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Original poster

Anyone had a tooth out and lived with the gap? Does the gum really toughen up ?

31 replies

Aero · 09/06/2008 13:07

This tooth had been bothering me for years and my lovely dentist and I both agreed we'd nursed it for long enough, so I had it removed this morning (gross looking right now). We thought it was a fracture which was causing the intermittant flaring up of pain and inflammation, but when she took it out there was actually a cyst growing on it, so no wonder it kept bothering me!

Anyway, what I'm wondering is, if when it heals over, does the gum really toughen up enough to be able to chew as effectively as before, or is it better to pay out circa £200 to bridge it with a denture?

Anyone with experience either way? I'm not too worried about it aesthetically as it's not obvious when I smile/talk etc, but I think food getting in the gap might annoy me.

I'll be grateful for your advice.

OP posts:
WonderingWhy · 09/06/2008 13:09

Ime it does toughen up, but there is still a gap so not as easy to chew. If the teeth either side are strong I would say pay for the denture! Mine are too weak to support a bridge.
A small gap though is not so bad, but if it is a larger one go for it.

MummyDoIt · 09/06/2008 13:09

DH has a gap and it doesn't bother him at all.

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 09/06/2008 13:11

Hey Gummy....

Where abouts is it ?

TheApprentice · 09/06/2008 13:11

You get used to it. I had one taken out a few years ago, and its not where anyone can see it so havent had a denture put in. At first it feels odd and food seems to get in it, but you soon forget about it.

Original poster
Aero · 09/06/2008 13:11

It's a pretty big gap as is the third molar in (wisdom tooth still intact).

OP posts:
MamaG · 09/06/2008 13:12

I have a large gap on one side and a small gap on the other. Like wondering why, my teeth aren't strong enough to support a bridge.

The gum does toughen up, but because o the other teeth I can't actually chew with the gum (if that makes sense) but food doesn't tend to get stuck.

Like you, my gaps aren't obvious when I smile/talk etc so I just live with it.

MamaG · 09/06/2008 13:12

oh mine is th ird molar in (wisdom tooth intact) too! Not a problem for me

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 09/06/2008 13:13

Ask your dentist about a Maryland Bridge.

lizandlulu · 09/06/2008 13:14

i have had one out in exactly the same place on the top. the gum is really hard. i didnt even consider a bridge as it is at the back and have had no problems at all with the gap.

Aimsmum · 09/06/2008 13:16

Message withdrawn

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 09/06/2008 13:16

Maryland Bridge

Original poster
Aero · 09/06/2008 13:17

What's that Bree? I have already booked the appointments needed for a bridge (teeth either side are strong) and it would be supported with just one of these I think. If it's ok though, I might just choose to live with it.

I figured that if I at least book the appointments now, I have the option to cancel nearer the time. Takes about three months to heal well enough to make a bridge.

OP posts:
Original poster
Aero · 09/06/2008 13:18

You beat me to it - will look now.

OP posts:
funnypeculiar · 09/06/2008 13:18

I also have one third molar in. Has been there since I was a teenager (bad filling - tooth rotted under the filling. Nice) Strangely enough, no-one's ever suggested a bridge (that's lots of dentists who missed out on some cash ). Doesn't bother me at all - never had food stuck in it, don't notice it when I eat at all. I guess the gum has toughened up, but tbh I don't remember it being a problem at the time either.
HTH

lizandlulu · 09/06/2008 13:20

i remember what it feels like. all spongey and as if you are never going to be able to eat on that side ever again!

goes hard in a surprisingly short time though

ComeOVeneer · 09/06/2008 13:21

Maryland wouldn't be suitable to replace a molar as the metal wings aren't strong enough to cope with the forces put on them, it is traditionally used to replace front teeth. You would need to go for a conventional bridge which crowns either the 2 teeth either side of the gap or just one. I wouldn't go for a denture to replace a single molar as they are often more of a nuisance than a gap. Or you could splash out on an implant which doesn't affect any of the adjacent teeth (but is +++ expensive).

Original poster
Aero · 09/06/2008 13:24

It is pretty disgusting right now lizandlulu, safe to say. Spongey with a bit hanging out (sorry if tmi). I don't want to eat at all at the moment, so good for the waistline I guess.

OP posts:
milkymill · 09/06/2008 13:25

I have a gap, think it's the third molar in too! Mine is now very tough and I have just returned from the dentist and he said it's closed up really well; so the gap's actually getting smaller!

NorthernLurker · 09/06/2008 13:26

I'm missing that molar as well (lower jaw) Food doesn't get stuck - gap is too big and it doesn't bother me at all.

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 09/06/2008 13:27

I will bow to the superior knowledge of COV.

Original poster
Aero · 09/06/2008 13:29

Thanks for replying everyone.

COV (thank you - I like my dentist very much but she is verrrry busy, so I don't always want to bombard her with questions just as I'm leaving - not that I could really speak this morning with a big wadge of cotton wool in my mouth).

Is a bridge very tight to the gum so food morsels don't get under it. I can't really picture what exactly a bridge is and thought it similar to a denture. I definitely don't want it to be a nuisance, that's for sure.

OP posts:
ComeOVeneer · 09/06/2008 13:31

A well made bridge should be snug to the gum so no food gets underneath. That is why it is best to wait about 6 months after the extraction for all the healing to occur so you know where the gum is going to be iyswim. A bridge is smaller more discrete and fixed in the mouth. A denture (falsh teeth) is larger covers more of the mouth and is removable

lazarou · 09/06/2008 13:36

I have a gap, but I'm having a tooth pulled down so hopefully, in about 18 months time, I will have a nice shiny new tooth there instead of a gap.
I have a plate but since having the roof of my mouth sliced open it doesn't quite fit anymore.

Original poster
Aero · 09/06/2008 13:40

COV - you're a gem. It's definitely a bridge I'd want then. That explains it very well.

I was a bit worried about having it out as it wasn't bothering me all the time (in the way that a 'proper' toothache does).

It had been root filled and then cleaned out and re-done, but it seems the problems were there to begin with so that whenever I'd bite down, there'd be pressure on the little cyst and every so-often, it would flare up and cause pain, but a couple of nurofen would always settle it. Thankfully, it'll never bother me again.

The dentist said about three months, but I might wait six just to be sure and I'll be in a better position to pay then hopefully, as the school will want paying for ds1's Y6 trip (£230 for four days to Norfolk ).

OP posts:
lizandlulu · 09/06/2008 15:40

the cotton wool in your mouth is the worst bit for me. i just cannot bear it. i feel like i am going to gag on it and cant stand it. i remove it as soon as bleeding has stopped.