Crooked Teeth

Dental bridges and implants are two common solutions for replacing missing or damaged teeth.

• Dental Bridges: A dental bridge consists of one or more artificial teeth (pontics) that are anchored to adjacent natural teeth (abutments). This can be an effective way to fill gaps left by missing teeth and improve aesthetics. However, it requires the alteration of the adjacent healthy teeth to support the bridge.
• Dental Implants: Implants involve surgically placing a titanium post into the jawbone, which acts as a root for an artificial tooth. This option is often considered more permanent than bridges and does not require altering surrounding teeth. Implants can provide a very natural look and feel.

Both options can significantly enhance your smile but come with different considerations regarding time, cost, and invasiveness.

Before proceeding with either option, it is crucial to assess your candidacy:

• Bone Density: For implants, sufficient bone density is necessary to support the titanium post. If bone loss has occurred due to missing teeth or other factors, bone grafting may be required before implant placement.
• Oral Health: Good oral hygiene and overall health are essential for successful outcomes with both bridges and implants.

The Process Involved

The process for both bridges and implants varies:

• Bridges: The procedure typically involves two visits. During the first visit, the dentist prepares the abutment teeth by reshaping them to accommodate crowns that will hold the bridge in place. An impression is taken, and a temporary bridge may be placed until the permanent one is ready.
• Implants: The implant process usually involves multiple stages over several months:
  • Initial consultation
  • Surgical placement of the implant
  • Healing period (osseointegration)
  • Placement of an abutment
  • Final crown placement

Cost Considerations

Cost can vary widely based on location, complexity of treatment, materials used, and whether additional procedures (like bone grafting) are needed:

• Bridges: Typically range from $2,000 to $5,000 per unit.
• Implants: Generally cost between $3,000 and $6,000 per implant but can go higher depending on additional procedures required.

Both options have their pros and cons:

• Benefits of Bridges:
  • Quicker solution compared to implants.
  • Less invasive than surgical procedures.
• Risks of Bridges:
  • Requires alteration of healthy teeth.
  • Potential for decay under crowns if not maintained properly.
• Benefits of Implants:
  • Preserves surrounding healthy teeth.
  • Long-lasting solution when properly cared for.
• Risks of Implants:
  • Surgical risks such as infection.
  • Longer treatment timeline.

In conclusion, while removing front teeth for replacement with bridges or implants could provide you with a quick aesthetic fix without braces, it’s essential to weigh all factors including health implications, costs involved, recovery time needed, and long-term maintenance requirements. Consulting with your dentist will provide tailored advice based on your specific situation.

Thanks for this info, I came into this forum to ask the same question as the op so this was helpful. I was hoping it would be a more affordable option than braces but it seems to be just as if not more expensive,guess I will just have to learn to live with gawdy teeth 🙄

I will be keeping an eye on this thread as i have been looking for a thread on this topic and thinking of starting a thread on it).

I have prominent teeth. You will see a picture below of what my teeth look like now

25 years ago(when i was 15) I had braces for 6-9 months(treatment was to last 18 months) and my train tracks had to be reremoved half way through the Orthodontic treatment as they were making my short roots shorter and made my top teeth wobbly.

My teeth went back out due to not wearing my retainer(they were never fully straight and there was still gaps)

Now my teeth are not that bad but I want to improve there appearance.

As braces are obviously out of the question they are proposing to remove my top 4 teeth and replace it with a bridge.

I dont know yet if it will go ahead(I hope it does as I don't want gawdy teeth for the rest of my life. However it all depends on funding. ( the work is very expensive)

if anyone(dentist or anyone who has been through getting front teeth extracted and a bridge placed) can give me an idea of what to expect (is it painful? Do you have to avoid certain foods ? Are you sedated? Is it difficult to speak and eat after the procedure? What are the potential complications? Any drawbacks? I will ask my dentist these questions as well if/when i get funding sorted and I know it will go ahead but any advice info from dentists and/or patients who have been through similar would be great while I try to psch myself up to lose my top four teeth and sort funding out.

thanks in advance for any info and advice

Thanks for your reply.

yes I need alot of dental work apart from the bridge but didn't want to complicate things/derail the thread.

yes if this treatment goes ahead hopefully it will give me a smile I will be happier with. Not looking forward to losing my top front four teeth but I dont even know if it will go ahead. I hope it does(as you can see from the picture my teeth are not in a good state) but it depends on if I can sort funding out.

Will continue to keep an eye on this thread and see if any patients and/or dentists have any insight/advice

thanks again

yes I chose my user name as self denigrating humour. I meant to cause no offence to anyone with the possible exception of myself.

I am sorry for any hurt and harm I caused and for any offence I caused

it was my intention to be self denigrating not to cause upset to you or anybody

A bit of an extreme suggestion...

OP could request a name change if they want.

Thanks. Will lo

nowadays you don’t need the old type of braces. Other options are available Invisalign is quick and relatively painless. Also not that easy to spot when wearing. Having had horribly misaligned teeth (thanks Irish dentists of the past for horrific experience) I now have perfect gnashes thanks to modern dentistry. Ok it costs but doesn’t everything.

Personally, I would be very surprised if the Dental Hospital would stop a treatment plan just because the president's Medical Card expired while that treatment was ongoing.

The dentist in the dental hospital knows I can't afford the treatment so is not starting it unless he can get funding via the medical card for the treatment but as my medical card expires in September and is unlikely to be renewed the treatment can't go ahead

I am feeling down that I won't get my teeth sorted but am determined to accept the situation