Toothless... please help!

[LiquidCosh]

OK so I have a 3 unit bridge across my front 3 teeth that started to come loose about 3 weeks ago, the next available appointment with the dentist wasn't until the 29th, no problem I thought I'll just glue it in with the stuff from the chemist. So of course it came off completely on Christmas eve (typical) and when I tried to get it back in I made a mess of it. I think the cement may have hardened in and be blocking the canal because it wont fit in any more.

It is really depressing and has ruined Christmas. My sister called and I had to sit with a scarf round my mouth. I can't describe how bad it looks and how embarrassing it is.

The emergency dentist at the local hospital is for pain relief only and won't see patients for cosmetic problems. I don't even know when my own dentist is open again so it looks as though I'm going to be like this for a while.

Any advice on how to clear the cement so that I can fit the bridge in again?

Re-reading, £1000!! No way could I afford that

Is it unusual MrsMorton? What would it normally be? Sorry to sound so clueless. It wasn't this particular dentist who did the bridge btw it was a private dentist done about 5 years ago now, I had a "smile makeover" and it cost £££££ so I'm very disappointed to be having all this trouble again. Her said he would check the roots properly at my next apt and then go from there. The £1000 he quoted was to replace the 3 unit bridge I have like for like I think provided my roots are ok.

I know BeHo I don't really have the money either, I'll have to borrow it from somewhere

How did the appt go BeHo?

Usual wisdom is not to hang anything off teeth with posts in as they are so weak. Options are different design of bridge, denture, implant.

Impossible to say without seeing you and x Rays etc.

Just make sure you find out what he thinks the prognosis is, £1k is a lot to spend on something that might only last 5 years if it would be better put towards an implant etc.

Feel free to pm me if you want.

Thanks so much MrsMorton I really appreciate your input. I will definitely ask him about the prognosis on my next visit because I definitely do not want to go through this again in 5 years time! A denture sounds really scary, are there better quality ones than others or are they all pretty much the same?

Just out of interest if my roots are fractured and I need a denture how much time would I have to save for implants before the bone starts to degrade?

Mmm, depends on so much. The bone can always be augmented afterwards even if it starts to resorb. Best to ask your dentist! youd have a couple of years at least.

My update too. It wasn't pleasant but I'm not gumsy anymore which is great. My dentist doesn't think the root is cracked, it's the gums which aren't great. She cut away a little bit of gum and re shaped the tooth on the crown to make it fit back in. Might not last long but I hope it sees me thought to January.

I just woke up - came home, took solpadol and went to bed.

Well at least we all have teeth again! So glad your root isn't cracked BeHo

That's good to know about the bone MrsMorton thanks for your offer to pm you I will definitely be picking your brain again if you don't mind after my next appointment once I know what's what