What are orthodontic implants?

Orthodontic treatment aims to straighten your teeth and restore your bite. But what happens if you have missing teeth or more complex needs? Here, our orthodontists in Langley discuss the purpose of orthodontic implants and how they can help you achieve your oral health goals.

If you have missing teeth or complex orthodontic needs, orthodontics and dental implants can work together to achieve your desired result.

Dental implants are artificial titanium roots designed to be installed in your jawbone. While these commonly replace missing teeth, the same technology can be used to make orthodontic adjustments. When used in this way, we refer to them as orthodontic implants.

Orthodontic Implants to Help Move Teeth More Efficiently

In some orthodontic cases, anchorage is required to move teeth into their proper position. Dental implants can serve as fixed anchor points, allowing for increased leverage while eliminating the need for alternatives like headgear or other bulky external devices.

The Benefits of Treatment Using Orthodontic Implants

Some advantages of orthodontic implants include efficient placement, decreased patient discomfort, cost-effectiveness, versatility, easy cleaning and simple removal, as well as:

Predictability: Dental implants provide a stable and reliable anchor for orthodontic appliances. This allows orthodontists to achieve precise tooth movements, leading to more predictable results.
Potentially Faster Treatment: Orthodontic processes can often be expedited by integrating dental implants into the treatment plan. Anchoring with implants reduces the need for additional devices, like headgear, and allows for more direct and efficient tooth movement.

How are orthodontic implants different from dental implants?

While regular dental implants are permanently placed as part of the tooth replacement process, orthodontic implants are temporarily used to help achieve complex orthodontic movements.

Dental implants are positioned in the jawbone where a gap remains from a missing tooth. These implants are then completed with a crown, bridge, or dentures.

Orthodontic implants are positioned in different areas and used with additional devices like wires to provide leverage. This helps shift teeth into their newly prescribed positions.

What are the different types of orthodontic implants?

There are a few different types of orthodontic implants, including palatal plates, onplants, mini plates, and miniscrews.

Palatal plates: The implant is mainly positioned on the hard palate, situated along the midline of the upper palate (the roof of your mouth) or just behind the upper front teeth. Typically, palatal implants are constructed from a titanium alloy and feature a screw-like design. After implantation in the oral cavity, impressions are taken to create the TPA (trans-palatal arch). This TPA is crafted from a durable dental alloy to stabilize and secure the upper molars.
Onplants: The onplant functions similarly to a palatal plate, positioned in the roof of your mouth. These button-shaped implants are placed between the periosteum (the tissue that lies between gum tissue and bone) and the jawbone. Unlike palatal plates, which typically involve a single surgery, these implants necessitate multiple surgical procedures.
Miniplates: Miniplate implants consist of titanium plates anchored in the jawbone using miniscrews. The majority of the implant rests beneath the inner tissue. Both miniplates and miniscrews are constructed from titanium alloy. In some instances, miniplates may provide superior retention compared to other implant types. Additionally, they are capable of withstanding significant orthopedic forces.
Miniscrews: Miniscrews consist of pure titanium or titanium alloy and have a screw-like design that remains beneath the bone surface, typically not intended for surface treatment. One notable benefit of miniscrews is their straightforward implantation process. They can be either self-drilling or auxiliary. Their small size allows for placement in nearly any location within the jawbone, with the most common position being at the front of the upper or lower teeth. Mini-screw implants effectively control tooth movement without requiring additional anchorage.