One of the options we discussed in ‘I have a root canal- now what do I do?‘ was to have the root canal tooth properly removed.
If you have chosen to have your root canal removed, then this is the follow-up article for you. Of course, this article also applies to anyone who is missing teeth for whatever reason. Today, we’ll share with you what we see to be the relative risks and benefits of the several options you can take if you have missing teeth. (And if you’ve been told you need a root canal, be sure to check out our article “The 3 questions to ask your dentist about root canals” and get your copy of our FREE eBook, the OraWellness Guide to Safe Dentistry.)
From our current understanding, we see that a person has five options if they are missing teeth.
We will go through them one by one and discuss the risks and benefits associated with each option.
Our intent is to assist you in gathering the information necessary to make a wise choice within the larger context of helping you navigate to greater oral health and total well-being.
Before we jump into your options, it’s important to consider what tooth or teeth are missing. We will offer any information we have regarding which options may work better for molars vs. front teeth as we walk through these options.
The Principle Of Use It Or Lose It
In order to do this subject the justice it deserves, we need to introduce a principle that is applicable to the subject of missing teeth.
First, we use the term principle to mean a law that is inescapable. Think gravity.
Whether or not we intellectually understand the law of gravity, it continually has an impact on us, every moment of every day.
The principle we want to bring to light here is called: ‘Use it or lose it.’ Like all principles, ‘use it or lose it’ has far-reaching applications.
For example, we lose our cognitive ability if it is not used properly. Perhaps this is why many elderly find enjoyment in exercising their mental faculties through crossword puzzles.
If we do not use our muscles, they will deteriorate.
If we do not maintain the range of motion of our joints, the body will calcify around the joint to accommodate only the range of motion we regularly use.
Our ability to focus our eyesight diminishes unless we exercise our ability to focus our vision at various ranges.
Another example of ‘use it or lose it’ is in maintaining bone density. We know that bone density will diminish if not used appropriately. So, the simple movement of a body weight squat to stress the long bones of the legs is an excellent exercise to maintain bone density as we age.
This principle of ‘use it or lose it’ is also directly applicable to the jaw bone. If we do not stress the jaw bone, the density of the jaw can diminish. Chewing on teeth anchored in and around the jaw provides the optimal way to stress and exercise the density of the jaw bones. You will see as we walk through the options below how our ability to stress the jaw bone changes with the various choices one has if they have teeth missing.
If you are being told you need a root canal or are looking for a new dentist, it’s really, really important to have some solid questions to assist you when interviewing your dental team. Our eBook, the OraWellness Guide to Safe Dentistry, provides some well thought out questions to assist you with this situation. Download your FREE copy of the OraWellness Guide to Safe Dentistry here.
Your Five Options If You Have A Missing Tooth
Option 1: Do Nothing
The first option we see is to do nothing. As Robert Gammal (one of the experts we interviewed in the HealThy Mouth World Summit) put it so eloquently in his Aussie accent, “There’s nothing wrong with going ‘gappy’.”
While we appreciate Dr. Gammal’s willingness to make light of such a situation, having a missing tooth over time may cause some trouble. That’s because teeth are placeholders for one another. If a tooth is missing for a prolonged time, other teeth that are adjacent to or opposite from it (think top to bottom) may shift and change the bite.
More proof that we can’t address one part of the body without affecting the whole system! When we have a missing tooth, then our other teeth can move, thus impacting the bite of that whole side of the mouth.
Another drawback of doing nothing is that you will no longer be able to stress the jaw bone at the location of the missing tooth. This results in an increased risk of losing bone density at that site. Depending on what tooth is missing, doing nothing can compromise one’s ability to effectively use that side of the mouth for chewing.
Clearly, another application of ‘use it or lose it’ suggests that we must chew on both sides of the mouth if we want to keep our teeth and jaw bones strong, healthy and functional.
On a positive note, doing nothing means that you aren’t introducing any crazy, potentially toxic materials into your system. Another positive to doing nothing is that the area will be easy to clean around, something that can become an issue with the following options.
Option 2: Traditional Bridgework
For years, conventional dentistry has encouraged traditional bridgework as the ‘go-to’ answer for a missing tooth. Despite the fact that bridgework has been a common solution for years, we are not particularly keen on this for several reasons:
It’s important to understand the general idea of traditional bridgework. (We apologize upfront to any dental professionals if we misstate the technical aspects.)
In traditional bridgework, the teeth on either side of the gap are ground down to ‘posts’ in order to attach the fixed bridge.
One main issue we have with traditional fixed bridges is that if either of the two anchor teeth become compromised, you don’t lose one tooth – you lose the whole bridge.
What’s more, the anchor teeth must be compromised by radically stripping away much of the outer tooth structure to prep for the bridge. It should be no surprise then that we’ve heard numerous stories from our community about this exact situation occurring.
Once one of the two anchor teeth become compromised, the person is faced with the situation of losing three teeth–or essentially their entire chewing capability on that side.
Another challenge of traditional fixed bridges is the ability to clean under the bridge.
You can’t easily floss the area around a bridge. So how is someone expected to be able to disrupt and disorganize the thug bugs in the gum pockets all the way around the two anchor teeth?
If I had a traditional bridge in my mouth, I know an oral irrigator (think Waterpik or Hydro Floss) would be my ‘go-to’ tool to maintain healthy tissues around those anchor teeth! You simply cannot clean around or under a bridge easily. Oil pulling could be very helpful here, though it’s not a comprehensive solution for this issue (feel free to download our Ultimate Oil Pulling Guidebook here).
Now, let’s go back to the ‘use it or lose it’ principle. With a bridge, the jaw bone under the bridge is not going to get exercised.
Finally, you are essentially asking two anchor teeth to do the work of three teeth with a traditional bridge. Asking an already challenged tooth (from the stress of being prepped to carry the bridge) to do half the work of another tooth is a lot to expect.
What are the upsides to traditional bridgework?
You have a full chewing surface! Though not perfect, that’s plenty to celebrate!
If you have a traditional bridge now, do everything you can to maintain healthy gum tissue around those anchor teeth. You may want to check out our HealThy Mouth System to gain the knowledge and tools you need to care for potentially deepening gum pockets around those anchor teeth.
Option 3: Implants
I don’t think it will come as a surprise to any of you that we are not fans of implants. I remember hearing about implants many years ago; I have felt intuitively ever since that something just didn’t make sense about the idea.
With an implant, the dental specialist places a post (most commonly titanium) into the jawbone at the site of the missing tooth. After they determine that the post ‘was accepted’ by the body, then a crown is placed on the post.
Several issues surround this subject of implants.
Dr. Hal Huggins told us in his interview at the HealThy Mouth World Summit that there is trouble anytime metals in the mouth interact with microbes in the mouth. (You can watch our interview with Dr Huggins here for free.)
Dental metals in the wonderfully microbially diverse ‘perfect petri dish’ of the mouth tend to compel the thug bugs to adapt–and thus produce atypical toxins. This is big trouble as the body is forced to combat new toxins that can add increased stress to our immune system. (While titanium does oxidize more slowly than other dental metals, it is still a metal, and as such could be problematic.)
There is a lesser-used material for the implant screw which does offer more promise. Zirconia, the crystal created by superheating the metal zirconium, is no longer a metal; that means it is not going to activate with the thug bugs to produce atypical toxins.
However, I would like to see more research demonstrating how successful zirconia implants act over decades before I would personally consider this as a viable option.
Another obvious downside to implants is the cost. The average cost per tooth is 4K to 6K.
The good news about implants is that you do activate the jaw bone by chewing on that surface. This puts you on the right side of the ‘use it or lose it’ principle. You will also have full functionality of that chewing surface, as well as a placeholder to keep other teeth from shifting in the mouth.
Option 4: Composite Bridgework
This is an interesting alternative to traditional fixed bridgework.
Many dentists can now build a ‘bridge’ out of composite resin materials (the same materials the tooth-colored fillings are often made from).
The main upside to composite bridge work is that the two anchor teeth won’t be ground to posts.
The dentist simply builds off of the adjacent teeth with composite materials to fill the gap.
While not the perfect solution, a composite bridge does offer substantial benefits when compared to the other options so far:
~ It’s not metal, so there are no ‘metals and microbes’ issues.
~ The anchor teeth are kept in good condition and not compromised by grinding them to posts.
~ Unlike traditional fixed bridges, if one of the anchor teeth becomes compromised, you can still remove the bridge and keep at least one of the teeth.
Yet a composite bridge still isn’t the perfect solution, and here’s why:
You still have to address the issue of cleaning around and under the bridge, and you are still asking two teeth to do the work of three. I also wonder how strong these composite bridges are over time. Finally, you are not able to exercise the bone under the bridge.
If you would like to look more into composite bridgework as a solution, check out this video on the ‘Carlson bridge’. Dr. Ronald Carlson, a biological dentist in Hawaii, has a kit that he sells to dentists to educate them on what they need to build a composite bridge. Called the Carlson Bridge ‘winged pontic’, this kit is something your local dentist could purchase for you upon your request.
Our Personal Recommendations
If I were missing a front tooth, I would carefully consider having a composite bridge placed to span the gap. It makes sense that these composite bridges could be effective for front teeth, an area that receives greater importance in large part to cultural vanity.
I question the long term strength of composite bridge work for molars. On a side note, we have a friend who is missing several front teeth, from an accident, with a bridge across the whole span. He loves to bless the world with his beautiful smile! That said, a dentist friend of mine (whose work I trust) recently informed me that these composite bridges don’t hold up very well. It’s certainly a mixed bag…
Update: We received a comment from a friend and dentist, Dr. Paul Rubin (in that link, scroll down to find him), who shared that the Carlson Bridge technology isn’t the only way to go for non-traditional bridgework. You can have a piece milled either by a lab or in the office via CEREC technology and have that piece cemented into place. Thank you, Dr. Rubin for adding this piece to the puzzle!
Option 5: Removable Bridge
The last option we see to span the gap of a missing tooth is with some form of a removable bridge. There are several styles of removable bridges, and they have many names. A few of these ‘out of style’ options are removable partials, a flipper, and Nesbit.
As their names suggest, each of these options can be removed from the gap.
So, it’s easy to clean around them.
Each of these solutions would also help to maintain the space to avoid any changes in bite and teeth shifting. As they do sit directly on the gum tissue of the missing tooth, they may also put some demand on the jaw bone, thus working with our ‘use it or lose it’ principle.
There are some possible downsides to removable options. First, they may not fit well and can be uncomfortable. They would require that you be conscious when eating (which isn’t such a bad habit) as they are not cemented into place and could come loose while chewing. You would also have to be diligent about removing it after eating to clean around the space. (Don’t forget to be mindful as to where you put the removable bridge when you do clean the space!)
Perhaps the biggest challenge with removable options is finding a dentist who is comfortable helping you fit one. Removable solutions are very much ‘out of fashion’ in our high tech, implant frenzy dentistry culture of today.
Finally, don’t forget the material that a removable bridge is made from. We haven’t researched this in its entirety, but it appears that dental acrylic is commonly used, which isn’t the most benign of materials.
All this said, if faced with a missing molar, we would look closely into what removable solution would best suit the specifics of our need to fill that gap.
Update: One reader made us aware that removable partials should be made from clear acrylic. Partials that are colored contain potentially harmful components. Thank you, Kathy!)
A Possible Option 6?
Although we’re generally not fans of hoping that technology will rescue us from any given current mess we humans have created (it shirks our responsibility to live more responsibility), there is some hope that we will be able to grow new teeth from stem cell research. As we hear more about this possible option, you’ll be the first to learn about our findings! 🙂
We hope that this analysis of the various options we have found available to fill the space of a missing tooth will help you along your path to greater oral health and whole being wellness.
In our next article, we address the question: “My dentist says I need a root canal – what are my options?”
Please share this article with anyone you know who may benefit from learning more about all of their options when dealing with a missing tooth.
Helpful, Related Resources:
Ultimate Oil Pulling Guidebook [FREE eBook]
Guide to Safe Dentistry [FREE eBook]
Understanding The Issues With Root Canals, Part One [article]
“I Have A Root Canal. What Are My Options?” [article]
“My Dentist Says I Need A Root Canal. What Are My Options?” [article]
3 Questions To Ask Your Dentist About A Proposed Root Canal [article]
Is Thermal Imaging The Solution To Screen For Problem Root Canals? [article]
The OraWellness Guide to Safe Dentistry [free eBook]
Interview with Dr Hal Huggins [free expert interview]
I have a partial due to my 2 front teeth going bad due to meds, I really want only 2 front teeth , my back teeth are gone since teen yrs, what to do, I live in Johnson City TN, so I need a dentist here, I am a Senior on low income need help
Aloha Doreen,
Thank you for your comment.
Let’s see how we can help!
You might be interested to check out our article, “Helpful Resources to Find a Qualified Dentist to Assist You” and take a look at this list of IAOMT dentists in Tennessee.
Here are some additional related resources that you may find helpful:
Holistic Oral Health – “What’s the difference between biological, functional and holistic dentistry?”
7 Key Components of a ‘Dream Dentist’
How to find awesome emergency dental help while traveling
How to be your own oral (and whole body) health advocate
Feel free to contact us with any other questions, Doreen; we’re here to help. 🙂
Very interesting, I blindly followed my dentist’s recommendation for root canals and regret it, since 3 of four are now removed.
I am having a top and bottom plate made of cobalt . Hopefully these will not be troublesome
Would like to know more
Aloha Suzanne,
Thank you for your comment!
If you have specific questions or concerns, feel free to contact us with them here.
I hope that helps!
Aloha! : )
Very interesting, I am supposed to have a bridge fitted soon !
Love your article so much information that is really useful and helpful please continue to share your work
Hi,
Do you know anything about silicone partials?
I saw this on a dentist’s site from Romania.
Thank you in advance.
Ionela.
Aloha Ionela,
Great question!
We here at OraWellness aren’t medical or dental professionals, so we can’t treat, diagnose, advise, etc. Instead, what we can do is share information with you to help you become self-empowered on your journey.
Our general sense is that silicone is a pretty mellow material compared to many plastics used. Having said that, if we were going to use any device in our mouths regularly, we’d ask for a safety data sheet on the materials used to make the device and do thorough research on it.
We hope that helps! Aloha! 🙂
I’ve had my left premolar teeth removed because I thought it was an extra tooth and it was really bothering me (grew in behind my normal teeth). So, I get braces on and then it shifts my teeth to the left. I switch orthodontists, and new one recommended I remove the other premolar, plus 2 bottom premolar. Is this a bad situation? I’ve reading online and I saw that removing more teeth will narrow your arch, thereby reducing space for your tongue and cause your chin to rescind, basically giving your face a droopy look? How can this problem be solved? Please help.
Aloha Koby,
Thank you for reaching out to us.
We’re sorry to hear about your dental difficulties! We here at OraWellness aren’t medical or dental professionals, so we can’t treat, diagnose, advise, etc. Instead, what we can do is share information with you to help you become self-empowered on your journey. 🙂
If it were us, we would be wary of advice from a dental professional who advises extracting more teeth. While it is necessary to have teeth removed in some situations, it’s not always the only option you have. Here is a link to a resource that might give you some insight into finding a dental professional who will be able to explore more options with you: https://orawellness.com/helpful-resources-to-find-a-qualified-dentist-to-assist-you/
Also, in case it’s helpful, feel free to check out this article about How to Straighten Teeth Without Braces: https://orawellness.com/how-to-straighten-teeth-without-braces/
I hope that helps!
Aloha!
I have no top teeth at all. Consequently my top gum has almost totally gone.
Can you tell me if there are any affordable options available to me. I am a 72 yr old disabled pensioner with low income
Thank you
Dear Veronica,
Thank you for reaching out to us. We’re sorry to hear of your circumstances, yet we’re honored to support you however we can.
Depending on whether you have any lower teeth or not, it is possible to get financial support to get an upper denture fit for you. Not having any upper teeth is a real challenge.
We strongly encourage you to learn and practice the strategy we call ‘finding home for your tongue’ which supports the maintenance of your dental arch and airway.
More info here:
How to Straighten Teeth Without Braces
Self-Empowerment for TMD: Using Awareness & Tongue Posture To Relax the Jaw & Mind
Also, if we were in your shoes, we would invest in a decent blender to make all sorts of smoothie-like meals. Without the ability to chew food, our concern is being able to provide enough quality nutrition to provide the nourishment to thrive.
We once worked with a young man who had lost all of his teeth from toxins he was exposed to while in the military. He shared that he would make hearty beef stews and blend them up to provide himself with the nutrition needed to be healthy without teeth.
We hope that this little bit of info helps you, Veronica. Please reach back out to us directly if you have any other questions. We are here for you. Take good care.
the link given for OraWellness Guide to Safe Dentistry doesn’t work. Please let me know how I can get this download information. Thank you
Aloha Jim,
We’re so sorry our Guide to Safe Dentistry download prompt was being cranky with you! Sometimes pop-up blockers or other browser security settings will prevent it from working properly.
In an attempt to help, I’ve triggered our system to send you the automated email with the link to view/download the eBook.
I hope that helps!
Feel free to holler with any questions, Jim; we’re here to help. 🙂
I had a root canal done and my tooth fell out I also have some cavities and teeth that’s broke off and I’m waiting on my insurance to come in I don’t have the money right now but I would love to get it fixed and I need some help on the right dentist I don’t know if I want to play I think I rather have this studs if anyone can help me I seen this a dentist that is with payment plans or a way to set up something please contact me.
Aloha Rebecca,
We’re so sorry to hear about your dental and financial difficulties! We here at OraWellness aren’t medical or dental professionals, so we can’t treat, diagnose, advise, etc. Instead, what we can do is share information with you to help you become self-empowered on your journey. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s see what information we can share to help. 🙂
We have zero affiliation with CareCredit, LLC; however, we’ve heard that the healthcare credit card they offer can help people finance expensive medical / dental treatments.
In case you’d like to check it out, here’s our main article that explains how to find a dentist: Helpful Resources to Find a Qualified Dentist to Assist You
Since you mentioned you have some cavities, you may also like to check out our free eBook, ‘How to Remineralize Your Teeth’. We’re confident that you’ll find some helpful insights in this eBook about how to improve your oral (and whole-body) health.
Finally, here’s some info on root canals:
Here are a couple of articles on root canals that you might find helpful:
I Have a Root Canal – What Are My Options?
“My dentist says I need a root canal. What are my options?”
It’s our understanding that a big issue with root canals is that some dentists leave decaying tissue or don’t use proper techniques to kill off the bacteria before sealing the root canal. This decayed tissue and/or bacteria left under the root canal filling then has the perfect environment to continue to decay the rest of the tooth and create infections that can go undetected for a long time, since there is no longer a nerve in the tooth to provide pain as a signal that something is wrong and needs attention.
Ideally, if we get any dental work done (filling, crown, root canal, tooth extraction, etc.), we try to find a dentist who uses ozone in their daily practice, as ozone gas provides a much greater capacity to thoroughly cleanse the tooth than strictly liquid-based cleansing solutions. So, ozone gas can really help to ensure that there are no lurking pathogens that might be trapped in the area. Our blog entries, “3 reasons why you want your dentist to use ozone in their practice” and “I Have a Root Canal – What Are My Options?” explain more on this.
In the meantime, here are the rest of our resources on root canals, in case you’d like to check them out:
Understanding the issues with root canals
The 3 questions to ask your dentist about root canals
Is Thermal Imaging the Solution to Screen for Problem Root Canals?
If you sign up to receive our Healthy Mouth World Summit for free, you can listen to an interview included in our Summit with Dr. Robert Gammal titled, “Dangers of Root Canals, Solutions if you Have One, and How to Avoid Root Canals Altogether!” that may contain some helpful information for you to consider.
Also, here’s a podcast from the IAOMT that discusses some different ways to approach and think about root canals: Regenerative Endodontics & Controversy Over Root Canals
I hope that helps! Aloha!
I’m terrified of dental work!
Is it ok to ask for full Novocain even just for cleaning?
Aloha Marlene,
Thank you for your comment.
We’re sorry you’re terrified of dental work!
We here at OraWellness aren’t medical or dental professionals, so we can’t comment on what is an appropriate application of Novocaine. We suggest you ask a qualified dental professional about Novocaine. Here’s a link to our main article about how to find a dentist.
You might also find it helpful/interesting to read through our article, How to use essential oils to reduce dental anxiety and pain.
Aloha! 🙂
Thanks. Intelligent article
Ugh, how depressing. I usually come to your site just to order the great products from your store. I’m a very longtime customer. I try and avoid your articles haha. Even though they are very well intentioned, and I agree with them, all dental articles and the so called solutions are so depressing. I definitely have dental ptsd. So many terrible experiences with many dentists over the years. Until these medical and dental schools start changing their teachings we are victims. Food definitely, by my total change of diet,I would say made a 90% difference in my teeth. Stress is the other major factor that wrecks havoc. That’s a hard one to conquer. But thanks for the great products.
Aloha Susie,
Thanks for your comment, and thanks for being a very longtime customer! 🙂
We’re so sorry to hear that you have dental PTSD. 🙁
However, we’re glad to know that changing your diet made a positive difference in your oral health.
Please know that we’re here to support you as you continue to cultivate good oral and whole-body health.
I have a root canal I want to know what are my options
Aloha Masabata,
Thank you for your comment.
We here at OraWellness aren’t medical or dental professionals, so we can’t treat, diagnose, advise, provide consultations, etc. Instead, what we can do is share information with you to help you become self-empowered on your journey. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s see what information we can share to help. 🙂
Here are a couple of articles that you might find helpful:
I Have a Root Canal – What Are My Options?
“My dentist says I need a root canal. What are my options?”
It’s our understanding that a big issue with root canals is that some dentists leave decaying tissue or don’t use proper techniques to kill off the bacteria before sealing the root canal. This decayed tissue and/or bacteria left under the root canal filling then has the perfect environment to continue to decay the rest of the tooth and create infections that can go undetected for a long time, since there is no longer a nerve in the tooth to provide pain as a signal that something is wrong and needs attention.
Ideally, if we get any dental work done (filling, crown, root canal, tooth extraction, etc.), we try to find a dentist who uses ozone in their daily practice, as ozone gas provides a much greater capacity to thoroughly cleanse the tooth than strictly liquid-based cleansing solutions. So, ozone gas can really help to ensure that there are no lurking pathogens that might be trapped in the area. Our blog entries, “3 reasons why you want your dentist to use ozone in their practice” and “I Have a Root Canal – What Are My Options?” explain more on this.
In the meantime, here are the rest of our resources on root canals, in case you’d like to check them out:
Understanding the issues with root canals
The 3 questions to ask your dentist about root canals
Is Thermal Imaging the Solution to Screen for Problem Root Canals?
Here’s a link to receive our Healthy Mouth World Summit for free. I’m sharing this resource because there’s an interview included in our Summit with Dr. Robert Gammal titled, “Dangers of Root Canals, Solutions if you Have One, and How to Avoid Root Canals Altogether!” that may contain some helpful information for you to consider.
Also, here’s a podcast from the IAOMT that discusses some different ways to approach and think about root canals: Regenerative Endodontics & Controversy Over Root Canals
Finally, a good dentist is a dream for answering questions on stuff like this. Here’s our main article that explains how to find a dentist: Helpful Resources to Find a Qualified Dentist to Assist You
I hope that helps! Aloha! 🙂
Hello wanted to know how much would 2 missing tooth’s will cost
Aloha Jacquisha,
Thank you for stopping by. 🙂
We here at OraWellness aren’t medical or dental professionals, so we can’t treat, diagnose, advise, etc. Instead, what we can do is share information with you to help you become self-empowered on your journey.
It may be worthwhile for you to work with a qualified dental professional who could assess your current oral health needs and develop a treatment plan to serve your needs. A good dentist can be hard to find, but once you find one, they can be a dream for answering questions like this.
This article explains how to find a dentist: Helpful resources to find a qualified dentist to assist you
Here’s a helpful tip: if you find a holistic practitioner (doctor, chiropractor, nutritionist, etc.) that you like and respect, you can always ask them who their dentist is or if they know of any dentists that they approve of in your area. It can also be helpful to Google reviews on the different holistic practitioners, dentists, and organizations that you encounter so you can see what kinds of experiences other folks have had with them.
I hope that helps! Aloha 🙂
Thank you Will and Susan for the information on options when a tooth/teeth are missing. I found this very helpful, particularly because I am always looking for healthy options.
I have missing tooth infront
Could you go into more detail about the problems with acrylic? I have been wearing a mouthpiece for sleep apnea for several years. Also, I had a failed root canal removed due to infection and the molar behind it is going to have to be removed due to a horizontally cracked root. Sigh. So I will be looking at a two tooth gap. Sigh, again. You mostly talk about solutions for a one tooth gap. Do you have any thoughts on this?
Hi Susan,
I hear your frustration with a two tooth gap. If I were in your shoes, I’d be looking into what is called a ‘flipper’. Yes, it’s acrylic (I believe) and it’s the best option from our view for a multi tooth gap.
I hope this helps!! Please keep us posted if we can be of any other service.
I need to do so.ething soon with my teeth price is a big problem
DIOS les bendiga. Gracias por compartir tan importante informacuión
I just lost a first upper premolar on Monday & think I’m in shock 🙁 Never realized losing a permanent tooth would be this emotional.
I hardly had any cavities before my 30s. Then I went through a period of severe depression when I could just about get myself out of bed to go to the toilet, but wasn’t able to properly care for my teeth.
Once I got myself to the dentist again, I still only had a couple of new cavities that needed filling, but then also this one tooth where a massive cavity had formed between the teeth completely without pain & without me noticing it while flossing. I had to have root canal treatment on it, and afterwards, it always felt quite tender & fragile so I learned not to bite down with it.
Now I suddenly got excruciating pain in that tooth & an emergency dentist discovered it had somehow cracked all the way through. She said there was no way to save it & out it came.
I’ve been crying about it ever since & feel like I never want to open my mouth to speak again, let alone smile or laugh. In a way I’m lucky in that I can afford to have it replaced straight away, but as I’ve been reading about my options, I feel like there are only bad ones. I hate the idea of having metal drilled into me, but also the thought of paying for something that won’t last. I’m also terrified after reading about bone loss, changes in facial structure, premature aging, other teeth shifting… Want to fill that damn hole asap but don’t know what with.
Guess I just needed to vent. The emergency doc got me an appointment with a prosthodontist in a couple of months, hope he’ll be able to help me decide. All my love to anyone having to deal with tooth loss, it truly sucks 🙁
Hi Anna, I just posted a question for the first time! Your post caught my attention because I also had a large cavity that caused no pain, so I was completely unaware of how bad it was. I have not had a history of problem teeth and now I feel like the left side of my mouth is going down the drain! I just wanted to let you know I understand how you feel.❤️
I just had a failed root canal removed, and a bone graft placed. The oral surgeon has recommend Chlorhexidine rinse. However, I want to know if there is a safer, more natural option and wondered if the healthy mouth blend would be a good alternative to that. I read it is to reduce bacteremia (or bacteria entering blood stream), but I don’t want to deal with the potentially permanent side effects to using this mouthwash, nor do I want to wipe out my normal mouth flora. I’d appreciate any advice. Thanks!
Aloha SJ,
Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Regarding Chlorhexidine, we here at OraWellness are very particular about all things we put into or onto our bodies, so we formulated our products without fluoride, glycerin, alcohol, or other questionable ingredients that are commonly found in oral hygiene products. Chlorhexidine contains glycerin and alcohol, which can be problematic.
Some researchers have concerns that glycerin coats the teeth like a car wax would coat a car, inhibiting saliva from coming into contact with the tooth enamel (saliva is the body’s main mechanism for tooth remineralization). So, oral hygiene products with glycerin may prevent your saliva from touching and remineralizing your teeth.
And alcohol dries out the mucous membranes in the mouth, which reduces saliva production.
That said, look within for guidance and feel what’s right for you. All the technical info in the world doesn’t come close to asking within and waiting for an answer.
The HealThy Mouth Blend can indeed be used as a mouthwash (simply add a couple of drops to a shot glass of water and swish with it instead of mouthwash).
Here’s a blog entry that explains the role of each ingredient in our HealThy Mouth Blend, here’s a video that explains the different ways to use the HealThy Mouth Blend, and here’s a link to our HealThy Mouth Blend FAQs, in case you’d like to check them out.
I hope that helps!
I lost my lateral incisor, I am planning to brace. Is it okay to have braces?
Aloha Ella,
Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
We’re sorry you lost your lateral incisor!
We here at OraWellness aren’t medical or dental professionals, so we can’t treat, diagnose, advise, etc. Instead, what we can do is share information with you to help you become self-empowered on your journey. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s see what information we can share to help. 🙂
You may be interested in checking out this article and video: How to Straighten Teeth Without Braces
You may also be interested in checking out our interview with Dr. Mike Mew if you’d like to dig deeper and go beyond the conventional strategy of just using appliances to make teeth straight.
It might also be worthwhile to look into some alternative orthodontic treatments.
One option might be ALF (Advanced Light Force) orthodontics. We don’t have any personal experience with it, but a customer brought it to our attention. We did a quick Google search on it and found that, at a glance, it looked like a promising, more gentle alternative to braces.
Another customer brought up an orthodontic treatment called SOMA. Again, a quick Google search tells us that it also sounds like a promising alternative to braces.
And another option to consider might be Myobrace, a pre-orthodontic treatment that originated in Australia. We haven’t done a lot of research on this yet, but again, at first blush it looks promising, and we have heard good things about it from some folks whose children have tried this method.
It’s my understanding that no matter which option you find and end up choosing, it’s important to make sure that orthodontic treatments are done slowly and with gentle pressure over time, because treatment schedules that are too aggressive can result in issues like tooth root resorption. I’ve heard that resorption might occur more frequently in cases where the patient had braces for several years or when they were on a super aggressive schedule and the orthodontist applied a bunch of force to move the teeth quicker. So, slowly and gently seems to be the key.
A good dentist can be hard to find, but once you find one, they can be a dream for answering more questions on stuff like this, and they might even be able to recommend an orthodontist who has more alternative options to offer. Remember that these professionals are here to serve you, and you can choose who you are willing to work with.
Here’s an article that explains how to find a good dentist: Helpful Resources to Find a Qualified Dentist to Assist You.
I hope that helps! Aloha 🙂
I have lost my bottom back bridge which was attached to a back molar which is bad and has to be removed. So now I do not have anything to attach a bridge too. My dentist tells me I should have 2 implants. I will go talk to a oral surgeon. Do not know what else to do. Cost is a factor.
Aloha Sharon,
Thanks for stopping by.
That’s a challenging situation for sure.
If we were in your shoes and we felt uncertain about a procedure that was being recommend to us, we would get a second professional opinion from a different dentist. Sometimes a different dentist will have different options to offer.
For help finding a good dentist, feel free to check out our article, Helpful resources to find a qualified dentist to assist you.
We hope that helps!
Aloha!
Hello thank you for you article. My problem is I have the front bottom tooth lose.And is from childhood since I was born with it ,and am 20 years now in university and can not even smile with my peers, what can be best for me ? Which one to fix.
Aloha Benedicta,
Thanks for stopping by.
We’re not medical or dental professionals, so we really can’t say for sure.
However, here’s an article that can help you find a good dentist who can help you evaluate your options: Helpful resources to find a qualified dentist to assist you
We hope that helps!
Hello
Thanks for sharing this wonderful blog that helps lots of people. Its very simple & easy to read.Please post some more blogs related to “Deep Dental Cleaning Service In USA”. It will be really helpful for those people who want to reinvent their beautiful smile and restore the functionality of the teeth .
Thanks & Regards.
RE: Zirconium Implants are amazing! I had more than one tooth pulled which made a bridge impossible. I found an incredible dentist in NYC (Dr. Gause of Smile Design), who is an expert in zirconium implants (also teaches at Columbia University). Some believe that the metal implants act like negative acupuncture. All teeth relate to various part of the body (search map of teeth connected to organs for more on this). While zirconium is accepted by the body as if it is a tooth. I got my first ones in 2013. And they are incredible. No issues. And so comfortable knowing they aren’t metal. That said, I’ve been told that the dentist must have the knowledge not just how to to insert them, but how to treat them later. Meaning, if anything happens to an adjacent tooth, the dentist needs to know how to treat the tooth with the knowledge that the adjacent tooth is a zirconium implant vs. titanium. When I’ve gone out of town, my dentist has advised me to let him know if I have any issues so he can find me a dentist trained to handle this type of “tooth”. In any case, I feel so blessed to have found this option. And, now so blessed to have found OraWellness!
I leave in Westampton NJ and I want to know if you know of a dentist near me that can do a composite bridge
Thank you for this helpful summary that is in line with my dentists advice. It has given me confidence to make a suitable choice.
Hello, I am really glad to have found your website. After spending alot of time researching the internet on missing teeth solution, you are the only one I encountered that does not agressively push the implant solution on to the readers. Also, the very first time I hearc of reversible solutions for teeth gap. I also share your caveat on permanent, irreversible denistry solutions as implants or traditional bridges. Not only because they involve sacrificing healthy tissue or hidden risks (implants) but also for the simple logical reason that they are irreversible and, as techonolgy will surely progress in the future, people who have undergone such procedures will not be able to benefit from stem cell research or other similar less invasive techniques. Having said that, I will concentrate on finding the removable bridges you suggested. I am missing molars 3 and 14 on the jaw. As I know these are very important molars. Extraction was about 16 years ago. I might have been lucky, but did not notice and major shift either in the rest of the jaw teeth, neither in the antagonists. That might be because I continued to chew on both sides on the sites of the missing teeth, even if that slightly grazed the gums with some rougher foods. Also, I still have all my wisdom molars fully functional, with no cavities and I use them extensively to chew. I guess I am one of the people in the website who chose the do nothing option. Now, thanks to your article, will start researching for those removable solutions who look pretty appeling to me because they give you full control in handling the gap and the cleaning orocess.
I am looking forward to further articles that involve a more natural, holistic approach to dentistry!
Thanks, for the information, it is helping me make a more informed decision, and I do need to make a decision especially since I have several missing teeth, Charles
This was a very VERY informative article and I thank you people a lot for writing this. You have clearly distinguished between the disadvantages and advantages and outlined all the available in the the most understandable way to a commoner. After reading all this, I am quite keen on getting an implant for my missing first molar tooth, I’m 17, do you think this is a wise idea?
The information is very helpful. I have three amalgam fillings and one has a root canal. I am considering extraction of at least a lower molar and upper premolar. The root canal was on the second incisor which is also amalgam filled in the back.
The upper premolar is so densely filled that extraction may be a better option to refilling with composite. I really look forward to the interview on stem cell research.
Thank you for your work on this subject.
Hello, this is a great site. I would like to know if anyone has heard of any break through in stem cell tooth regeneration.
Aloha Sam,
Thanks for stopping by to ask. We are working on arranging an expert interview with the world’s leading expert on stem cell research in dentistry. Stay tuned and cross your fingers! 🙂
Thank you so much for all the Information, I’m not sure what to do, I had a root canal done many years ago in the front tooth, went to the detest he had to pull it, but then made me a complete removable bridge,top and bottom because I had other teeth missing, I’ve tryed wearing them, so much pain, what would you suggest just for the front tooth replacement I can’t thank you enough for your time please advise me what to do
Thank you for this great article i wish i have come across of this article sooner, i had a broken tooth due to a fall (the front tooth lateral incisor) and its broken into very small part and the dentist said it’s beyond the stage of filling that i have to remove the teeth and replace with removable teeth because i’ve started pain whenever i drink anything hot or cold and since i’m feeling self conscious i had the tooth removed yesterday and replace with removable one now i’m feeling uncomfortable with it and i can’t talk properly and felt there is something in my mouth when i’m eating and i don’t know what to do please i need help on this.
Thanks for this article. So what exactly or specifically is the alternative to the Carlson Bridge that Dr. Rubin is talking about?
Great question Kathy.
Let me see if I can get him to come over and answer that himself!
This is great article. Helped a lot. I also have two molars extracted. Result of years of bad advice I got from my dentist and poor treatment. What do you think about everstick solution for molars or other teeth? This is something new that my dentist in Croatia is suggesting and I am researching.
Thank you for the informative article! I lost a tooth on the lower left side of my mouth to internal resorption in 2005, and now the one next to it, which was root-canaled that year, has failed and needs to be extracted. My traditional bridge will be removed, and my dentist is advising me to get two implants. I am not thrilled with the idea due to the fact that I have autoimmune issues (endometriosis, internal resorption), and would prefer to go the route of a partial denture. I am, however, concerned about bone loss. My dentist says that only an implant can stimulate the jawbone. In your article you mention that a removable bridge works with your “use or lose it” principle, which I find very encouraging. How much stimulation does a removable appliance actually provide in comparison with an implant?
I bought an inexpensive “thermoform” tray (aka “boil and bite”, the kind that will become form fitting around your teeth after placing it in hot water for 15 to 30 seconds) to use with remineralization gels/creams. In my opinion it’s too thick to use with remineralization gels/creams, especially because those gels are expensive and these trays aren’t precise enough to keep the gel on your teeth (I ended up using double the amount to still get most of it on my gums instead). But it’s thick and sturdy enough that I can do a thorough chewing motion with a lot of force while soft enough and with enough cushioning that one won’t damage teeth with it.
I started doing this recently after noticing some gum recession in my front lower teeth. This is pretty disheartening, as the front teeth are so easily accessible I never expected problems there. I know my flossing technique is good, I also use a Waterpik frequently, brush thoroughly but gently, etc, and while I have some problems reaching the back molars I was really disappointed to see this gum recession in the front. In any case, it got me thinking about how there are very few foods I eat regularly that really work the jaw and demand a lot of pressure or vigorous chewing motion. I’m hoping this “exercise” routine (it really does seem to work the lower jaw/face muscles) with the thermoform tray helps prevent further bone loss in the upper and lower mandible. This tray has lasted a few weeks so far with no apparent sign of wear, and it’s similar to inexpensive sport mouth guards which can be found at most drug stores or online for only a few dollars so I have no problem replacing frequently as needed. Too early to tell if this will help much, but it can’t hurt. Might be worth a try for people having problems with bone loss around the jaw.
You mention that removable bridges commonly use acrylic. It’s my understanding that all natural tooth colored fillings are also acrylic based. It’s a substance called BIS-GMA. They also add Trace Metals (e.g. cobalt, gold and copper) to give color to the glass while zirconium and titanium oxides add opacity. Composites are basically plastic and as such bring along all the problems that plastics present. Michael C. Goldman DDS. says the following: “Composite restorative materials are made from a mixture of ingredients where bisphenol Aglycidyl methacrylate (bis-GMA) is the major component. BPA is a critical starting material used to manufacture bis-GMA and many other methacrylates used in sealants and bonding materials.” My twenty year old composite fillings are starting to look really strange with metal threads appearing on the surface. As Dr. Goldman says: “there is no dental material known that has no known or suspected toxic potential! They are ALL potentially toxic to some degree! But some are much worse than others.” One study found the presence of BPA in the saliva of those who had just received fillings/ composites. This should be strong motivation for those with no fillings to really take care of their teeth to make sure they never have to resort to such a drastic procedure. A procedure that we now look at as normal.
I just wanted to share that I have had a ceramic implant for two years or so (tooth #30) and it feels great. I have just had tooth #31 taken out–both 30 and 31 had large onlays performed at the same time and the teeth both failed within a few years of each other. I am thinking of a second ceramic implant in order to retain chewing ability on the tooth above–the gap aesthetic does not bother me too much in the back of my mouth. If there are any updates, I’ll post!
Aloha Mike,
Thank you so much! We all would love to be able to learn from your experience!!
We look forward to reading your update if you have more new info to share with our community on this.
Aloha!
This is super helpful, thank you! In time I may have to do something about lower front teeth that are not strong, but using your methods and oil pulling twice a day, everyone is healthier than ever and hanging in there. I was trying to do some advance thinking, though, so I’d have an idea what to do when (if) the time came.
Looks from the comments like lots of people are in the same boat! Thanks so much for helping all of us to feel better.
Aloha Patty,
Thank you for stopping by and leaving your ‘love note’ here letting us know you appreciate our work. Truly, you taking time from your busy life to let us know our work helps is such a gift to us!
Thank you!
I had an emergency extraction about 2 months ago that was kind of traumatic and has left me feeling like I made a big mistake. I was away from home taking care of family and panicked when I found myself in a lot of pain. I found this dentist who’d see me right away. I had an infection in a fractured root under a bridge so the dentist cut the bridge out and removed the tooth; now I have 2 missing teeth in the back. I still haven;t had a bone grafting (that’s what the dentist said I need next) because I didn’t want bovine or cadaver put in. I’m feeling this big gap now and am worried about losing bone back there but I can’t get a bridge because there’s no second tooth to hold it, right? I hate the idea of an implant too. What can I do?
Thankyou so much for this article…
People love my smile .Today i lost my tooth ( first premolar) .I am 25 year old girl. I am very sad today. I keep my teeth clean but don’t know why my teeth are so weak. One of my friends told me that it’s the side effect of iron medicines which i take for Anaemia. I don’t know what’s wrong with my teeth?
Hello, Will great job. Very comprehensive post with details information. Thanks for sharing and devoting your valuable time. Have good day!
I had a tooth extracted on the top left side (a molar) and now I need a molar on the bottom left side extracted. What would be a better option for me? I’m not too sure about implants or bridges. And I’ve never heard about ‘flippers’ or ‘nesbits’ before. Would those be an option for me?
Firstly, I completely agree with a previous poster’s comment:
“This is the best exploration of options I have found yet on the web, for those of use looking at what to do after an extraction. I find the tone of the writing pleasantly neutral, and the assertions tempered by good logic. Thank you for your information!”
Next, my question:
I have an upper back molar with both dentist and periodontist agree needs to be extracted due to bone loss. The periodontist helped me try to save the tooth 1 1/2 years ago with a bone graft. He said at the time it was “iffy” but could last 2-3 years. Although I had insurance coverage at the time, I do not now.
Periodontist has presented 3 options.
1) Simply have tooth extracted ($195) and let it be. He explained that there may be some “quality of life” issues to deal with, but didn’t seem too concerned based on location of tooth and general health of my teeth (although dentist has remarked about clear bone loss in other places – I am 67yrs old, so perhaps not so uncommon). 2) Along with extraction do a bone graft ($800) to give me time (18 months) to decide whether quality of life is too affected, and facilitate ease of implant. 3) Extraction plus implant + crown (4K?)
I’m now researching whether there are additional options – i.e. still possible to save the tooth? is extraction in a tooth in that position at this age potentially a bad thing? etc.
I’d appreciate any information or opinion that you’d care to share.
Thanks for sharing updated information with us. Keep it sharing with more dental tips.
I only just came across this. Lynn please note mercury (Hg) is the only metal in liquid state and silver in colour. But the substance used is an oxide of mercury (HgO0 which is indeed red in colour .
R
Chemist & Chemical Engineer
Thank you very much for this article! I am 31 and have a root canalled tooth that I would like to have extracted. I really don’t want an implant or bridge, but the tooth can be visible when I smile, and i don’t want any gap to be visible. I am considering the removable flipper, but I don’t like the idea of maintaining it and being dependent on it. This is quite a difficult decision!
In your experience, is it common for teeth to shift if you leave a gap?
Have you had patients who have had a good experience with a flipper?
Thank you so much again for this great article!
Aloha Anita,
Thank you for stopping by to ask such great questions.
Yeah, teeth shift unless they have a reason to stay put. This applies to adjacent teeth as well as the opposing tooth from the gap. Thus, flippers do provide the ‘space holder’ necessary to help maintain alignment of all the neighbors.
Yes, we have many stories from customers through the years who chose the flipper over a ‘permanent’ option.
I hear you on having to maintain a flipper. The same maintenance goes for any option, whether it’s a natural tooth, a bridge, implant, whatever. We still have to care for that region. At least the flipper allows you to remove it, clean it and the area well, then put it back. The same ease of cleaning certainly doesn’t apply to implants or bridges.
I hope this helps!!
I just lost the second molar in on the bottom, right side due to a failed root canal. ♡ I was very sad to hear my tooth was just destroyed -taking nearly an hour and a half to remove. I’m 47 and was devistated by hearing it had to be removed. I’m not sure what to do but appreciate the article. I have a cap on the last tooth, same side and grateful the lost tooth is my only root canal.
Aloha Tracy,
Thank you for sharing your story with us here. We understand the grief and loss involved with permanently losing a part of our body. We can trust in the body’s wisdom. A healthy system will pretty commonly ‘reject’ a diseased tooth for the health of the whole body. I wouldn’t be surprised if any aches or pains diminish in the coming months.
Thanks again for sharing!
My daughter 17 yrs old lost her front tooth #11 during a fall. Dentist suggest putting braces and move the tooth beside to become the front tooth and touch up to make it look like a front tooth. This method doesn’t require her to put implants. What are the complications in the future? Is this a common way for those who havent do their braces?
I’m sorry to hear about your daughter’s fall.
This is a new idea to us. It kind of makes sense in a way. There are potential long term problems with moving teeth with braces, especially if the distance needed to move is great. You see, the jaw bone is really compromised when teeth are moved and we have to really let the jaw restabilize while moving the teeth. Kids with braces trying to keep their gum line clean can cause loss of bone tissue in the jaws if they are overzealous with their cleaning.
Please let us know if you go this route and how it goes so we can all learn from one another.
Thank you!
This is the best exploration of options I have found yet on the web, for those of use looking at what to do after an extraction. I find the tone of the writing pleasantly neutral, and the assertions tempered by good logic. Thank you for your information!
Aloha,
Thank you for sharing your perspective and leaving a comment.
My 2 back teeth are badly decayed, and I’m 23 so I don’t know if I will receive that much help from the dentist. I don’t know if my Medicaid will even help me cover for it. I feel like dental should be apart of healthcare insurance, but that’s not the problem. I was wondering if anything on that list could help me out? What’s going on right now is really affecting my speech, and it’s lowering my confidence for when I go to job interviews and have to talk to people, I am ashamed to even open my mouth and talk sometimes. Please help me out.
Aloha Anesha (that sounds pretty together! :))
Thank you for reaching out to us.
Please know that there’s hope. Despite how it can seem that there’s so much trouble, you can always, always make positive changes to your oral health. It’s tragic that you are uncomfortable opening your mouth dear. Let’s get you some resources that will help you along your path to greater oral health.
Here’s a link to a free video tutorial series called ‘the 5 steps to a health mouth’ that will help.
Also, here’s a link to an article that I ask you to read.
We’re here to help Anesha. I hope these get you headed in a more positive direction where you will bless the world more often with your smile!
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Oh dear. I have three root canals and so far, I don’t know of any issue with them but I have been reading about all the potential issues down the road, including breast cancer, which is common in my family.
I work as an actress and acting coach so I really do wish to not have a gap if possible, but of course my health is the most important thing.
Have you writer at all about having an ultrasound to detect inflammation? And do you think an ultrasound would pick up most possible potential issues?
Since there doesn’t yet seem to be a great option for filling the gap, I’m not sure if I should go ahead and have the root canals removed.
What would you do?
And do you think having an implant is safer than having a root canal? (One of the teeth is back molar.)
Thank you so much for the important and wonderful work you do and for the place from which it comes.
Warmly,
Sarah
Hello, i had my first molar on the right side removed 7 years ago. this year the one next to it cracked because the excessive chewing,. i didnt have insurance therefore, i couldn’t save the tooth now they are both missing. i thinking if a double bridge is an option. i need some kind of replacement. implants are quit too costly. am i left with no option or do i still have some kind of hopes. i dont smile and always cover my mouth so that space dont show which is hard to hide being that its the first molar. please help me . i have an upcoming appointment with my dentist, but afraid he might not provide any hopes for me.
Aloha Chelsea,
Oh Sweetheart, I’m sorry to hear your story. It’s tragic to us when we hear that others aren’t smiling as much as they want because of less then thrilled feelings about the look of their smiles. It’s such a loss to the planet when you don’t smile.
I agree with you that implants are pricey. The problem as I see it is you’re dealing with the space of two adjacent teeth that are molars. I really don’t think that trying to bridge a gap of two molars is wise. I’m definitely not the most knowledgeable on this, so if a dentist is reading this and thinks it can be done, please reply here so both Chelsea and I can learn.
There are options of removable spacers that can function to both hold the space so other teeth don’t shift and offer some cosmetic benefit. They are called ‘flippers’ or ‘nesbits’. I’ll warn you now that these removable solutions aren’t in fashion currently. Most dentists really push for implants. But you should definitely be able to find a dentist who is willing to fit you for one of these solutions. That way, we all here in the world get to benefit from you smiling more. Show the world your smile Sweetheart. The world needs more people smiling! 🙂
We hope this helps you along your path.
This was by far the most informative site I found while researching my options regarding a root canal removal. The root canal itself looks to be ok but the cap or crown was done improperly and now it needs to come off to see if there is decay there as it looks like there would indeed be leakage. I have had consistent minor health issues for years that could not be answered. I will be getting my root canal removed but am wondering how the root portions that have been stuffed for over 10 years will heal. Any info on that?
Thanks so much for this site!
Aloha Norma,
Thank you for stopping by to share your kind words of support with us.
Your question about how the space where the root canal tooth currently sits will heal is a great ‘forward thinking’ question and one definitely worthy of consideration.
Please go into our blog and read the articles on wisdom teeth. While I realize your root canal tooth may not be a wisdom tooth, the first article we wrote on this subject details a not often discussed dental issue called a cavitation. In that article, you may find helpful information regarding what to look for in a dentist to help make sure that when you have the root canal removed, the space is properly cleaned up to provide the best healing opportunity.
We hope that helps. 🙂
I read on another site where someone had the 2nd to the last back tooth extracted and then wore some type of retainer, or brace for 3 years to move that back tooth forward filling the empty space. That is the same tooth I need to have extracted so I was wondering what you might know about this procedure? Thank You for this very informative article!
Aloha Robin,
Thank you for reaching out to us. We haven’t researched this idea but it makes sense that one could use retainers to reposition a tooth to help fill a gap. It would have to be a slow process to just ‘nudge’ the tooth slowly to the position you want it to fill.
Perhaps we will research this and write on it! Thanks for the idea and for stopping by to ask.
As dental implant placement concepts change, we should all be aware of the clinical implications of studies, what causes implants to fail in some patients while others have been successful.
I am in a complete quandry about an infected root canal treatment. I just read your response about boosting your immune system, and have also read about the dangers of having it out. On the other hand the thought of what leaving it in could be doing to my system is scary too (i have developed various symptoms of all over pain and skeletal colapse since I had it done,but they could have been on the cards anyway…..) I am 60, and am commited to looking after myself in as holistic a way as possible.
Thanks for your work, I am so please to have found you.
Aloha Anna,
Thank you for your kind words of support. We are honored to serve you in this way. Remember to please take any reading on root canals gently as stress itself is so unhealthy. We hope that the info we share helps you along your path. 🙂
I lost one of my front teeth and chipped the other because of a fall. I had a root canal recently on the chipped tooth. My self esteem is low because of the missing tooth. back teeth on one side is missing so my face looks older than it really is, i Can’t afford implants.My IDK what to do. Any suggestions.
Aloha Robin,
Thank you for reaching out to us.
Given that it’s a front tooth, I suggest you look into a composite bridge to fill the gap. While they aren’t as strong as implants, composite bridges provide us a way to span the gap of a missing tooth without the potential risks of implants or compromising adjacent teeth as in traditional bridgework.
Dr Ron Carlson has a patented kit that your dentist can purchase from him and place in your mouth. If you google Carlson Bridge you should find it. I think there’s a link in this article above. 🙂
I hope that helps!
In the end, what matters is that we feel good. So, I completely understand and respect your desire to repair this. I’m sure it’s tough to have a missing front tooth. There’s hope. Keep on shining your Light!
Hi,
Thanks so much for the great synopsis of options! I was wondering if the same would be true of wisdom teeth? I’m extremely worried my face has changed after removal and am considering getting dental implants to remedy the damage. What are your thoughts on this?
I have a front crown that is over a root canal that is getting loose and my dentist says my only options are a bridge (remove the root) or a implant. I have looked into both of those, and neither of them seem like a good option. Any suggestions on what I should do? Thank you.
Aloha Sandi,
Thank you for reaching out to us.
I do have some suggestions. First, find a dentist that will offer you all the options available. There are more options than the two you mention above. Many dentists these days gravitate toward these options as that’s what they are being taught as the ‘standard of care’ for this situation.
Find a dentist who help you feel through the pros and cons of all the options. Make sure that whoever you go with knows how to really clean out the socket well if/when you have the tooth removed as not cleaning it sufficiently can cause problems later on under the gum tissue. To learn more about this, please see our article titled ‘the common, unknown risk of having wisdom teeth removed’
This article will explain the importance of finding a dentist who understands the risks of doing an extraction without taking extra steps to insure that the site is fully cleansed properly.
I hope that helps you along your path! 🙂
My husband has 17 root canals! And 3 implants. I feel overwhelmed by this. We don’t live in a city that has a biological dentist. Have you any information for someone who has so many root canals? This would be removing most of his teeth – yikes~! :/
Aloha Anita,
Thank you for reaching out to us. I’m sorry that I don’t really have any suggestions given your husband’s current ‘location’ on the path. I would say that some people’s immune systems seem more able to handle the stress that can be caused by root canals. And for that matter, some root canals are done ‘better’ than others. So perhaps he doesn’t have to lose his teeth. That said, given that he already has 3 implants, my guess is his system doesn’t like some of the previous work already done.
Hmm, I’m sorry. Sometimes I don’t have a great answer for a comment that comes in. I wish I did!
I would encourage him to keep an eye on his immune system. Perhaps check out our recent article on using thermal imaging to help screen for problem root canals?
I hope that helps! 🙂
I’m waiting for stem cell therapy for teeth. In the meantime, I think I’m going to get Snap on Smile, which is a non invasive temporary solution. I like it because it’s non invasive. Will, have you heard of this? Thoughts?
I am waiting with you and we are not the only ones. I am also thinking about the snap on smile. Hope it works out for you. Update to let everyone know your progress.
I had (2) single dental implants, with grafting in both.
I was not given any antibiotics when the teeth were pulled and grafted.
I started getting an ear ache, a couple of months, after the actual implants were drilled into the bone grafting. Tons of facial pain, and eye and temple headaches!
I went to my primary care doctor and he said my ear ‘was not red”.
It persisted and I was going to fly.
I went to a walk in clinic. They referred me to an ENT, because they said; “it is not red.”
The ENT called and asked me if I had dental implants and of course I told him, yes.
He replied; “I think your implant is the problem, call your dental surgeon.”
I left him a voice mail and never heard back.
#5 failed 2 months later.
Now, I have a loose # 4 and he tried to “re-do” # 5, but said: “it did not go so well, not sure how its going to turn out. See you in 3 months.”
I am pretty angry. Be careful if you go down this road.
I left nothing out of my health history. I have Hashimotos.
He said I still was a “good candidate”, if I got the bone grafting.
I did not think dental grafting would fail, because I made it known, the fusion in my neck had “failed” and they were not concerned.
If I had known that, I never would have spent $13,000.00, for one dental implant, since he made it seem, the second try was “doomed”, as well.
(who knows if the second one he did will last?)
If you get an ear ache, that does not “look red” from the outside looking in, it may be a sign, your implant is failing.
Wish me luck~
Aloha Kristine,
Thank you SO much for sharing your story with us. I’m so sorry to hear the challenges you’ve been through. In some weird way, I feel that stories like yours will go down in history as some type of ‘casualties’ from the dental community not being fully aware of the whole body nature of dentistry.
One challenge with this subject is objectively determining what options one has based on our current location. This is not always easy as some options may be out of fashion in the dental community (one example of this is removable partials in this age of ‘implant frenzy’).
We wish you well on your journey. We are here every step of the way with you. Please feel free to holler if you have any questions that we can help with.
Thank you and Aloha!
has anyone heard of this? Electrically Accelerated and Enhanced Remineralization (EAER). As the name implies, a small electrical current allows calcium and phosphate to remineralize the tooth, protecting against decay. It is supposed to be here in about 3 years.
more info here http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/new-treatment-effectively-reverses-tooth-decay-could-make-dentists-drills
Aloha Kathy,
Yes we have! In fact, we wrote about this emerging technology a while ago too. It’s very promising for sure.
Here’s a link to our article on the subject.
Thanks for stopping by to offer your input here! 🙂
Having missing teeth could really be bothersome. Tooth loss also causes some psychological problems such as depression and low self esteem, which is why giving us these options could really be helpful either by having traditional fixed bridges which could have positive effects on aesthetics but could compromise the health of the 2 anchor teeth, having dental implants which can be a permanent solution but could really be quite expensive or the composite bridgework which can really look natural and does not harbor microorganisms. It is still best to consult your dentist which of these choices can be suitably perfect for you. http://www.xpressdentalclinic.com
Thank you for stopping by to offer your expertise.
We completely agree with you. There are no ‘right answers’ when it comes to deciding how to navigate this challenging terrain of whether to have a tooth removed or not. Agreed. Always best to consult with a professional.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi
I have a missing molar and my dentist suggested that transplanting my wisdom tooth into the place of the missing molar could be an option. What do you thing could be the possible negatives?
Thanks
Aloha Geniya,
I have never heard of this procedure. I really don’t think that dentistry is at a place where they can remove a tooth from one location and place it in another. While I could be wrong, I’ve yet to hear of this protocol. Are you sure they aren’t suggesting an implant in place of the proposed tooth to remove?
Thank you for a great read. I was born with a missing last molar on the bottom left jaw. The upper molar right above is slowly erupting. Multiples dentists have suggested implants in the missing space except for one who said to just let it erupt and live without the last molars on top and bottom. What is your take on this ? I am a huge fan of your website and of your stance against anything artificial.
Aloha Ann,
Thank you for your kind words of support! Yeah, this isn’t a real easy question as you know. As you would guess, we aren’t fans of implants in general. It seems that if a person really wants an implant that zirconia implants offer greater potential when weighing the risks and rewards.
However, another option is to exercise the principle of ‘use it or lose it’ by putting something like a rolled up paper towel/washcloth in the space and putting demand on that tooth that is erupting. By putting pressure on it regularly, you could essentially tell it ‘I want you to stay there.’ While it would take regular application of this since you don’t have an opposing tooth to do the work naturally, it may provide you a way to keep the tooth.
At this point in our research, if I were faced with your situation and I didn’t want to apply this simple strategy we just offered, I would opt for allowing it to erupt so long as it didn’t compromise the health of any other teeth in the process.
I hope that helps! 🙂
Thanks again for stopping by!
Wow I was really hoping for a clear path but I see that doesn’t quite exist yet. I’ve had my root canal redone once to clean out an infection (luckily my health was never compromised, but I’m sure eating 100% organic and exercise helped offset that) and the crown in place is starting to need a new one. From a crown, is another crown (I think it’s in the 1-1 top middle position so a major tooth!) the best option from this above advice? Obviously I will be asking for any and all options other than a metal post if it comes to that..
Please expound on bone loss from going with option #4 or 5…..
Aloha,
Thank you for reaching out to us here. We are honored that you want our opinions on this subject…
Essentially, our understanding is that like every other body tissue, bone tissue also must abide by the Law ‘Use it or lose it’. You see, any tissue that we want to keep healthy and functional must be used. This is as true for brain tissue and crossword puzzles for elderly people as it is with muscle tissue to maintain muscular strength.
This same Law applies to bone density. The problem with having a tooth removed or with a fixed bridge is that the underlying structure for that tooth (the jaw bone in that location) isn’t being worked. So, without being worked out, the bone tissue in that area is more prone to demineralization.
This is why we prefer the idea of a removable appliance to fill the gap. The removable bridge or ‘flipper’ as some are called in dentistry, will not only hold the place of the tooth (thus reducing the risk of adjacent teeth migrating), but also will provide a surface to chew against, which will help to put demand on the underlying bone tissue.
Makes sense so far?
We hope this helps you along your path. As always, feel free to holler, we’re here to help. 🙂
I had a root canal done on my upper left back molar about 12 years ago. I am now having pain there. Just an achy throbbing pain that isn’t exacerbated by anything. It’s just there. Anyway, in reading some of your articles, it seems I wouldn’t be a candidate for a removable bridge because it is the back molar. I am not so worried about filling the gap as I am worried about my other teeth shifting. Would wearing some kind of retainer at night be an option to keep my teeth from shifting? Just an idea. Thank you for your time.
Aloha Leah,
Thank you for reaching out to us. I think your idea of having a retainer to wear at night is an excellent idea! It’s true that teeth can and do shift if they aren’t regularly supported to maintain their location. Also, keep on the lookout for an upcoming info product we’re producing to share about ideas how to maintain tooth position! 🙂
Thank you and Aloha!
Have you shared the information about keeping teeth from shifting? My grandson lost a molar, and I am very interested in information about preventing loss of bone density and the shifting of other teeth. Thank you. I greatly appreciate your sharing of information to help us keep our mouths, and consequently our bodies, as healthy as possible.
Thanks for the great details and options. I have a front tooth missing and it looks like the idea of removables appeal to me, but all the experiences I am reading about are molars. Do anyone one has a good suggestion for a missing front tooth and approximately how much it will cost me. The surrounding tooth are in great condition but do not want the bridge
Thanks
The last molar on the bottom kept popping off so the dentist said he’d just pull the tooth because there wasn’t enough to reattach it. He never said there was an underlying probem. I have a new dentist that I needed to see because the molar next to it,(which has a root canal)also had the crown pop off. What are the questions that I need to be asking about WHY this is happening? The dentist said he could save this tooth and replace the crown, however I want to know what the causes may be that two molars have popped off and if it would be better to pull this tooth
I found your article to especially helpful for me. I had a root canal years ago and decided to have my front tooth capped. The dentist suggested having both of my front teeth done “to match”. I decided to do it and it was the worst mistake of my life. The dentist prepped the other tooth, essentially killing it. I had temp caps in place for 2 weeks and was in so much pain. I ended up with another root canal and a dead tooth in front. One year later I was biting into a banana and my front tooth broke off. The dentist failed to place a post to assist in holding the cap in place. I was refunded my money and had a “flipper” made. I am looking at a bridge, spanning three teeth to give me a front tooth, and I am terrified. What if another tooth dies in the process…..never mind the $4000 price tag attached. An implant is cheaper but that idea scares me as well. I don’t mind the flipper for now but sometimes I absolutely hate wearing it. When I am home alone I take the flipper out but I cry every single time I think about it. What can I do? I mean it’s a vanity thing…..a front tooth….but the cost is so outrageous for anything other than what I currently have. I feel like I will never be able to fix something that a dentist caused. The composite bridge looked interesting but finding a dentist where I live might be a difficult task. I would love to find a dentist willing to think outside of the box and take a different approach. I feel as if our dental procedures are black or white with no gray area. I await your feedback.
Everywhere in internet where i read, says only implant can prevent jaw bone loss. Is this true?
What is about alveolar bone and stimulating it?
Not in our opinion.
Thank you for the great info. I got my upper molar extracted years ago because of which i was unable to chew from that side,and my jaw became more developed from the other side (the side from which i used to chew) as a result of which my face became asymmetrical. Can Molar implant help me in building chewing capability so that symmetry of my face can be restored?
Aloha Danish,
Thank you for posting with us. I think you bring up a very important point here. It’s critical that we continue to chew on both sides of our mouths, even if we are missing teeth on one side. Otherwise, we may find ourselves in a position of being ‘imbalanced’.
We are not fans of the idea of implants for several reasons. We tend to apply what is called the ‘precautionary principle’ toward new technologies. While you may say that implants aren’t that new, we still consider the jury being out regarding their long term safety and efficacy.
What about just chewing on that side anyway? In this way, you can maintain activity on both sides, which directly supports any existing teeth to remain in the right alignment for use. Make sense?
We hope this helps you along your path Danish.
Aloha!
For the poor woman chewing on ice. I did this also in my early 20’s and when having children and I needed iron!!! I hope she will see this and get checked for this and hopefully will help her stop this need. I actually had geritol — not to suggest any one product– but it did save my life when I almost bled to death after a miscarriage.
thanks so much for the informative information, I have severe Ehler Danlos and am losing all of my teeth it is awful…thanks
Aloha Kathy,
Thank you for posting your experience for the benefit of anyone who comes across your story!
We wish you well on your path.
Aloha!
Thank you for this article. I just had a tooth removed today since it broke down to the bone it was not enough to put a crown on. I was so sad about losing a tooth at such a young age and worried about having a gap. The dentist only gave me implant as an option to fill the gap. There is no way this single income teacher wife, mom of two could afford that so I was going to just deal with it. Now I know I have some options. Thank you!
Aloha Tawnya,
Thank you for sharing your story with us! We are so glad that our article helped you see options that exist that your dentist didn’t make available for you. It’s an unfortunate reality that modern medicine only offers whatever options are currently in fashion and not show the patient the palate of options available.
Thank you and Aloha!
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Please help. I am only 29, have had serious degeneration with my teeth in my teens and onward (lots of fillings), having children has completely depleted them in the last 4 years. I am trying to figure out my options for the worst quadrant of my mouth. Bottom left, 18,19,20,21 , 18 was pulled after a root canal because not enough structure for a crown(first ever pulled, sad day) 19 and 20 are canaled also and 19 has very little structure left but not enough budget for three crowns back to back. Dentist is questioning if 19 would withstand a crown.
These teeth are falling apart, I chew ice constantly and am starting to loose chunks, I need something done I just don’t know what would be my best option for those 4 back teeth to give a usable and healthy mouth. That also doesn’t cost 20k but I am somewhat worried I will need to figure out a serious option.
Aloha Kristin,
Thank you for posting here. As you know, we can’t make any suggestions or offer advice of any kind. With that stated, I have heard many stories of people damaging their teeth chewing on ice! Given that you have identified that your teeth are fragile and not in the strongest shape they could be, perhaps stop your ice chewing habit?
We hope this helps you along your path, Sweetheart.
Aloha!
Craving ice is a symptom of an iron deficiency. Look into supplementing iron and see if cravings for ice go away
I saw your 5 steep for missing gap on your teeth.I like root canals for missing the gap.thanks for your nice advice .
I have been visiting a dentist regularly since I was a kid and I had recurring problems on my left upper molar. I finally switched to a periodontist yesterday and he told me that the bone loss is severe that I will need to have the tooth extracted and do an implant. O was devastated as I just saw my dentist half a year ago and he has never told me it was that serious. Is there a possibility that your product could help reverse the situation? The tooth looks fine now and is still usable, but it may be a tiny bit shaky. Pls advise if tooth could potentially be kept by using your product. Thanks!
Aloha Jeanie,
Thank you for reaching out to us. Your story sounds all to familiar to ours… Despite going to dentists her whole life, it wasn’t until Susan went to a new dentist who actually did thorough testing for periodontal issues where she was diagnosed with advanced periodontal disease.
The good news is with diligent care, even advanced gum disease can improve. If you have deep pockets, chances are that you will always need to manage the gum pockets around this molar. But given the option of an implant, I would highly encourage you to give our healthy mouth system a try. After all, the price of the system is less than the cost of one dental visit (with no work done mind you) and we offer a full one year guarantee.
FYI, at the dental appointment when Susan was first diagnosed with periodontal disease, she had 3 or 4 teeth which were loose. One year later, after caring for her own oral health diligently, she had NO loose teeth (as checked by the same dentist who diagnosed her one year prior). We have many, many thrilled happy healthy mouth system customers. We welcome you to become one of them and look forward to hearing your success story as well! 🙂
Thank you and Aloha!
Hi,
I have 2 teeth missing almost in the front.It’s not nice.I would like to get a tooth bridge.I’m unemployed and have an exemption card,but even though i have to pay £700.
Is there any way to not pay that much money?
Isn’t tooth bridge band 3 which is much cheaper then £700?
Thank you
Aloha Sona,
I’m confident that you could have a partial built for less than this cost you quote here. I’m not convinced that traditional bridge work is always the best option. Be sure to do your own homework on this one…
Aloha!
Hello! I just want to say thank you for all the great information you provide and have provided. I don’t know what I’d do without you!
Quick question though: You said your next article would be “My dentist says I need a root canal, what are my options?”. When is that article coming? Or did you post it, and I just missed it? Thank you!!!
Oops Laura,
You are right! We haven’t written this important article! Thank you for reminding us! I’ll see if we can create this and post it soon!
Thank you!
I got diagnosed with periodontal disease and I lost my bottom center tooth in the front. If I try your product will it help because I want to get braces but they told me I have to take care of the periodontal disease. Will it help.
Aloha Olimpa,
Thank you for posting here. If used properly, we not only believe that our products will help, we guarantee it! 🙂 At any point within a full year of purchasing any of our products, you can return them for a full refund (even if you have used the whole bottle!). Needless to say, we receive very, very few returns.
I do encourage you to check out our healthy mouth system. If you have periodontal disease (have gum pockets greater than 4mm deep), you’ll need specific tools and education contained in the healthy mouth system.
We hope this helps!
Aloha
HI, What is the name of these products? I have been diagnosed with Periodontal disease
If you are missing a tooth you want to sit down with your dentist and discuss what works best for you. Some procedures require that work be done to the surrounding teeth, and if you are suffering from decay or gum disease you might have to treat the underlying problems before you can actually replace that missing tooth.
I just wanted to say thank you for your articles. They have been very helpful for me in my journey with my teeth! I actually had my root canal pulled out (due to it getting infected and I read the Root Canal Cover up) the day before your post about root canal options if you have one. I was anxiously awaiting your article on what to do for the open spot where that molar tooth was, and am thankful to read about each of the options. When I go into various dentists offices they never explained to me the options like you have. It was always, implant is best then bridge. But good to know on the partial.
Thanks again!!
Thank you for your kind words Angela!
We really appreciate your support!
Aloha
Agreed entirely, Angela– this gift of lovingly gathered information is a lifesaver, and a stark contrast to even some of the kindest well meaning doctors who don’t go into detail. Some fundamentally don’t agree with alternatives to the harsher standard practices, while the worse dentists are butchers, plain and simple. (The stories my loved ones have gathered over the years would make your hair stand on end.) I echo your gratitude and also send you happy healing vibes while you journey without always finding the support from the professionals. Good luck with your teeth and with their care down the road! And thanks too for sharing your story. It is appreciated and helpful to others.
🙂
Very sincerely,
What is your take on Zirconium Implants? For reasons you mentioned above, I opted not to have a titanium implant. I asked my dentist if he would do one with Zirconium and after he researched it and learned how, he did one about 2 years ago. Now I am in need of 2 more. The dentist was very successful in using Zirconium.
Aloha Jeanette,
Thank you for reaching out to us. If implant technology is the best option in your life, then zirconium is the better material from our perspective.
Holler with any others.
Thank you and Aloha!
I chose the least invasive option of getting a “partial” for the four root canal teeth I had extracted. I am having issues over the fit. It is very uncomfortable to chew as of yet…4 weeks into the process. I keep getting it adjusted but so far I am not pleased. I don’t know what material it is made of but it I also get tired of having these things (an upper and lower partial) in my mouth.
Would love to hear from anyone who has had a successful transition to partials.
How has it been, as the years have progressed?
I have always had healthy teeth. However, I had a back injury that required surgery and one of my molars was cracked while I was sedated. Since I do not believe that root canals are a viable option to “save a tooth,” when it became infected, I had it removed. I came to read this with interest as I am considering an implant.
My husband has never had good teeth–he started having fillings and removals when he was still in elementary school. By the time he was in this early thirties, most of his teeth were either rotten, or gone. He still has his “first year molars” (the ones people typically lose around puberty) and they, remarkably, are still good. He has dentures that look like the removable bridge you have pictured and they latch onto those molars.
So, I am commenting regarding your option #5: the teeth the removable bridge surround are also “adjusted” to make a firm fit. A part of each tooth is notched so that the bridge clicks into place. Depending on the health of the tooth, the thickness of the enamel already there, and the skill of the notcher, it can be considered equal to the damage inflicted by the traditional bridge.
After reading this article, sadly, I am now considering just doing nothing…though that makes me worry that I will compromise the health of the teeth around the gap and (now) my jaw bone below.
Aloha Michelle,
Thank you for your comment here. Please know that we aren’t the last word on these subjects. If you are drawn to implant technology, then research it further. You are the boss and captain of your life. This is a very challenging subject to write about as there are no ‘right and wrong’ answers here. That’s why we feel such strength about helping folks like you to discern the pros and cons of each.
Holler if you have any questions for us Michelle, we’re here to help.
I read all the article and replies. THANK YOU. I had to have a molar removed. couldn’t save it. The tooth deteroiated. After extraction, saw that the root was in good shape. Now have gaping hole #14. Dentist wants to use metals with porcelain over on #11,#12,#13 – replace extracted tooth with pontif(fake tooth) #14, and #15 will also be part of bridge. So, #11,12,13/15 all have to be ground down. since most are juvenile teeth, don’t think this is good idea. Am looking at nothing until the area heals 100% and because I had radiation poisioning in 2016 from over-exposure of xrays/ct scans to find Cancerous tumor/removed. No cancer in body. still experiencing after-effects of poisioning. No more xrays of any kind for 1 yr. But am glad to read about other options which dentist didn’t let me know about. Nor discuss what he plans to do. Got invoice from insurance that they already paid him, and what they state I owe but nothing has been done yet – so they may have to get their money back. LOL. I have other options THANK YOU, and not letting him do anything to me further, is one of them.
wow, i feel like we’re still in the dark ages after reading this…
I have a deep filling in a jaw tooth. I experience pain everyday to a small degree. Specialist is trying to keep me from having a root canal. I have been able to stand it for about 4 years. Given antibiotics for 1-2 rounds to see if helps. Seems like it may for a very little while, then pain returns. Is there anything I can do to save my tooth and keep from having a root canal?
Aloha Sherry,
From our perspective, the only way to potentially save the tooth is to massively ramp up one’s immune system. This would require big changes for most folks regarding diet as well as really taking a good, hard look at one’s life and making lifestyle modifications to better serve your immunological needs. Stay tuned here as we plan to continue to explore these exact subjects in the coming months.
Interesting article on missing teeth. I was wondering if a flipper would work for me, my last molar on the bottom was removed last year. I’m 60 yrs. old.
Thank you for this article. I had my very back lower left molar pulled a few years ago. Since is the last one on that side, there is only one tooth adjacent to the gap. What would my options be in this case since the ones you present all involve an anchoring tooth on either side? I hadn’t thought of my bottom teeth all shifting or bone density problems developing.
Aloha Davinna,
Thank you for reaching out to us. If it’s a back molar, I think the only option is an implant for that particular tooth. I’m not aware of any other option given it’s the back tooth.
The shifting of teeth when one is missing is termed “mesial drift”, which means where a tooth is missing, the one behind it will tend to drift forward. The tooth can also tip forward, creating a deeper pocket on the mesial side (the most forward side) of the tooth. Where the missing tooth is the last one and the teeth are tending to drift forward(mesially), rather than backward (distally) there may not be much in the way of shifting. Of course there may be over-erruption of the opposing molar (the last upper left molar) should this gap remain open. Perhaps a dentist will comment on your situation.
Aloha Maggie,
Thank you SO much for stopping by to offer your experience here to Davinna! What a blessing it is for us to come on the blog and find that others so knowledgeable are answering the questions of others. WOW!
Aloha!
I have had to have the back two lower left molars removed, the very back had been a root canal and crown which only lasted a year, it was removed in January 2013 with a view to having an implant, but I can’t afford that; The one next to it had been filled various times over the years to the point where there was nothing more to be done to it and it was pulled, about 8 years ago. I had discussed having a bridge but with losing the very back tooth now, a bridge is out of the question. Do you have any suggestions????
Aloha Janet,
Hmm, nothing is coming to mind regarding how to address a lost back molar other than implant technology. Perhaps for some, doing nothing and waiting for stem cell research to develop more in the coming years is the answer. I really don’t know here, Janet. I wish we had the perfect answer for you.
Can we use braces to pull the teeth behind it into its place?
Yes, traditional braces can shift teeth around quite substantially.
Another great article in your series! Thanks for doing a thorough job. There’s a small comment I’d like to make. In “Option #4”, this type of bridge doesn’t really require a special “kit”, just the knowledge of how to do it. And it doesn’t have to be with composite. With the newer ceramics, and dental labs willing to work with them, these can be made with much more durable ceramics such as eMax and zirconia. These are much stronger, but still have their limitations due to the design. I’d only suggest them in anterior teeth, or where the “gap” is fairly short such as a missing bicuspid. Although I have replaced single molar teeth with this kind of design, the longevity hasn’t been great.
So, a dentist can create them at chairside using composite type materials, or can use stronger ceramics through a dental lab or with a CAD/CAM technology such as CEREC.
Aloha Dr Rubin!
Thank you so much for offering your very educated input here! We appreciate your professional perspective here big time! That makes sense that the ‘composite bridge’ we discuss in the article could be made with stronger materials. Very good point! What about any new info you are aware of regarding using this type of technology for molars? Do you see the same risks of traditional bridgework as we bring to light here?
Thank you again! Your voice is always welcome here!
Thank you for your great information, it is truly appreciated.
I am 55 years old and have two root canals with full crowns from ~ 15 – 20 years ago. One has acted up from time to time (infection) but now seems to have settled down. As I have learned more I swore I would never have another… Two years ago I developed a constant sore throat and pain in my neck behind my ear, after almost a year I finally went to the doctor, fearing the worst. The doctor said there was no problem, i.e. it was only in my mind, not physical, I even went for an echogram and was told ‘there is nothing wrong with you’. I lived with the pain wondering if in fact it was in my mind and relieved that I was told it was nothing…not cancer.
6 months ago following an overseas flight (air pressure?) I found myself in excrutiating pain and had to go to the dentist, a traditional dentist that I have gone to for 30 years. He immediately diagnosed that I had an absessed tooth and that this was the cause of the throat and neck issue over the past two years. He was correct. Of course his solution was a root canal. I had this done and also a crown as I just wasn’t mentally prepared to have the tooth pulled.
What I have learned from this is that it is important to source a natural dentist before an emergency as once the emergency occurs you need an immediate solution and a traditional dentist is going to take you down the path of root canals.
My comment is really just to let others know my story and if you have chronic throat/neck pain the first place to look is your teeth.
If I can ask a question – once you have an absessed root, is there a way to heal this without a root canal or extraction? I don’t believe you have ever presented a treatment to reverse this once it has occured.
Again, I thank you for your great information,
saluti,
Patricia
Aloha Patricia,
Thank you for sharing your story here so others can benefit from your experience. You are so right that anything going on in the head and neck could have a cause coming from the mouth.
Regarding your question about an abscessed root, we believe that one can get on top of the infection through system wide support. Really, the game is to essentially bring our immune response to such a high state that the system can get on top of chronic infections that have otherwise been in a ‘holding pattern’ for years. Make sense?
You’ll hear A LOT more about this from us in the coming months as it’s really the direction we are heading with our business. It’s frankly much more fun to write about solutions than root canals! 🙂
Thank you and Aloha!
Im in a bit of a undecided place. I had two teeth. Both molars. I am scheduled for an implant in October and after reading your article I am not so sure now. Due to reading about the who microbial issues with the titanium. While the implant will help me be able to chew much better on that side and I wouldnt need to be concerned with possible shifting I just don’t know what’s the best choice. Could u offer some more insight? Thank you.
Aloha Chanda,
I hear your challenge. This is really between you and the Creator. What I mean is you can only do as much as you can then turn your attention within and pray for guidance and trust that the right answer for you will show up.
I wish we had the perfect answer for you. Please keep us posted as you progress with your path…
Thank you and Aloha!
Now, that is some real truth and quite comforting. Great reminder, thank you.
I unfortunately will have to pull 3 root canals, 2 of which are infected on my FRONT bottom. THere is no way I will go without a more permanent solution such as an implant. You should do more research on zirconia over titanium. When I move ahead, it will be zirconia over titanium for me. I’d also advise looking at this issue as very grey. When I read all the info, such as Oral Wellness’s data, I realize they are giving all the options and the pros and cons of these options. It is scary reading it for sure, but it is not a black and white issue as it appears. Millions of people have breast implants, hip implants,…all sorts of implants and most are living a quality of life they desire. It’s always a risk to have a foreign body inside, but I think we need to weigh the potential risk and the likely hood of that risk with the quality of life and self-esteem you desire.
Christine, dd you get your implants? How are they working out for you now? I have been planning on getting one as soon as my last baby tooth falls out (yeah, I’m 28…).
I am 45 and still have a baby tooth! The one I lost years ago I regrettably got a fixed bridge for, which then had to have a root canal since he ground my tooth too much, and then the bridge came off later & had to be redone. I am considering having that root canal removed along with my amalgam fillings, just not sure what to do after having the fixed bridge removed. What have you done?
Hi. I’m a dental technician. I believe the zirconia option with wings attached to one other tooth, in the anterior region (front) is a good option (called Maryland bridges). The reason why we would use only one wing is that teeth move, usually differently, and so they would dislodge the bridge if it were fixed on both sides. There is a way now, to attach the zirconia wing to a natural tooth which couldn’t be done previously.
I had ALL of my back teeth pulled (upper and lower) plus over half of my front teeth
I had implants put in and bridged to other teeth and I traded in one set of problems.for another. All of my natural teeth I had left are broken, chipped, infected. My health has deteriorated, skin has had unexplainable, unidentified by any doctor rashes or bumps of sorts. I was recently told that the dentist that pulled 13 of my teeth in his office using just numbing agents (pure hell) and got away with over $10000 CASH (which was everything I had ) to ruin my life ….that the implants I have were done improperly and need to come out. So …unless you want to look like you are a drug user (and treated as such) and your appearance to dramatically reduce over X amount of time…do ur research before getting implants!
I really appreciate your taking the time to outline our options. I have a removable partial, but I would like to add that the acrylic around it is clear, not tinted pink as in your photo above. That is because mercury is used to tint it! Please advise anyone who is considering this, that only clear acrylic does not contain mercury.
Thank you so much Kathy! We will make a note in the article! 🙂
How did you find out that the pink in the Valplast partial is mercury based? My dentist, endo and perio all are recommending extraction of 4 teeth and a valplast to replace them. I am very interested in locating the validation for the mercury so I can request something else. Thanks SOOOO much!
Don’t let them pull 4 good teeth! Poor thing– all the best to you, but they sound so hasty and wasteful! All of those experts working together and none of them willing to point that out! My family and I experienced this repeatedly when orthodontists recommended (to several siblings) pulling teeth too (not wisdom but perm molars.. in some cases recommending pulling 2,4, even 6! We finally found ones that said it was totally unnecessary. It’s been 20 years and he was right.)
My sincerest we’ll wishings to you, Joyce,
Rt
I don’t think Kathy is right about the pink tint of acrylic being from mercury. I researched this issue when my husband needed to replace his upper dentures. What I read then is that the pink is from cadmium. Now cadmium is also toxic, but not nearly
as much as mercury.
It doesn’t make sense that mercury, a silver-colored material, would be able to tint something pink.
That makes sense. I never researched the toxicity of acrylic in general