Implants Query

[tk79]

Hi,

I had an accident and broke my lateral incisor about a year ago. At the moment I have the original tooth held in place through some glue/plaster that sticks it to its neighbouring teeth. I want to have an implant put in as a long term measure. I'm also looking to get the best quality implant and crown.

I have visited one cosmentic dentist so far and they advised me that they will perform the extraction then the implant will be in for 4-6 months after which the long term crown can be put in. However in the 4-6 month healing period they suggested that I will have to wear a flipper/denture. I'm not too keen on this to be honest and was wondering if there is an alternative to wearing a denture (in those 4 months of healing) as I think this will affect the way I speak and also when I eat food. Looking forward to hearing back from you.

[Dr Pav Khaira]

It may be possible to make a temporary "stick bridge" for you. This will increase the cost of treatment and is not always possible. I would recommend you speak to your dentist about your concerns

[Nilesh]

Hi Tk79,

Firstly, 3-4 months seems like a very long time to wait between extractions and implant placement. What was the reason given? In most cases where the tooth or root is still present an immediate implant is possible, this is where the root is extracted and the implant is placed at the same time. In certain instances where there has been some infection or poor bone volume I usually wait 4-8 weeks.

Secondly, a partial flipper denture can sound like a real pain but it is the easiest way to replace the tooth until the implant is ready. Another option which I use is a sticky bridge which is bascially a false tooth with a metal wing stuck onto the adjacent tooth. This can be a pain as they can be tricky to take on and off each time, but is something I have used in the past. It has the benefit of being fixed and not needing to be remove at night time like a denture would.

Best of luck!