I am embarrassed to say that my bottom two front teeth broke off during a hockey game. I took a stick to the face and the teeth broke off clean at the gums. I’m hoping you’ll tell me that I have other options besides dental implants, because from what I can see – I cannot afford them. The strange thing about all this that I cannot feel anything. I am not in any kind of pain. So, I’m hoping that will buy me some time to explore my options.
-Ted in Nevada
Ted,
Depending on how much of your natural teeth are remaining, you may have several options to replace your broken front teeth. The reason that you are not in pain is likely because the nerves inside the teeth are dead. So although it is good that you are not suffering, you shouldn’t wait around too long. The sooner you have the teeth treated, the more options you will have. Once the nerves die inside the tooth, the result is an infection.
If there is enough tooth left, it is possible you may be able to get porcelain crowns. If not, the remaining roots and teeth need to be removed, as soon as possible. A dental bridge is a possibility for your case or a removable partial denture. Those options will be less expensive than dental implants.
That said, dental implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth. They prevent bone loss and will give you the stability you need to chew normally. They look, feel and function just like your natural teeth did.
The first step is to get into a dentist right away because it is difficult to make specific recommendations for your case without having seen you in person. Don’t delay! You will have more options, the sooner you get into the dentist.
Good luck!
This post is sponsored by Barrington dentist James T. Gavrilos, DDS.