Baton Rouge Dentist

Do I Need to Replace My Dental Bridge If I Don’t Have Symptoms?

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Do I need a new dental bridge if I don’t have symptoms? I had my 6-month dental exam and cleaning last month, and it was time for x-rays. My dentist said an anchor tooth in my bridge was cracked. The bridge replaces a top right incisor. I don’t have any symptoms in my cracked tooth. Do I need a new bridge now? Yesterday, I canceled my follow-up appointment with my dentist. I need more time to determine whether I need treatment. Thank you. Tahlia from IL

Tahlia,

A digital image of a dental bridge for a lower left molar tooth
Lower dental bridge

Your situation shows the superior stability and longevity of dental implants compared to bridges. Although a bridge may initially cost less, it depends on the health of the surrounding teeth. If one supporting tooth fails, you usually need to replace the entire bridge. An implant works independently. If a nearby tooth fails, the implant still functions as intended.

If one abutment tooth in your bridge cracks, a dentist would need to extract it. At that point, you would need a replacement bridge that covers two teeth instead of one, making treatment more complex.
Dental implant parts, including the screw, connector, and crown, and one complete implant
Two factors raise concern about the idea of a cracked tooth:

  • No pain with biting: Cracks in a tooth’s root typically trigger sharp pain when chewing on something hard. The absence of symptoms suggests another explanation.
  • Crowned teeth resist cracks: Dentists use crowns to stabilize weakened teeth. Once covered, the crown prevents further cracking. Even in patients with powerful bites, root fractures in crowned teeth are highly unusual.

How to Get a Reliable Second Opinion for a Dental Bridge

Before agreeing to dental bridge replacement, consider getting a second opinion. Take these steps to ensure that the dentist’s assessment is independent:

  • Do not mention your current dentist, as dentists in the same community often know one another.
  • Keep details about the first diagnosis to a minimum.
  • If asked directly, say you would like their honest opinion before sharing what your dentist recommended.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read about how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.

Why Are My Teeth Still Falling Out Despite Months of Deep Cleanings?

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I had two upper right teeth extracted last year. I got a partial denture to fill in the gaps. In January, my dentist scheduled my deep cleaning every four months instead of every six months, as we did for the past two years. Last week, I lost two more teeth. I’m unsure what deep cleaning should do, but I thought it would help stop tooth loss. I don’t want a mouth full of partial dentures. I live on a fixed income. What are my alternatives for stopping tooth loss? – Thanks. Lamar from TN

Lamar,

Recurring tooth loss often indicates an underlying condition, such as advanced periodontal disease (gum disease). It’s important to note that conventional removable partial dentures can exert additional stress on remaining teeth, potentially leading to further tooth loss.

Illustration of gum diseaseDental implants may be ideal if you still have a few teeth on the left side of your mouth. However, they are a significant investment, typically costing over $3,000 per dental implant.

Another possibility is a Cu-Sil partial denture, which resembles a complete denture but has silicone-lined holes that fit over existing teeth. This design offers enhanced stability compared to traditional partial dentures and allows for easy additions of artificial teeth as needed.

We recommend consulting a periodontist (gum disease specialist) to assess your oral health and discuss treatment to help you control gum disease. Afterward, look for a dentist experienced in tooth replacement options to explain affordable solutions.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read about how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.

How do we best fill the space of an extracted tooth?

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My daughter had an accident in her gymnastics class and hit her front tooth. She has had root canals on it to fix it, but they failed. My daughter’s dentist is recommending that she have it extracted, which I’m okay with, but I’m just concerned about what to do after to fill that spot. This is such new territory for us and I don’t want to mess up her smile. What are our options?

Concerned, Santa Fe, NM

Dear Concerned,

Anyone would be concerned in your situation. You didn’t say how old your daughter is, but at any age, a person’s smile can speak volumes. After your daughter’s surgery for the tooth extraction, there are a few options you have for her.

Dental implant

For an adult, a dental implant is often the replacement of choice for a tooth extraction. A dental implant allows a porcelain tooth that is strong, durable, and natural looking, to be placed onto a root form that is directly implanted into the jawbone. The body will keep the jawbone there intact because the minerals there are still needed, as with a natural tooth. Unfortunately, a dental implant isn’t the best option for your daughter because of her age. Her face and jawbone are still growing. As her jaw grows, her natural teeth will move along with the growth. An implant won’t move as the other teeth, which will then lead to misplacement of the natural teeth.

Example of a dental bridge

A dental bridge can be a viable option in the right scenario. A bridge is made by putting crowns on the teeth on either side of the missing tooth with a false tooth in the middle. This can be a secure option, but the problem is the surrounding teeth have to be prepared and receive crowns, even if they are healthy teeth, in order for it to be stable.

  • Dental flipper

A dental flipper, which is sometimes called a flipper partial, is a reDental flipper with removable toothmovable temporary tooth. This can be made almost as a retainer with a mold that fits the top of the mouth, or with metal clips that go over the back teeth. This the least expensive option of the three. With this option, the surrounding teeth remain intact if you are hoping to wait for dental implants.

Please don’t be afraid to ask questions of your daughter’s dentist before any work is done. As with any cosmetic dental work, ask about his experience with all the above treatments and make sure you are comfortable with whatever treatment he suggests.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry in Baton Rouge, Lousiana.

 

 

Why Get a Traditional Implant, When the Affordable Minis Do the Same Thing?

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My dentist said I had two options for some implants on my front teeth. One is to get the traditional implants or I could get the mini-implants, which he said do the same thing. Why would I get the traditional one if the more affordable option does exactly the same thing?

Griffith L.

Dear Griffith,

If there really were no difference between the two procedures, then I’d say of course get the more affordable dental implants. However, they’re not the same. Either you were confused by what your dentist tried to explain or he’s confused as to how they work. Hopefully, it’s the former. If your dentist is this confused about their functions, that is dangerous to you as a patient and I’d highly recommend you find a new dentist, at least for tooth replacement procedures.

Traditional implants can retain a crown securely. Mini-implants cannot. They’re mostly just used to stabilize a denture. They’re not strong enough to sustain a crown themselves. When you’re talking about your front teeth, you could get the traditional implants or you could get a dental bridge. Be aware that with biting and chewing force in that position, a bridge will eventually have to be replaced. The implants will likely last your lifetime.

You might be interested in looking at our page on dental implants versus a dental bridge.

I would check to make sure your dentist has significant, positive experience placing dental implants. Ask him how many implant cases he’s performed and how many of those were successful.

Another thing to consider is his cosmetic skill. Your front teeth are very visible. Ask to see some of his before and after images of cosmetic cases he’s done to be certain you’ll like the results.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry.

Can I Get George Lucas to Pay My Dental Bill?

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My son and I were having a light saber fight. He’s become somewhat of a Star Wars addict lately. Normally, I survive these intergalactic battles, but this time a ring around the base of the lightsaber flew off and hit me in the mouth. I thought I was fine at first, and told my son so. He feels terribly guilty for hitting me. But, the next day my tooth felt loose. I keep messing with it and feel pretty sure it’s loose. As it’s an adult tooth I’m guessing I have to replace it. I’m sure that’s going to be expensive. Too bad I can’t get George Lucas to foot the bill.

Miranda P. – California

Miranda,

Yes, it would be great if George Lucas offered some financial assistance here! But, that’s as likely as a Jedi repairing your tooth. That doesn’t mean your tooth has to go the way of the Jedi in Episode III. It’s possible it can be saved. However, for that to have any chance at all you’ll want to stop messing with it. Your tooth has ligaments that attach it. When they’re stretched too much or too often, they can snap.

I’d get in to see your dentist as soon as possible so he or she can stabilize your tooth and do an exam to see how much damage was done. IF you don’t have a dentist you can see right away, you’ll need to call an emergency dentist. They can bond it to the adjacent teeth, splint it, or use a similar method to stabilize it. If it’s protected and kept in its place, those ligaments may heal on their own and the tooth will recover. However, the pulp of the tooth may also be damaged. If this is the case, it may need a root canal treatment after the ligaments heal. Teeth with root canals often need crowns to protect them.

If that’s the case, you’ll want to make sure your dentist is fairly skilled at cosmetic work as well, because from what you’ve described it’s a front tooth which was damaged.

There is a chance the tooth can’t be saved. If that happens you’re definitely right that you’ll want to replace the tooth. Two of your best options are a dental implant or a dental bridge. Dr. Ryan has a good page explaining both and when to choose which one. You can click here to read the dental implant versus dental bridge options.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry.

There’s No Contact with my Dental Bridge

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Two months ago, I decided to get an upper right side three unit fixed bridge. This seems to look fine from the front but when I look at the back of my mouth, there’s a noticeable space between my top and bottom teeth. The teeth don’t touch, chewing is awkward and uncomfortable and my dentist doesn’t seem to think there’s a problem; my dentist said this is as good as it gets.  Is this normal or should I seek a second opinion?
– Daniel in Louisiana

Dear Daniel,

It’s a challenge to know why your teeth aren’t touching without reviewing your dental x-rays, doing a complete exam and seeing clinical notes. There are many reasons your teeth might not be touching. One reason may be that you have fractured bottom teeth and your dentist is trying to prevent more damage by allowing space on the bottom. The other reason is that you may have a tooth that has erupted on the bottom. Another consideration is that if a tooth has been missing for a while, a dental bridge may not duplicate your original bite because the mouth changes over time. Sometimes teeth shift so this can affect contact. It’s generally important that there’s tooth contact to prevent further dental issues. If you’re questioning your recent procedure, we would recommend you get a second opinion.

This blog sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry.

Is bone grafting something I should consider?

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When I was 12, I lost all my front teeth (top and bottom) in a boating accident. I’ve worn a dental bridge for years, but now the bone loss is getting very noticeable. I’ve been discussing dental implants with my dentist. He says he can do them, but I am not that excited about his apparent level of confidence. He is not enthusiastic about this procedure, and I think I am going to ask him to refer me to a specialist.

Part of the reason for this is that I think I need a procedure called “bone grafting”. I don’t think most general dentists do that sort of thing, do they? And how do you know if you are a candidate for this or not? My health is a little dicey.

Thanks for your help in this matter.

Shelley in White Plains

Dear Shelley,

The best chance for a successful bone grafting procedure is if your general health is good. “Dicey” doesn’t really offer us much information, so you’ll want to be very specific and detailed with the professional you choose to work with. The doctor will consider your general health, but will also examine your CT scans and x-rays. Decisions about this type of procedure are made on a case by case basis.

If you do need grafting, you would be very smart to seek out the services of a dentist who has strong experience with dental implants. Of all dental procedures, dental implant procedures seem to have the most severe consequences when things go wrong. Look for a doctor that has extensive training after dental school, at facilities such as American Academy of Implant Dentistry or the Academy of Osseointegration.

This blog entry was posted courtesy of the office of Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Perry.