Yesterday a crown fell off a tooth while I was eating. I went to the dentist today, hoping they could just glue it back on. HA! No chance. The tooth is on the bottom right. Going by this picture, I think it’s the one labeled “first molar,” or maybe “second molar.” It’s not right in front, but not hidden way in back either.
The dentist said my options were a bridge or an implant. I’ve never had a bridge. I do have an implant on the upper left, way in the back. Doing an implant is a long and tedious process, taking six to eight months for everything to heal and be finalized. But when it’s in, it’s in to stay. (I don’t believe those commercials that say you can get implants in one day.)
I never really considered a bridge-- don’t know why. But I was talking to a friend (an old lady like me) on the phone just now, and she suggested I consider a bridge. Mostly because it’s a shorter process and less invasive. I didn’t even discuss a bridge with the dentist, just jumped right to the implant. I guess because I already have one. He showed me the x-ray, and the teeth on either side of the bad tooth look solid enough to handle a bridge.
I don’t have dental insurance, but paying for either one would be no hardship, so cost is not a factor in my decision-making process.
My appointment at the dentist is tomorrow morning (Friday, Aug 12). We were going to start the implant process, but now I think I’d like to have a conversation about the bridge option.
I’ve had both. If money isn’t an issue, implants are better. Bridges can be a pain to clean under. I use a waterpik on mine but my wife threads floss under hers. You’ve got to keep at it. With an implant, you don’t have to alter your hygiene practices. The procedure was pretty painless for me, it felt odd but not painful to have the dentist use a socket wrench to screw the titanium into my jaw. It does take some time for the bone to grow into the screw so it’s solid enough for the crown. For me it took several months- first extract the dead tooth, let the gum tissue heal, put in the screw, let the bone grow into it, then finally get the crown.
Yes, I’ve had an implant and what you’re describing matches my experience. I don’t particularly want to go through that long process again.
My implant was $4,000. Out of pocket. Cost is not a consideration.
I didn’t know about the bridge-cleaning thing. That’s helpful to know. Replace every 10-ish years? Well, I’m 73 now… so maybe if I’m careful I could make it last as long as I do.
I am in the same situation with the same tooth, I’m going with the bridge. The implant would (for me) require a bone graft, something I don’t want to endure for a hidden tooth. Also I have had another bridge for 15 years now, an Oral B pulsating spin brush keeps it clean, no problems.
I figure a bridge should last me for life at this point.
I believe its like $1600. Still don’t like the idea of grinding down two perfectly good teeth to do it, but the time is important to me. Get it done I say to myself.
That’s what I was going to ask: what is the procedure on the teeth that the bridge will be anchored to? Just a quick google said a root canal might need to be done on the adjacent teeth so caps can be put on them to support the fake tooth. That sounds like almost as much trouble as an implant, if shorter in time to get it done.
The bridge will be anchored by the two adjacent teeth. They need to be ground down (much like preparing for a crown) and a three piece tooth is put on. Thus bridging over the missing tooth.
I had an implant about thirty years ago and have had basically no problems with it since then. I do avoid toffee and other sticky candies. So, yes, it’s a process but I think it’s worth it.
What about underneath the fake tooth, where the bad tooth was pulled? Is that just a cavity that nature eventually fills in-- I had a tooth pulled on top way in the back and eventually the hole just disappeared.
I had that happen (crown fell off) right at the start of covid. This dragged everything out a great deal(my dentist would only allow one patient in the clinic at a time so appointments were well spaced on the calendar)
I went with a denture to replace the bad tooth. I’m to old to care about impressing anyone, and don’t want to spend the money on either a bridge or an implant. I’ve just got more important things to worry about and spend money on at this point in my life.
How does that work? Did the dentist pull the tooth that lost the crown*? And is the fake tooth attached with wires to the adjoining teeth? Any problems?
* The Tooth That Lost the Crown…a chapter in English history?
