Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Dentist Refuses to do any treatment except implants

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I need to replace several teeth, but my dentist says he only does dental implants. I can’t afford that procedure. Please tell me there are other viable options. And also tell me they’re more affordable.

Humphrey A.  – Maine

Humphrey,

While it is his practice, I will admit to getting a little frustrated when dentists are so inflexible, especially when there are other viable options.

There are affordable ways to get your teeth replaced. Just some of the options are removable partial dentures or a dental bridge.

You can even get certain types of more affordable implants, such as mini implants or implant supported dentures.

Another option, would be to find a dentist who is willing to work with you on payments for dental implants or another replacement option.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.

I Need Dental Implants and Braces

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Can you advise me? I need some dental implants on two teeth I lost in an accident. I also wanted to get my teeth straightened. which procedure is it important to do first?

Jeannie L. – Portland

Jeannie,

You’ll need to have your teeth straightened before you get your dental implants. Dental Implants are surgically implanted directly into your jawbone. They don’t have the ligaments that allow them to be moved, like your natural teeth can.

One exception would be if you need the implants in your molar. In some cases those need to be placed first.

Either way, I would meet with your orthodontist and your implant dentist and make sure they’re communicating.

If you have a dentist who does both orthodontics and dental implants, that would be ideal.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.

Implant Dentist or General Dentist

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I need to replace two teeth and want to get dental implants. Can I go to a general dentist or do I need an implant dentist?

Rex B. – Fayetteville, AR

Rex,

There isn’t really such a thing as an implant dentist, because there is not a dental specialty in implants. Therefore, any dentist who does implants is, though they may call themselves an implant dentist, is really just a general dentist.

The reason they call themselves that is so that patients know it is a procedure they do. However, you need to be careful. Not every dentist who does the procedure actually has the training necessary to do a good job.

Take a peek at Dr. Noah’s implant page to get an idea of what kind of training you want the dentist to have. It’s an advanced procedure, with a chance of failure, so you want to give yourself the best chance possible.

This blog is brought to you by Glenpool Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Invisalign with missing teeth

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Is it possible to get Invisalign if you’ve got some missing teeth.  I had some baby teeth that never had adult teeth under them. Recently, I lost both of those. The rest of my teeth are a little bucked. Do I need to get dental implants for those missing teeth before I straighten them?

Nadide K. -San Francisco

Nadide,

You have a beautiful name. I’ve never seen that one before. You can have Invisalign even if you have missing teeth. Invisalign will full in the gaps. However, depending on what teeth they are you wouldn’t want to just push your other teeth over. You want your bite to look symetrical.

I would go see an Invisalign dentist. It doesn’t have to be an orthodontist. Many general dentists are certified to place Invisalign. They will tell you whether it would look OK to just move your teeth over. If not, there are temporary replacements you can put in while your teeth are being straightened. Then, after your treatment is completed, generally in less than a year, you can have a more permanent replacement (such as dental implants put in).

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Snap on smile with a bridge

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Can I use snap on smile if I have a dental bridge? I have an eight tooth bridge and one of the teeth broke. My dentist said the whole unit will have to be replaced and I just can’t afford that.

Cecil T.- Missouri

Cecil,

Yes, Snap-on Smile can work with a dental bridge. To tell you if it can work with your particular bridge, I would have to examine you. However, the general answer is yes, it can fit right over your bridge work.  Even if it will work in your situation, you need to be aware that Snap-on Smile is only a temporary solution. The units only last about four years, so you’ll need to be prepared for a more permanent solution in the future.

One of the problems with a dental bridge with several units is that when part of it breaks the whole unit needs to be replaced. I hope your dentist warned you of that ahead of time. The ideal treatment for missing teeth would be dental implants. They work as individual units, just like your natural teeth. However, they are more expensive than a bridge. I know that won’t work in your current situation, but it is something you might try to save up for in the future, especially since the Snap-on Smile won’t last forever.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

You may also be interested in affordable dental implants.

 

What should I get done – dental implants or braces?

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I am looking to have some orthodontic work done and I’m trying to find out if it makes sense or not. Soon, my wisdom teeth will be extracted along with tooth #5 and tooth #12. These two additional teeth need to come out due to severe decay and a period of time where I drank too much soda without dental coverage. To be honest, I never really trusted my last dentist. So I was wondering if it is possible to still get braces with these teeth missing? Or do you think I need to get dental implants on each side where the teeth will be removed? Also, I had to have two crowns several years ago, one due to an injury and the other because the filling was large. Will that complicate the possibility of braces as well?

– Robert in Arizona

Robert,

The answer is yes, braces are still a possibility even if you do have crowns.

Although, you need to make sure your tooth decay problem is taken care of before having braces put on. Drinking soda and frequent snacking is harmful to your teeth, especially if you get braces. This is because the braces catch food which leads to more tooth decay. It is important to keep your braces pretty clean.

The tooth numbers you referenced, #5 and #12, are premolars so you don’t want to leave empty spaces there. Dental implants are an excellent solution to replace missing teeth. Or dental bridges may be another option that could work. If the teeth that surround those two teeth have suffered significant decay, bridges may be the better of the two options.

Hopefully that answers your questions.

This post is sponsored by Tulsa dentist Region Dental.

Related link: Invisalign