Many years ago, in my teens, I lost a tooth. It was toward the back of my mouth so my parents decided not to replace it because of the cost. I’m not a regular dental patient and recently lost another tooth right next to the first one. I think it’s time to replace them, but the dentist I went to said there’s not enough room for two dental implants and I should just get a dental bridge. The thing is, even though I’m not the best patient, I don’t want to lose more tooth structure. He said he’d have to crown two other teeth. Is there another alternative? Also, how could there not be room? There were two teeth there before.
Casey
Dear Casey,
Dental Implant Diagram
When teeth are removed or fall out on their own, the teeth in the adjacent area will begin to shift into the empty space if a replacement isn’t put there to keep the teeth in proper position and alignment. As yours has been missing for several years, that’s plenty of time for shifting and likely the reason why there’s no longer enough room for two dental implants.
However, that doesn’t mean you have to have a dental bridge. It sounds like your dentist isn’t comfortable placing dental implants and is trying to steer you toward the procedure he is more used to doing. Apathy in our work is never great, especially when your field is in healthcare. Keeping up is imperative.
Getting Dental Implants with Shifted Teeth
There are a couple of good options for you if you are serious about getting dental implants. The first is orthotontics. You wouldn’t necessarily have to get metal braces. I think Invisalign would suffice quite well. No one would know you’re wearing them and the treatment will likely be very quick. In fact, you are almost certainly a candidate for Invisalign express.
Another option would be to have two dental crowns placed on a single implant. There will be room for one prosthetic and it’s not too hard to do a double crown.
Who Should Place Your Dental Implants?
Because your case is a little trickier, it is even more important that you use a dentist who’s invested a lot of time in post-doctoral training in dental implants. Take a peek at the training Dr. Becker sought after graduate school to get an idea of which schools are reputable for this type of training.
- Dr. Peter Dawson Advanced Dental Seminars
- Seattle Institute for Advanced Dental Education in State-of-the-Art Esthetics
- Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education
Best of luck to you.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.