Q&A: CAN A DENTIST PLEASE PROVIDE THE SPECIFICS ON FRONT TOOTH IMPLANTS?
Question by ddahs:
can a dentist please provide the specifics on front tooth implants?
My number 9 front tooth was impacted it was brought down after orthodontic treatment. The root of the tooth erupted and i did another surgery on the tooth. the root of the tooth was cut very short, therefore i could not bite into anything with the tooth, plus it was mobile etc. the tooth died. Last year in an effort to save the tooth i did root canal treatment and crown of the tooth, to see if this could make the tooth stronger. My dentist did not do an xray before the crown. Now bite is off because of this crown, may need to put back on braces, also i went to another dentist because of the problems i am having and was told that the tooth needs to be removed because it’s only being held in by the gum. So far my ortho has tried to adjust my teeth so that my bite is more comfortable, because she is saying that it is just a slight movement and she doesn’t think that i should waste my money, but i am still uncomfortable and I am now worried that i may end up with sensitivity issues.
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Answer by Dr. G
That is a lot to have gone through. Sorry to hear about that.
If you did have the tooth removed, implants are very good options. The basic procedure is to have the implant, which is like a screw, put into the bone exactly like a root is. The bone is granted to heal around the screw, which can take several months, and then a crown is attached to the top of the screw.
While the bone is healing around the screw, you likely will have to wear either a removable flipper (to fill the space so you do not walk around with a missing front tooth) or sometimes they can put a temporary crown on the implant while it is healing.
When the crown is cemented onto the implant, it should look and function like a normal tooth.
The bad part about implants is that they are normally very costly (in the $ 3000+ range) and insurance usually doesn’t cover it.
As for your existing condition, if the root was shortened surgically and it’s already loose, it is probably only a matter of time before you lose it.
The other option would be to have a bridge placed, but if the adjacent teeth are uncut, an implant definitely would be the ideal option.
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