Patient question
I would like to improve the alignment, shape, and overall appearance of my teeth, but I am not interested in undergoing orthodontic treatment with braces or clear aligners.
I also have missing teeth that I would like to replace with dental implants.
Would it be possible to achieve a straighter, more symmetrical smile using zirconia crowns and implants instead of orthodontic treatment?
Verified answer from our dentist
Answered on Oct 17, 2026
Dentist
If you prefer not to undergo orthodontic treatment, a combination of zirconia crowns and dental implants may be considered to improve the appearance and function of your smile.
Zirconia crowns can help improve the visible shape, proportions, and alignment of teeth. However, unlike orthodontic treatment, crowns do not physically reposition the natural tooth roots.
Based on the initial assessment, the proposed treatment plan includes:
2 dental implants in the regions of teeth 36 and 37
28 zirconia restorations covering teeth 17–27 and 37–47
Professional dental cleaning
A custom night guard to help protect the zirconia restorations from excessive bite forces, clenching, or grinding during sleep
This treatment aims to create a more balanced, symmetrical, and natural-looking smile while replacing the missing teeth and improving chewing function.
Important Consideration – Possible Root Canal Treatment
Because some of your teeth are not ideally positioned, additional tooth preparation may be necessary to achieve the desired alignment and appearance with zirconia crowns.
During crown preparation, certain teeth may require root canal treatment, particularly if extensive reduction is unavoidable or if the dental pulp becomes affected.
However, root canal treatment is not automatically necessary for every tooth receiving a crown. The need for additional treatment will depend on each tooth's position, structure, and condition.
It is also important to understand that correcting significant tooth misalignment with crowns may require more removal of natural tooth structure than orthodontic treatment.
The final treatment plan will be confirmed after a detailed clinical examination, bite analysis, and three-dimensional CBCT evaluation to determine the most appropriate implant positions and restorative approach.
Our priority is to achieve an aesthetically pleasing, functional, and long-lasting result while preserving as much healthy natural tooth structure as possible.