I have a gap because my lateral incisors are missing

Q. Hi Dr Suri. some reason my lateral incisors (upper) never grew. As a result, I have a gap between my central incisors (probably drofted apart) and two gaps where my lateral incisors should be. I should also point out that I have ‘27′ teeth in all so I’m guessing there’s a few more missing (probably molars). I’d really like to get my teeth sorted cuz I haven’t smiled in years!! What procedure would you suggest that I undergo?

A. Thank you for your question. Congenitally missing lateral incisors is an hereditary condition and it can also mean that other teeth don’t develope as well. You need a combination of braces and restorative work. The two front teeth need to be moved together to close the gap between them and the open up the gap for the laterals. You then have 2 options. The first is to have implants placed in the gaps. This is the ideal treatment because implants don’t rely on other teeth for support and therefore adjacent teeth are not damaged. They also last a very long time.
The second option is to have two bridges made to fill the gap. Ths may involve shaving down one or both of the teeth on the side of the gap to cap them and add the false tooth in the middle. This is obviously more destructive than having implants placed. A bridge can last for a long time, on average approximately 10 years. If looked after it can last longer but when it fails the other teeth will be damaged as well.
If you have a dentist already, ask to be referred to an orthodontist for an opinion. If not then the best thing to do is to find a cosmetic/ restorative dentist and preferably one that can place implants or works closely with an implant dentist and orthodontist. The treatment may take some time but you are young and it will be worth it. If dentists offer you quick fix solutions these may sound appealing, however they may not be stable and will probably not be the best option for you.
If you are within travelling distance of the practice I would be happy to see for a consultation. There is no charge for the appointment.
You can contact the practice via e-mail if you wish
Kind Regards

Dr Komal Suri
Smile Design Dental
www.smiledesigndental.co.uk
Tel: 01296 624163
33 High Street
Wendover Buckinghamshire
HP22 6DU

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Tags: incisor, missing teeth

This post was published on Friday, August 15th, 2008 at 10:39 amand is filed under Dr Suri's Answers, Experts Answers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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