Lost Tooth Replacement

[chrissa1]

I've had to have a loose tooth in the bottom row of teeth removed last week.

What are the options for replacing said tooth, please? Would it be a clip on tooth that I can wear when I'm eating or would it be a plate with a single tooth on it? My older sister has a bottom plate and she told me it is very uncomfortable.

On the plus side, I bought a temporary tooth kit and this has worked out very well and looks great. I have to take it out when eating though, but if anything that the dentist can do is going to be virtually the same, I'd rather pay the £4.99 that the temporary tooth kit cost, than shell out £200 for a dentist's option.

Any help would be appreciated.

[jno]

do you actually need to replace it? If it's in the front, fair enough; but if it's out of sight you can probably manage without it.

I've got a temporary plate with a single tooth, after having a near-front tooth (on top) removed. It's a pain in the gum, and I have to remove it to eat anyway.

[bednobs]

an implant. However it'll cost far more than £4.99

[chrissa1]

Being an ex-smoker, I haven't enough jawbone for an implant and it is, at the front.

[Prudie]

This does all boil down to money and a bit to how important the look of your smile is to you. Implant is the best but most expensive, after that a bridge if the teeth either side are OK. You can get a bridge on NHS but it's still expensive. I paid privately and it was £700 for 1 tooth.

[chrissa1]

Jno, can you not use Fixodent or something similar to keep it in place when you eat?

[RATTER15]

How about a bridge, assuming the teeth either side are up to it.

[chrissa1]

My smile is, very important to me.

[chrissa1]

A Bridge. Is that when one tooth is fashioned to clip on to the teeth either side?

[jennyjoan]

As Prudie says the implant is very expensive - I went down the route of bridging but then that meant two teeth either side of the missing one would have to be drilled - no no not for me either.

[jennyjoan]

Oh another way of not drilling too much is a procedure called the Maryland bridge - that would be excellent.

[Prudie]

Yes Chrissa and yes there is damage to the teeth either side but if it lasts its expectetd 10 years a time what does it matter?

[jennyjoan]

Chrissa I would have gone down the route of the Maryland bridge route but that particular dentist didn't do anaesthesia.

[hc4361]

I've had two normal bridges for at least 15 years without problem, thankfully, I was lucky enough to get them on the NHS

[chrissa1]

A Maryland bridge. I'll look that up. Thanks.

My little £4.99 tooth is suddenly looking more attractive. :)

[gingejbee]

I'm wondering why your dentist didn't go over the options with you....they're normally not backward in coming forward if there's more work to be done!

[chrissa1]

To be fair to him, he tried to, but I was so fixed in what my sister had told me that I said that I didn't think it was so noticeable and would think about it.

It wasn't til I got home and looked in the mirror that I saw how close to the front it really was. I made another appointment but it's not until the end of June