Dental implants are osseointegrated, meaning they are fused directing to bone and hence cannot be altered in position. Braces treatment involves moving teeth towards a final aesthetic and functional outcome. If braces treatment is done after dental implants, the treatment plan usually involves either:
1) no alteration in the position of the dental implant, moving the other teeth with respect to the dental implant
2)If improvement in the bite is necessary, a replacement of the implant crown to fit the final occlusion may be considered as the height of the implant crown can be altered to fit the new bite
3) If the offending tooth position is the implant tooth (e.g front tooth) there may be a need to consider "creative" means to move the tooth surgically or to remove the implant altogether
Removal of the dental implant is quite rarely done as this may result in a huge bone defect which will make movement of teeth in the region challenging. The braces treatment plan will have to be modified in order to accomodate or accept the dental implant position. It would be best to discuss this with your dentist/orthodontist on all the available treatment options.
Hope this helps and all the very best,
Dr Priscilla Lu
Orthodontist
