Yikes! Your Front Tooth is Missing – Now What?
Missing central incisor due to extensive decay and fracture.
This blog will tell you a bit about your options to replace that missing tooth including the following:
- Treatment partials
- Dental implants
- A Snap-On Smile
- An Essix appliance
Central incisor replaced with an implant and an implant crown.
A “flipper” or treatment partial can be made to fill the space where the missing tooth is.
A treatment partial or “flipper” to replace a single front tooth.
Sometimes a treatment partial can be used while the tissue and bone heals around the dental implant. One disadvantage of treatment partials is that they may compress the tissue in an unfavorable way over the healing implant site. Your dentist may then want to create for you a custom Snap On Smile or Essix splint. Both of these fit over your existing teeth and replace the missing tooth or teeth. Because they are supported by your teeth and do not rest on the gum tissue, they can be used before and after the dental implant is placed until a more permanent restoration can be fabricated.
A porcelain abutment over a dental implant to replace a missing front tooth.
Only her dentist would know that the front tooth is not ‘real’!
Your dentist may recommend a dental implant and implant crown to replace your missing front tooth. The dentist or surgeon that places the dental implant may say that several months of healing are required before restoring the tooth and you want something to wear during the healing time so that you can keep on smiling!
Along with missing the front teeth, there is also a significant loss of bone!
Dental implants have been placed in the positions of the central and lateral incisor. There is significant loss of bone and tissue.
Pink porcelain has been added in place of the missing gun tissue here.
Pink porcelain has been added in place of the missing gun tissue here.
Sometimes a treatment partial can be used while the tissue and bone heals around the dental implant. One disadvantage of treatment partials is that they may compress the tissue in an unfavorable way over the healing dental implant site. Your dentist may then want to create for you a custom Snap On Smile or Essix splint. Both of these fit over your existing teeth and replace the missing tooth or teeth. Because they are supported by your teeth and do not rest on the gum tissue, they can be used before and after the dental implant is placed until a more permanent restoration can be fabricated.
A Snap-on Smile fits over the remaining teeth and replaces the missing tooth.
A Snap-on Smile fits over the remaining teeth and replaces the missing tooth.
So, don’t panic! We can fix that!
Our office is located in Grand Junction, Colorado. Our office’s website is https://www.juliegillisdds.com/ if you would like further information on this or many other dental topics! Also, please find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/juliegillisddspc) to see some fun photos and to “like” us We would love that!
Sincerely,