Expert: Tony Appleton BDS DPDS - 11/18/2008

Question
Hi,

4 or 5 years ago my front tooth got knocked out and the other front tooth severely damaged. I had loads of root canal work and many, many appointments to help the one tooth that was fractured to heal.

Amazingly it has lasted this long but I started to notice the top of the tooth, where it joins the gum, was coming away from the rest of the tooth. Sort of splintering. So I went back to the dentist and he said that from the fracture down it is rotting away. ie, the tooth hasn't healed properly and I will lose it.

I partly expected this day to come but I am just wondering what my options are now? I don't want to end up with a massive gap where my tooth should be!!! I am only 26!!!

My dentist filled the gap up and said make an appointment later on in the year. He didn't really talk much to me about the options I have? I live in the UK and I am a bit worried this will cost me a fortune to have a new tooth.

Any advice on this would be much appreciated?

Answer
Hi J

Your options will be to have a denture, a bridge or an implant.  The denture is the quickest, cheapest and easiest - it looks fine but you have to remove it for cleaning etc.  A bridge is a false tooth attached to the adjacent tooth or teeth.  This is more involved and means removing healthy tooth tissue from the support teeth potentially compromising them further down the line.  An implant is the most realistic replacement where a titanium screw is placed in the jaw bone and a crown attached to it.  this is the most expensive option.

Costs vary tremendously, and if you are an NHS patient you will probably only be offered a denture.  A bridge may cost anywhere between £500 and £1500 depending on the design and materials used.  An implant will cost around £2000.

Regards

Tony Appleton