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Decatur, AL, 35601

Drake & Wallace Dentistry

A Dentist Should Give You All Your Options

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I’ve always been embarrassed about one of my front teeth. When I was younger it was hit with by my father’s lightsaber while we were playing. The older I’ve gotten the more brown it has become. I’m about to leave for college and really don’t want to go with an ugly brown tooth. My dentist said there isn’t enough root left to do much but I could get a dental implant. That is a lot of money and once I go to college I will be on my own. My dad has a habit of cutting off children once they’re out of high school. I will have to pay for this myself. Is there anything less expensive? This is the only thing my dentist mentioned. He’s been my dentist forever and he’s gotten a lot grumpier lately.

Lacey

Dear Lacey,

Illustration of a dental bridge next to a dental implant

I am sorry that you are having to deal with this on your own. That is a lot on your shoulders in addition to starting out at college. I’m going to say up front that I am not that impressed with your grumpy dentist. If you don’t have enough root left on that tooth, that is the result of root resorption, which can happen from trauma to a tooth. This could have been prevented had your dentist given you a root canal treatment when your tooth was first injured.

Also, he should have provided you with all of your options for dealing with this tooth, not just the most expensive. While it is true that a dental implant is the best tooth replacement option, it’s not the only option. Here are some other options he could and should have provided for you:

  • A dental bridge – On the image posted above, I showed a dental bridge on the left. This procedure will place a dental crown on each of the adjacent teeth then will anchor a false tooth between them.
  • A removable partial denture – This will take a false tooth and it will clip it to the other teeth.
  • A dental flipper – It is similar to a partial denture and the least expensive option. You can get one for just a couple of hundred dollars.

My suggestion would be to get a dental flipper while you are strapped for cash and then save up for the dental implant. Also, even if your college is local to where you are now, I think you should get another dentist.

This blog is brought to you by gentle dentists  in Decatur, AL, Drs. Drake and Wallace.