Band or bracket on a crown?

[Rusty'sMom]

I will soon be needing one of my lower molars involved in the orthodonic process due to the fact that I am going to get elastics at some point in the next few months. My ortho says he wants to be careful with the crown I have on the tooth, and has not decided whether to use a band or bracket. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Snowglobe32]

I have a bracket on my crown. I have heard/read that sometimes the bonding material doesn't adhere very well to the crown. Could be true in my case, the entire time I was in braces, only one bracket came loose and it was the one I had the crown on. I was about 3 months in and I was eating crackers. They used extra bonding material and held the light (or whatever it is) on the tooth for longer than usual.

I have had elastics off and on but never on the tooth that has the crown.

Good luck!

[BaliGirl]

One of my molars has a porcelain crown and the ortho banded that one right off the bat. I also have 2 premolars with porcelain crowns as well and he bonded brackets to those. One is still bonded but the other one popped off twice (after a year!) and has been replaced by a band. Grr.

[maxhammer]

They should rough up the crown via sanding or a drill, then use a stronger bonding material (I believe it's hydrochloric acid). That's what they did for me. I prefer a bracket.

[BaliGirl]

They did sand it and used some super strong adhesive and the bracket popped off anyway. I was told I would probably need a new crown when my treatment is over because of how they prepped the surface, which is a double whammy - a perfectly good crown was ruined and the tooth is banded, anyway.

[cheerrabbit]

They gave me a band with extra cement. I don't remember sanding it, and the assistant mentioned not wanting to damage it (it was brand new).
I did have to get it re-cemented when I started elastics because it became loose. But it has been fine the last two adjustments.

[ArchWired28]

I have a braket on my crowned top molar without any problems, and I am chewing anything I want not being careful at all. I think they treat the surface differently but overall, either wy should be fine.

[Rusty'sMom]

thanks to all of you who replied...I hadn't considered the fact that the elastic will put a greater stress on the band/bracket/tooth. I would really not want the expense of replacing a perfectly good crown. I am however looking forward to getting rid of my Howdy Doody teeth, which is going to involve wearing elastics!

[TMJJill]

Good question. I'm getting brackets on my lower 6's in about 5 weeks. One of them has a fairly new crown. I'm a bit nervous since the bracket is being put on so I can wear elastics at night to help super-erupt the teeth. This means that I'll have a pretty good force pulling on that crowned tooth since I have the elastic in a "v" with two bands on the lower bracket hook. There is a chance I'll need to have some build up work done on my molars after I get my braces off, but it will be about 2 years out before those decisions are made. It really depends on how much I can get my molars to erupt. In the meantime, I don't want anything to happen to that tooth. (Can't afford it either after just paying big bucks for the braces. ) While my dentist has only discussed putting a bracket on, I'll have to ask him about the benefits vs. a band. So far I've been very confident in the guidance I've received from this dentist, but it never hurts to ask. His office has been very accommodating for me so far.

Thanks again,
TMJJill

[Snowglobe32]

I haven't had any problems with my crown. The tooth in front of it, was extracted long ago, and I now have a powerchain that is connected to the crowned tooth...it has moved the tooth and almost closed the gap.

I think crowns are pretty sturdy, I wouldn't worry too much. I don't know that I would want a band due to the fact that food and liquid can still get around it...or so I think it can. It could be a pain to clean. Can someone correct me if I am wrong? Thanks!

[Bracer215]

I have had brackets on two porcelean crowns for 11 months and they have never come off. I do know they used a different adhesive. Last month I had brackets put on my 4 last molars, two of which were crowns. One crown was gold and had to have a molar band put on. Not too bad so far. Water pick really helps to keep it clean.
Got the wires extended to these last molars this week. Hard to chew right now.

[kellyb]

i have one crown on my upper arch and my ortho decided not to put a bracket on it just in case it needs to be re-done during treatment.

[Chaplains Assistant]

I have a band on a molar crown - only came loose once when I was wearing elastics. Have a crown on front lower tooth with a bracket on it and it's never came loose or anything in almost 2 years.