I have a three tooth partial dentures toward the back of my mouth. I also have lost a front tooth. My dentist is having a hard time trying to match it to the teeth next to it. Is that passible? I’d also like to get porcelain veneers for a smile makeover, but am not sure if I can do that with missing teeth.
April
Dear April,
Let me answer the porcelain veneers question first, and then we’ll address the replacement on your front tooth. Yes, you can get porcelain veneers when you have missing teeth. The key will be going to an expert cosmetic dentist who can seamlessly blend your tooth replacements with the veneers on your natural teeth.
As for the replacement of your front tooth, the first thing I would do is decide if you like the current color of your teeth. If you are not, then the first thing to do is to whiten your teeth. That way, when you get your front tooth replaced your dentist can match it to the color you want.
A good cosmetic dentist can match a removable partial denture to the adjacent teeth. However, many general dentists do not invest in training on esthetics. Your dentist may be one of those and that is why they are having trouble matching it. You may want to find a different dentist to do that replacement if a removable partial is what you want.
A separate common issue with removable partials is that they have to be clasped to your teeth. Most of those have metal clasps, which can be visible in some way. You could get a Valplast partial (pictured above) which has a better way of blending in.
The best tooth replacement would be a dental implant, but they are significantly more expensive. How you handle all of this will depend on a combination of your budget and your goals.
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