam to check your crowns, cleanings during treatment, and repairs or replacement crowns once your teeth are in their final position.

Why can a crowned tooth still move?

A crown is a cap that covers the visible part of a tooth. The part that moves during orthodontic treatment is the root, which sits in bone and is held by a thin ligament. Steady pressure from braces makes the bone reshape around the root, and the tooth slowly shifts.

Because the crown sits on top of the tooth, it moves along with it. This is also true for teeth with fillings and many teeth that have had a root canal. Dental implants are the exception, because an implant is fused to the bone and does not move with braces.

What will the orthodontist check before starting?

• The root and bone. X-rays show whether the root is a healthy length and well supported by bone.
• Signs of infection. Any inflammation at the root tip needs to be treated before the tooth is moved.
• The crown’s fit. A crown with a gap at the edge or decay underneath should be fixed first.
• Root canal history. Teeth with a post or a shorter root may be moved more gently.
• Gum health. Braces make cleaning harder, so gums should be healthy going in.

This is a good time for a check-up with your general dentist. We can look at your crowns and gums, take X-rays and send findings to your orthodontist.

How do brackets stick to a crown?

Brackets normally bond to natural enamel, which has a slightly rough surface at a microscopic level. Porcelain, zirconia and metal crowns are much smoother, so standard glue may not hold as well. Orthodontists handle this by preparing the crown surface and using bonding materials designed for restorations.

Brackets on crowns can come loose a little more often than on natural teeth. If one pops off, your orthodontist can rebond it. If you are weighing aligners, see what Invisalign costs in Richmond. Clear aligners are another option some people discuss with their orthodontist, since they don’t rely on brackets bonded to every tooth.

Braces with crowns, bridges and implants compared

Restoration	Can it move with braces?	What to know
Single crown on a natural tooth	Usually yes	Root and bone must be healthy; special bonding needed
Crown on a root-canal-treated tooth	Usually yes	May be moved more gently, especially with a post
Bridge	Not as one unit	Teeth are joined, so the bridge may need to be sectioned or replaced
Dental implant	No	Fused to bone; can be used as an anchor instead

If you have a dental bridge, the orthodontist and your dentist will plan together, because joined teeth can’t move separately.

Can a crown be damaged by braces?

It’s uncommon, but it can happen. Removing a bracket at the end of treatment can occasionally chip porcelain. Your orthodontist takes care during removal, and small chips can often be smoothed or repaired.

Sometimes a crown made before braces won’t match the new bite once teeth have moved. In that case, a new dental crown may be the best finish. Our self-pay crowns start at $1,199; see our dental prices page for details.

How do you care for crowns while wearing braces?

• Brush around each bracket and along the gumline twice a day.
• Use floss threaders, small brushes or a water flosser to clean between teeth.
• Avoid hard and sticky foods that can loosen brackets or chip porcelain.
• Keep up with cleanings, since plaque builds up faster around braces.

For a list of foods that are easier on brackets, see our guide on what you can eat with braces. When the braces come off, our guide to braces removal explains what that visit involves.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• American Dental Association – MouthHealthy