I have a disaster of a smile. I always need a ton of work on my teeth. I am willing to invest in them and fix them, but it seems like all my dentist ever recommends is the most aggressive treatment possible. I have two teeth he just wants to pull and put in partial dentures. I’m only 32 and I feel like my life is over if I’m already getting dentures. Is there another option for me?
Patty
Dear Patty,
The Best Dentists Try to Save Your Teeth
I’m going to tell you right off the bat that this is not going to be the best dentist for you. Some smiles are high maintenance. You can do everything right with your oral hygiene but they still end up needing a lot of work. Just as teeth vary, so do dentists. You have some that will just not want to put in the effort to deal with your smile. Others will make every effort to save as many teeth as possible.
My first recommendation for you is to get a second opinion on whether or not these two teeth can be saved. It may be you will not even need to worry about a tooth replacement. For argument’s sake, though, let’s say the teeth cannot be saved. Your dentist was under an ethical obligation to give you all the options available to you — not just the easiest for him.
There Are Other Tooth Replacement Options
Removable partial dentures are probably the worst option for you. If we want to go to the other end of the spectrum and tell you the best option, I would recommend dental implants. These are like having a healthy natural tooth in your mouth again. Though, they are pricey and surgery is required because they place a prosthetic root in your jaw to mimic your natural tooth. You’ll also want to find a dentist with post-doctoral training in dental implants because it is quite an advanced procedure.
If you decide that is out of range for you, the next best option is a dental bridge. This will suspend a false tooth between two dental crowns. Of course, that means the two adjacent teeth will have to be crowned, but if they happen to need work anyway, they may be a great option for you.
Find a dentist willing to put in the work and give you all your options.
This blog is brought to you by Duluth, GA Dentist Dr. David Marion.