Denture with one tooth on it?

[Bluebell66]

Following on from my earlier post re extreme sensitivity in my root filled tooth, I think it's highly likely I will lose the tooth. It is the next but one to my right canine.

Does anyone have experience of a partial denture with one tooth on it?

The thought fills me with horror, but I think it is inevitable.

TIA

You could see if you are a good candidate for a dental implant instead? (You need good bones and a full purse...).

Otherwise, a bridge might be suitable?

As Molly says, a bridge is a good suitable replacement which will be attached to the tooth next to it, and will be just about impossible to tell it's not real.

Thank you Molly and Sixties, does a bridge just attach to one tooth or does it have to fix to a tooth either side of the gap?

Just to the one tooth. I have one and honestly, the attachment is so skillfully done at the back of the teeth that I simply cannot tell .

OP I had a denture for a year after I fell over and knocked my front tooth out. It was a bit smaller than my natural teeth and I thought it was really noticeable, I hated it. After 6 months, I got a bridge. They filed my other front tooth down (like they do when fitting veneers - and so painful btw) and have attached the bridge over that. It's basically a veneer with another tooth attached. It's fine, not had any problems in the 8 years I've had it and I don't think it's that noticeable. Though apparently drs can notice it straight away - when I had anesthetist consultation before having DS, she noticed it before I even said anything.

Either way you will probably still need a denture for 3-6 months whilst your gums shrink enough for them to do a bridge. If they do it too soon you could end up with a gap between your gum and the bridge.

Thank you Sixties and Far, I don't like the sound of the filing down being so painful though Far 😐.

There are lots of different types of bridge, some need no filing, some need lots. Your dentist will be able to give you all of the options starting from doing nothing and ending with an implant.

You might find that it doesn't actually bother you. Sometimes you can fit denture bridge or implant the same day as the extraction but that's generally reserved for front teeth or in some cases can be helpful for implant placement. Many many possibilities. Not sure why filing down was painful, treatment should never be painful.

Sorry bluebell didn't mean to scare you!

It was a long time ago now so I may be remembering wrong and I am a bit of a whimp.

It's just that they filed it right down to the nerves in my tooth and then when they were trying the bridge for size, the metal inside it rubbing on the nerves was excruciating! They had to keeping putting it on and off a couple of times whilst they made adjustments, I was so thankful the final time. I believe you have to get them replaced every 10 years so I'm not looking forward to that

I had a root-filled tooth that had started to break down and get infected extracted last week- molar in front of the wisdom tooth, so I've just got a gap there while it heals, then the dentist will assess bone regrowth, if OK I'll probably go for an implant, otherwise it will be a bridge.

Sometimes a tooth reaches the point of better out than in, at least there are a variety of options now. It's not that horrific!

Farfrom you don't have to get them replaced, that's a predicted lifespan. If it ain't broke, don't get it fixed.

mortificado has your dentist mentioned bridge or implant there? I'm only asking because it would be unusual to replace that tooth and a bridge would be very very tricky.

Sorry, I didn't realise there was more than one type of bridge, but mine works beautifully attached to just the one tooth.

Also, unlike what farfrom says, I didn't have a denture on a plate whilst the gum settled down. I was given a temporary tooth which was cemented into place between the teeth either side. Obviously I couldn't bite on it so avoided carrots and the like, but it lasted until I had the bridge sorted. Oh, and no pain either.

MrsMorton - he's a specialist in implants (works in the same group as my regular dentist, who referred me to him), so that's what he's recommending provided the bone has regrown sufficiently. He didn't mention that it might be a particularly difficult one to deal with - I'm curious why that would be? (it's lower, if that makes any difference).

Sorry bluebell - not meaning to highjack your thread!

Implants there are probably as easy to place as any other, just seems like a bit of a waste to replace a tooth so far back if you have all of your others. I have done some reading around this of late as my brother has just lost the same tooth and was asking for advice. The jury is out as to whether it is of any benefit.

If you re-read my post, it's a bridge that I said would be tricky there, you've only got one tooth to attach it to and you'd be expecting that tooth to work quite hard.

btw, there isn't such a thing as specialist in implants in the UK as there is no specialist register for implantologists. Is he a specialist in restorative dentistry? Anyway, I'm sure he has your best interests at heart.

I had a lower bottom tooth removed and a temporary bridge was placed in immediately about a year ago. It's fine (not any gap between bridge and gumline) but you can see metal if I open my mouth wide. If I go down implants route, I need a bone graft (eurgh). Or I can get a white permanent bridge. Both seem to cost around £2k.

MrsMorton - he's got an MSc in implantology and does a lot of them.

I have a plate with one tooth, absolutely no issue with it.

I'm sure he has mortificado I'm just saying "specialist" is a protected term. and he can't call himself one as there is no such thing. I'm sure he's highly competent and very good at implants.

Mrsmorton - I'm interested when you discuss the various options including "doing nothing". The only problem I have with the tooth is that it is sensitive to cold. Is doing nothing a valid option if I can put up with it, or is it only going to lead to more problems if I leave it?

Thank you for all your replies everyone, very useful and interesting.

Aworldofmyown - does the plate cover the whole of your palate or does it just go round the edges?

Doing nothing is always an option but you and your dentist obviously have to both assess the risks vs benefits. If it's "OK" and no apparent disease process (like decay, infection and so on) then between the two of you, you'll be able to decide. For example, if you're going to peru for a year and it would be best removed because you'll be hours from a dentist versus if you're going to be around and will find it relatively easy to get an appointment then you could wait until your hand is forced by it breaking or worsening etc.

Then if you do have it removed, you don't have to have it replaced, again, a discussion with your dentist will help to understand the pros and cons of leaving a gap vs having a replacement.

But I could be a plumber pretending to be a dentist and even if I am a dentist, I can't see your tooth. It may be that when it's examined, it's so clear that removal is the only option then that's that. But you need to discuss it.

Hope that helps!

There are many types of denture as well, the best one will depend on what else is going on with your teeth and gums etc.

Mine covers my whole palate. Ive had it for about 6 years now, sadly I had a dentist who liked pulling teeth.

MrsMorton - apologies for any confusion, I was just using the term 'specialist' as a description in its dictionary sense.

hope it all goes well!