Medically reviewed by Dr. Boris Pinhasov, DDS – American Board of Orthodontics Diplomate | 20+ Years Experience | Last Updated: April 2026
Having a dental crown might make you wonder if braces are still an option for straightening your teeth. If you’ve been searching for “braces near me” and worry that your crown might be a deal-breaker, you can breathe easy. The good news is that yes, you can get braces even if you have a crown on one or more teeth. It’s a common concern, but modern orthodontic techniques and materials let orthodontists attach braces to crowns and other dental work without damaging them.
Can Braces Be Applied to a Tooth with a Crown?
In short, yes, braces can be applied to a tooth with a crown. Orthodontists treat patients with crowns all the time. Dr. Boris Pinhasov reassures patients on this point, saying:
“Yes, we have special materials that allow us to cement braces on crowns and veneers, so it’s definitely possible.” ~ Dr. Boris Pinhasov, DDS
This means that even if you have a crown (or a porcelain veneer) on a tooth, your orthodontist has the tools and know-how to attach a bracket securely. The process might be slightly different from that on a natural tooth, but an experienced orthodontist will make it work. Many people in need of braces have crowns or fillings from past dental work, and it doesn’t prevent them from getting a straight, beautiful smile.
How Do Orthodontists Put Braces on Crowns?
Attaching a bracket to a crown requires a special approach. Porcelain and metal surfaces (common crown materials) are smoother and less porous than natural teeth, so the regular bonding adhesive might not hold as well. To solve this, orthodontists use special adhesives and techniques designed for crowns:
- Surface preparation: They may gently roughen or etch the surface of the crown. Don’t worry; this is minimal and won’t ruin the crown’s appearance. It just creates a better grip for the glue.
- Special bonding agent: A different kind of dental cement or bonding agent is used, one that’s made to stick to porcelain or metal. This “special glue” helps the bracket stay firmly attached to your crown.
- Careful placement: Orthodontists take their time to position the bracket correctly on the crown, since the tooth’s shape might differ slightly from a natural tooth.
With these steps, the bracket on your crowned tooth stays securely in place throughout your treatment. Patients with crowns often go through braces treatment just like anyone else, the main difference is simply the type of adhesive used on those teeth.
Crown Material Matters: What Type of Crown Do You Have?
Not all dental crowns are the same. The material your crown is made of affects how well orthodontic brackets bond to it, how much force the crown can handle, and what technique your orthodontist uses. Before starting braces, find out from your dentist what material your crown is made of. Here is how the four common types differ.
Porcelain Crowns (All-Ceramic)
Porcelain crowns are the most common type placed in the last decade, especially on front teeth where appearance matters. They look natural and match surrounding teeth almost exactly.
Bonding to porcelain: Standard orthodontic adhesive does not bond well to glazed porcelain. Dr. Boris uses a specialized technique where the porcelain surface is gently micro-etched with a diamond bur to roughen it, treated with a porcelain primer and silane coupling agent, and then bonded with a light-cured composite resin designed for porcelain surfaces. This creates a strong, reliable bond without damaging the crown.
Removal consideration: Porcelain can chip if excessive force is used when removing the bracket at the end of treatment. Dr. Boris uses gentle bracket removal techniques specifically designed for porcelain-crowned teeth to minimize this risk.
Metal Crowns (Gold or Stainless Steel)
Metal crowns are less common on visible teeth but are still used on back molars because of their durability. They are also the easiest crown type for orthodontic bonding.
Bonding to metal: Stainless steel and gold surfaces can be sandblasted and primed for a strong adhesive bond. Metal crowns accept orthodontic brackets easily and hold them reliably through treatment. They will not chip or crack, and the root underneath moves normally.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) Crowns
PFM crowns are older technology, still common in patients with crowns placed ten or more years ago. They have a metal base covered by a porcelain outer layer, combining the strength of metal with a more tooth-colored appearance.
Bonding to PFM: Dr. Boris usually bonds to the porcelain outer layer using the same technique as pure porcelain crowns – micro-etching, primer, and light-cured composite. The metal base provides additional stability during treatment.
Special consideration: If the porcelain layer chips during bracket removal, it exposes the metal base underneath. This is a rare occurrence but one Dr. Boris discusses upfront with patients who have PFM crowns before starting treatment.
Zirconia Crowns
Zirconia is a modern, highly durable ceramic material increasingly used for both front and back teeth. It is harder than traditional porcelain and can be color-matched to natural teeth.
Bonding to zirconia: Zirconia is the most challenging crown type to bond to because its smooth surface resists standard etching techniques. Dr. Boris uses specialized zirconia primers and air abrasion to create a bondable surface. The bond is reliable but requires more preparation than other crown types.
Durability advantage: Zirconia crowns are nearly impossible to chip during bracket removal, which makes them one of the most favorable crown materials for patients planning orthodontic treatment.
If you are not sure what material your crown is made of, call the dental office where the crown was placed and ask. Or bring the information to your BP Smiles consultation and we will help you figure it out.
Will Braces Damage My Crown?
It’s natural to worry whether putting braces on a crown could harm it. Generally, braces will not damage your crown as long as everything is done properly. Crowns are designed to be strong and withstand normal biting forces, and the pressure braces applied are carefully controlled. Here are a few reassuring points:
- Secure restoration: If your crown is well-made and firmly cemented by your dentist, it should stay put during orthodontic movement. Orthodontists will check that crowns and fillings are secure before applying braces.
- Gentle removal: When your braces treatment is finished, the brackets are removed carefully. Your orthodontist will take extra care when taking a bracket off a crown so as not to pull the crown off. They also clean the bonding cement off the crown’s surface gently.
- Minimal risk: In rare cases, a bit of the crown’s polished surface might get scuffed when the bracket comes off, especially on porcelain. This is usually a minor cosmetic issue and can often be polished by your dentist afterward. However, such damage is uncommon and largely avoidable with proper technique.
Orthodontic professionals are trained to treat teeth with crowns, veneers, and other restorations. Dr. Pinhasov and other experts will plan your braces treatment so that both your natural teeth and any dental work remain safe and intact.
Do Crowns Affect Tooth Movement?
A crown covers the visible part of a tooth, but underneath the crown is your natural tooth root. Teeth with crowns move just like other teeth during braces, because the movement comes from the root and jawbone, not the tooth’s outer surface. Even a tooth that’s had a root canal (and no longer has a nerve) can be moved with braces, although it may require gentle force. On the other hand, if a “crown” is actually on a dental implant (with no natural root), that implant tooth won’t move; in those cases, braces adjust the neighboring teeth instead.
Your orthodontist will monitor all your teeth during treatment, including any with crowns, to ensure they’re moving as expected.
Are There Any Special Considerations?
For the most part, having a crown doesn’t change the braces experience very much. But here are a couple of things to keep in mind: brackets on crowns occasionally may not adhere as easily as on natural teeth, so a bracket might come loose and need a quick reattachment visit. You’ll also want to maintain excellent oral hygiene around the crown and brackets to keep your gums healthy. If a crown is older or not secure, your orthodontist might work with your dentist to address it before or during braces. These steps ensure a smooth treatment despite the crown.
Orthodontic Challenges with Crowned Teeth: How We Handle Them
Braces with existing crowns work for most patients, but there are three real clinical considerations that an experienced orthodontist plans around from the first consultation.
Challenge 1: Limited Tooth Movement Around Crowns
A crown does not change how a tooth moves under braces. The root underneath moves normally through the bone, and the crown on top moves with it. What can be limited is how much repositioning the orthodontist attempts around a crown if the crown was originally designed for a specific position in the bite.
How we handle this: Dr. Boris evaluates each crowned tooth during the consultation and identifies whether the crown was designed for the current position or whether significant repositioning might change how the crown fits against neighboring teeth. If the fit is likely to change meaningfully during treatment, we discuss with you and your dentist whether the crown should be replaced after braces are removed.
Challenge 2: Potential Damage to Crown Surfaces
Porcelain crown surfaces can chip during bracket removal at the end of treatment. This is uncommon but not unheard of. The risk is highest on older porcelain crowns that have been in place for many years and may have developed micro-cracks from normal wear.
How we handle this: Dr. Boris uses specialized bracket removal pliers designed for ceramic surfaces. For crowns with higher chip risk, we discuss alternative bracket options – such as smaller ceramic brackets that come off more gently – or Invisalign as a lower-risk alternative that does not require bonding to the crown at all.
Challenge 3: Timing of Crown Replacement
If your dentist has already recommended that a crown needs to be replaced, the right time is usually after orthodontic treatment is complete, not before. Placing a new crown and then moving the tooth underneath can stress the new restoration unnecessarily.
How we handle this: During your consultation, Dr. Boris coordinates with your dentist on the timing of any planned crown work. The typical sequence is: finish braces, let the teeth stabilize in retainers for a month or two, then place the new crown in its final position.
What About Veneers or Fillings?
Likewise, having porcelain veneers or large fillings won’t prevent you from getting braces. Orthodontists use similar bonding techniques for veneers as they do for crowns. If a veneer is very delicate, they might avoid placing a bracket on that tooth and use an alternative method, but usually, braces (or clear aligners) can accommodate veneers just fine. Typical fillings pose no trouble at all for orthodontic brackets.
Why Invisalign Can Be a Strong Option for Patients with Crowns
Invisalign treats crowned teeth differently than braces. Instead of bonding a bracket directly to the crown surface, Invisalign uses clear aligners that fit over the entire arch of teeth – crowns included. There is no bonding, no bracket removal, and no risk of chipping the crown surface at the end of treatment.
For patients with multiple crowns, or with crowns in visible front-tooth positions, Invisalign often makes more practical sense than braces specifically because it avoids the bonding and removal challenges entirely.
There is one consideration worth knowing: some Invisalign cases require “attachments” – small tooth-colored bumps of composite resin bonded to specific teeth to give the aligners more grip. On crowned teeth, attachments can still be placed using the same porcelain bonding techniques Dr. Boris uses for brackets. The attachments are smaller than brackets and easier to remove cleanly at the end of treatment.
See our Invisalign page for a detailed look at how clear aligner treatment works at BP Smiles Orthodontics in Queens.
Trust an Experienced Orthodontist
When getting braces with a crown (or any other restoration), one of the most important factors is choosing an experienced orthodontist. Expertise matters in these nuanced situations. Dr. Boris Pinhasov has treated many patients who had crowns, bridges, or veneers. He will create a customized plan to straighten your teeth while preserving your dental work. If you’re looking for a provider of braces in Queens, it helps to find someone familiar with cases like yours.
Remember, orthodontics is not one-size-fits-all. A skilled doctor will examine your crowns and overall dental health before starting. They might even coordinate with your general dentist to make sure any crowns are secure and healthy. This team approach adds an extra layer of safety and success to your treatment.
Conclusion: Enjoy a Straighter Smile, Crown and All
Don’t let a crown on your tooth hold you back from achieving a straighter smile. Orthodontic technology has come a long way. Special adhesives and careful techniques make it perfectly feasible to put braces on crowned teeth. Many patients with crowns get braces without any issues, ending up with beautifully aligned teeth and their crowns intact.
If you have concerns about braces because of a crown, the best step is to consult with an orthodontist. They’ll answer your questions and explain the plan for your specific case. In Queens, you can reach out to Dr. Boris Pinhasov at BP Smiles Orthodontics for expert advice and treatment. We’re here to ensure that everyone, even those with crowns or other dental work, can confidently pursue the smile of their dreams.
Disclaimer
Medically reviewed by Dr. Boris Pinhasov, Board-Certified Orthodontist.
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized recommendations.
