Dr. Cohen’s Implant Dentistry Blog

Bad fall caused the loss of 3 upper front teeth. Both canine teeth are there, but loose. Have had partial plate on sides. Two back molar are present but maybe iffy. What can be done?
- Kathy from Prince Edward Island

Kathy,
I don’t know the condition of your whole mouth, so I can only suggest some possibilities. You’ll have to get a thorough examination by a local dentist to know what to do.

Knowing that you already have a removable partial denture makes me wonder if you have some pre-existing gum disease that has caused the loss of some teeth already. That issue will strongly affect your choices. The loose canine teeth may or may not tighten up depending on the gum disease situation.

You are going to have two basic choices. You can have the additional teeth replaced with a removable appliance – either a partial denture or a complete denture. Or, you can have dental implants.

When you are missing many teeth, you can have a serious problem as your body starts to dissolve away the bone that used to support those teeth. Your jawbone then shrinks over a period of ten or twenty years until there is practically nothing left and you can’t wear a denture any more. This is the main advantage of dental implants over removable teeth.

Also, the more teeth that are missing, the more stress is placed on the remaining teeth, which causes them to deteriorate.

Also, the more teeth that are missing, the less stable your partial denture is, which means less chewing efficiency and often means that you have to restrict your diet.

Hopefully these are some helpful points for you to consider as you have your own dentist examine you and discuss your options. The removable partial denture will be considerably less expensive than the dental implants, but the implants will be much more comfortable and will restore your full chewing efficiency.

Also, it will be smart to check with any medical coverage you have. While most medical insurance excludes dental care, there is often an exception when it is an injury. I don’t know how your Canadian National Health Plan will treat this. In the States, my experience is that most medical insurance will cover dental expenses arising out of an injury like a fall.

I have most of my front teeth missing. I was wondering if implants would be an option. I’m wearing a partial, but I don’t like the part that fits over my palate. Are there implants that fit like a bridge without affecting the surrounding teeth?
- Roy from Texas

Roy,
When you’re missing most of your front teeth, it makes it difficult to replace the teeth with a dental bridge. A dental bridge has to attach to your existing teeth, and when the front teeth are missing, this puts an awful lot of stress on the back teeth, to have that leverage of your front teeth on them.

The two solutions are to do a removable partial denture or dental implants. The removable partial does attach to your existing teeth, but it also gets support from your palate, so there isn’t as much stress on the teeth.

Dental implants, however, could be the ideal solution. They don’t have to attach to any other teeth. They are anchored in the bone and feel and act just like your own teeth.

Other related topics:
Read about the pros and cons of a dental implant vs. a bridge.

I am 22 and I need 13 dental implants. The dentist says each implant will cost me $4000, and I just dont have that type of money. Do you know of any dental insurance companies that cover this type of cosmetic dentist work?
- Becky from Milwaukee

Becky,
I don’t know that I can answer your question the way you want, but I’d like to make a couple of points.

First, I’m  not sure I understand the idea that you “need” 13 dental implants. Are you missing all your teeth at age 22? I’m puzzled. And with any dental treatment plan involving replacing missing teeth there are always a variety of options. There are various degrees of stability that you would want in replacing your teeth, and so there would be choices as far as how many implants you would get. There are also options for removable partial dentures, and combinations of implants and partially fixed restorations. So there has to be more than one way for you to get your teeth fixed.

On the idea of your getting dental insurance to pay for your implants, if you think it through, that is pretty impossible. You’d be asking a company that exists for the purpose of making a profit to take your premium of $1000 or whatever it is and pay for your dental implants that cost $52,000. Ain’t gonna happen.

Related links:
Affordable Chicago dental implants