Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Affordable Solution for a Missing Front Tooth

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I lost a front tooth and look absolutely ridiculous. My dentist wanted me to get a dental implant but I didn’t have enough money for that. So, he suggested a snap-on smile. I got that because it was in my budget. I’m really disappointed in it. My smile looks WAY bulkier. I almost feel like I have horse teeth. Are there other options or am I stuck choosing between being a horse or a hillbilly?

Pamela

Dear Pamela,

Illustration of Snap-on Smile

I’m actually really surprised that your dentist suggested snap-on smile for your situation. It has its uses, but this isn’t a use I’d think was a natural fit. The bulkiness issue is because snap-on smile fits over your teeth. There is no way to avoid that.

Instead of covering your entire upper arch, for a missing tooth you just want to replace that tooth. Yes, dental implants are the best option, but not everyone can afford that. I don’t understand why he didn’t tell you about the more affordable tooth replacement options. Ethically speaking, a dentist is supposed to give you all of your treatment options.

For a missing tooth there are quite a few options, such as:

I put those in order of cost so if you are looking for the least expensive option, then I would just get a dental flipper to put in the place of the missing tooth.

What you don’t want to do is leave the space open too long because you have the snap-on smile. If you do, the adjacent teeth will begin to shift into the open spot. This will throw off your bite and can lead to jaw pain, headaches, and even TMJ problems.

If I understand what you were wanting, which is an affordable means of replacing a tooth, not just hiding the hole, then your dentist is giving you bad advice. Even if you just asked for a way to cover the space, he should have warned you about shifting and given you the options I mentioned above.

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

Dentist Said I Need Implants that I Cannot Afford

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I don’t know what to do. I lost two teeth a year ago and need to fill the space. My dentist wants me to fill it with dental implants but I just can’t afford to do that, especially because he wants full payment up front. Do I have any other options that are more affordable? I hate looking like a hillbilly.

Kevin

Dear Kevin,

Hockey player with missing tooth

The good news is that you do have options. Before going into them, I want to make sure you understand how important it is that you do get these teeth replaced. When you have open spaces in your bite, the adjacent teeth will begin to shift or tip into that space, which will throw off your bite. Aside from an unsightly smile, that can also lead to painful TMJ disorder.

While dental implants are your best option because they protect you from bone loss in your jaw, they are not your only option. Sometimes, you need to get an affordable option while you save up for the ideal procedure.

Tooth replacements, other than a dental implant, range from a dental bridge, which is also permanent, all the way down to a dental flipper, which is removable and meant to be temporary. If you plan on saving up to get dental implants, then I would get the dental flipper. It is your least expensive option and will keep your teeth in place while you work toward your goal.

If you have no intention of getting dental implants, then I would lean toward the dental bridge. It is permanent and will give you a greater sense of security. You’ll also have a much higher chewing capacity than if you were to get something like a removable partial denture.

Finally, bear in mind that dentists differ in their willingness to work with patients financially. If you look for a dentist who advertises him or herself as an affordable dentist, they may be willing to let you pay your treatment out slowly. This could give you a more realistic chance of getting the better procedure.

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

Dentures that Won’t Make Me Gag

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I haven’t been to the dentist in close to 20 years. As a result, my teeth are an absolute wreck and I need to get dentures. The problem is that I have one of the worst gag reflexes known to man and dentures require an upper plate. I even gag when trying to brush my teeth, which is why my teeth are such a mess. A friend of mine said there is a way to get dentures that don’t need a plate. Have you heard of those?

Camilla

Dear Camilla,

implant overdentures

Implant Overdentures

I am sorry about your gag reflex. That sounds a bit miserable. The good news is your friend is correct. It is possible to get dentures without needing a dental plate. You do that by getting implant supported dentures, also called implant overdentures. These use between four to six dental implants per arch and then anchor your dentures to them. In addition to being completely secure, you will also find you can eat anything you want. Even the best fitting removable dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. This is not something you will have to worry about with implant overdentures.

The downside is two-fold. Dental implants are more expensive. They also require surgery in order to place the implants firmly in your jawbone. Patients find that the pros far outweigh the cons.

If you are on a tight budget and cannot afford six dental implants, you can get snap-on dentures. These only require two implants on the bottom arch. For the top arch you will need more.

I suggest you talk to a dentist who offers dental implants and have a consultation with him or her to see what options are best for your situation and budget.

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

Sinus Infection after Extraction

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I had a dental emergency a couple of weeks ago and the tooth is beyond repair. The dentist did an extraction. In the process my sinus was perforated. I’ve done some research and this seems to be something that can happen without it being the dentist’s fault. He told me about it after the extraction, cleaned the area, closed it up and then gave me a prescription for antibiotics. I was feeling better and had finished my antibiotics. Today there is drainage and pressure in my sinuses. Could I have developed an infection at the extraction site?

Miranda

Dear Miranda,

blonde woman holding the side of her jaw in need of an emergency dentist

I’m glad you know that a sinus perforation doesn’t necessarily mean your dentist made a mistake. Some roots of teeth are so close to your sinus cavities the only thing separating them is a thin membrane, which will be perforated during an extraction when they’re that close.

It sounds like your dentist followed correct protocol when that happened as well. You’ve got a responsible caregiver and that is something to be grateful for. I can think of three possibilities going on here.

The first is that you just needed to be on your prescribed antibiotic a little longer than you were. Some infections need a little extra oomph to help your body fight it. This may be the case with yours.

A second possibility is you need to be on a different antibiotic. You didn’t mention which antibiotic your dentist prescribed. A good one for this type of situation is clindamycin.

A third possibility is there is some bone in the sinus cavity. This will blow up into an infection and can cause another dental emergency, plus a host of other problems.

I want you to call your dentist and schedule an appointment to be seen again. He’ll likely put you on more of the antibiotic or a different one. He may do an x-ray to see if there is some bone trapped there. If he doesn’t don’t panic. Try the antibiotics. If they don’t work, then it will be time to see an ENT and have this investigated further.

You are doing a good job staying on top of this. I don’t know if you and your dentist have started talking about what you will replace the extracted tooth with, but once you have this infection settled, I’d like you to discuss getting a dental implant with him.

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

Dentist Says Dental Implants are a Necessity

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I’d planned on getting dentures once my teeth are extracted. However, my dentist says he only does partial and no longer does complete dentures. Instead he’ll only offer me dental implants. Of course, they’re way, way more expensive. That doesn’t make any sense to me. I noticed on your site you offer both. Is my dentist just making a money grab?

Megan

Dear Megan,

dentures and dental implant side by side
A good dentist explains the pros and cons of your options.

It sounds like your dentist will only offer what he considers the ideal treatment. Dr. Noah’s treatment philosophy is not everyone can afford the ideal. Instead, he’ll tell them all the pros and cons of their decision and then leave it up to them.

It’s a shame your dentist just told you the ideal without explaining why. I’ll try to explain the difference here.

The Danger with Dentures: Facial Collapse

Before and After Facial Collapse

When your teeth are removed, it doesn’t just take the crowns of your teeth, but the roots underneath the gums as well. Your body recognizes this and (being the efficient living machine it is) decides to take the minerals in your jawbone which were used to help support your tooth roots and use them elsewhere in your body where it perceives they will be more useful.

The sad result of this is your jawbone begins to shrink. This is known as facial collapse. It means after 10 or more years, you will appear many years older than you really are. Even worse, you will no longer have enough jawbone left to support your dentures.

Dental Implants Prevents Facial Collapse

If you look at the image at the top of the page, I have a side by side of dentures on the left and a single dental implant on the right. Notice especially the dental implant. There is a root form that is implanted into your jawbone. Then, after a healing period, a porcelain crown will be placed on top.

It’s the prosthetic root which signals to your body, “Hey! There are still teeth here. We need our jawbone.”   This protects your jawbone from being resorbed.

Implant Overdentures Can Save You Money

implant overdentures
Implant Overdentures

While dental implants are more costly, implant overdentures can work using just four to six dental implants and then attaching the dentures to them. This has several benefits.

  • It much less expensive.
  • It will preserve your jawbone.
  • Your dentures will be secure, unlike regular dentures.

Again, I’m sorry your dentist didn’t explain this to you. I hope it helps in your decision making process.

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

A Tale of Two Emergency Dentists

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I’m a bit confused. My husband and I both developed toothaches at about the same time. We were in the process of moving and didn’t have time to deal with it. Once we got to our new place, the first thing I did was try to schedule emergency dental appointments because we were both ready to get out of pain. The first practice I called said they could see me but didn’t realize I wanted my husband seen too. It was a Friday morning, which is their half day. they said they could see one of us today and the other Monday. I scheduled my appointment and then called another practice who agreed to see my husband that day. I figured the upside was we’d get to check out two different dental offices to see what we thought before picking our new practice. When I went, they gave me a root canal treatment, but my husband only had to have a filling. Why the two different treatments for two toothaches? Was mine just overly aggressive or did my husband not get the care he needed?

Karen

Dear Karen,

All toothaches are different. They can be caused by a decay, infection, cracked teeth, etc. Plus, while all toothaches are different so is each person’s ability to deal with pain. Maybe you have a higher pain tolerance than your husband so your toothache had been there longer and turned into an infection, while his was just decaying and needed filling.

I can’t answer your question about overtreatment or negligence without examining you and seeing the x-rays. I’d just be taking a stab in the dark. However, the one thing that concerns me is neither of you seems to have been told why your dentists did the treatment they did.

Dental emergency or not, a dentist is supposed to explain the diagnosis along with your options and their recommendation. It’s up to the patient to say yes or no. So, you shouldn’t have been given a root canal treatment without knowing why.

Finding Your Permanent Dentist

When you start looking for your permanent dentist, be sure to check their reviews so you get some idea of what patient’s who’ve been there have experienced. Also, because the emergency dentist did x-rays (or at least should have), you can have your recent x-rays transferred so you don’t have to have those done again right away.

Though you had to have the root canal, I’m glad you got to the dentist before you ended up losing the tooth. The last thing you’d want to pay for right after a move is a tooth replacement.

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

Can Emergency Dentist Save Tooth Hit by Baseball?

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I was playing a game of baseball with some neighborhood kids when one of the balls went flying and hit me in the mouth. I originally thought I was fine because it didn’t bleed or bruise. But this morning the tooth is wiggly and loose. Is there a way to save it or is it toast?

Payson

Dear Payson,

Woman Smiling Text: A smile is the best makeup any girl can wear

It’s very possible your dentist or an emergency dentist if you don’t have one can save your tooth. But two things need to happen for you to have the best shot.

Stop wiggling it.

Your tooth has ligaments that are a bit stretchy, like rubber bands. But, just like rubber bands, if you stretch them too far or too often and they’ll snap or lose their elasticity. This puts your tooth at greater risk.

Get to the Emergency Dentist

You’ll want to get in as quickly as possible. The longer this is left that way the less chance you have to save it. The dentist can stabilize the tooth by using a splint or bonding the tooth to a stable adjacent tooth. That may be all that’s needed. It gives the ligaments time to heal. However, if the pulp of the tooth was damaged, you’ll need a root canal treatment and dental crown.

What if the tooth can’t be saved?

If it’s not possible to save the tooth you have several replacement options. The top of the line replacement is a dental implant. However, if either of the adjacent teeth is in need of a dental crown, then a dental bridge may make more sense.

If both of those options are out of your current budget, you can either find an affordable dentist who’s willing to work with you on payments or get a removable partial denture until you can afford a more stable replacement.

Either way, you need to be seen right away. This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.

What if I Can’t Afford My Dental Procedure?

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I’m in need of replacing several teeth and my dentist is insisting I get dental implants. What do I do if I can’t afford the procedure? Are there options? Do I just leave the spaces blank?

Kevin

Dear Kevin,

Image of a traditional implant and the more affodable mini implant

A traditional dental implant compared to a mini implant

It actually makes me angry when I hear about situations like yours. Yes, dental implants are the ideal procedure when you’re talking about replacing several teeth, especially because of the possibility of facial collapse. But, they’re not the only procedure. His job, as your dentist, is to provide you an explanation of all the options available to you, give his recommendations and why, then let you decide. Not everyone is working under the same budget.

Finding Affordable Dental Options

In your situation you have several choices.

  1. Affordable dental implants. Things like implant overdentures are a great option when you can’t afford the ideal. You’re certainly not the only one facing this, so don’t feel badly about it.
  2. A Dental Bridge. Depending on how many teeth you’re talking about, this could be a great secondary option, especially if any of the adjacent teeth are in need of a crown anyway.
  3. A removable partial denture. This would be my least favorite option because your quality of living won’t be as high, but it is still an option. It can often be used as a temporary solution while you work out financing for the ideal.
  4. Payment Plans. Many dentists work to be affordable, do that by offering payment plans so you can get the care you need, then slowly pay it off. Some do in-house payment plans. Other dentists use Care Credit—a medical credit card that offers low and no interest payment plans.

This is the minimum amount of information your dentist should have provided you. If you’re not getting the whole picture, you might be better served getting your oral healthcare elsewhere.

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

Can I Trust My Dentist About Dental Implants?

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I’ve lost two teeth. My dentist said I need to look at tooth replacement options. But, he said the only thing he’d recommend is dental implants. Of course, it’s the most expensive treatment. Is it really my only serious option?

Mark

Dear Mark,

Dental Implant Diagram

Dental implants are the top of the line tooth replacement option. So, would I recommend them? Yes. However, there are times when a dental bridge makes more sense. For instance, if the teeth adjacent to the one you lost are in need of a dental crown, then get a bridge. Other than that, if you’re a good candidate for dental implants, then I’d recommend those over other lesser options, such as a removable partial denture.

Reasons to get a dental implant

  • It’s the most like having a healthy, natural tooth back.
  • It preserves your bone structure
  • You can eat and brush normally
  • No food will get underneath

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

Did I Crumble a Tooth?

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My husband and I are in a disagreement as to whether or not I need an emergency dentist. I think I can wait until my appointment on Tuesday, but he thinks I need to be seen right away. I had a root canal treatment almost two weeks ago. I had a business trip so put off getting the crown. My dentist gave me a temporary filling to hold things over. Everything was okay until dinner last night. I was eating Chinese food and started feeling something grainy. I discreetly reached in and some whitish crumbly material was the culprit. My husband thinks my tooth crumbled. I think it’s actually just the temporary filling. If I’m correct, I can wait to see the dentist, right?

Melinda F.

Dear Melinda,

First, let’s see if we can’t figure out who’s got the right end of the stick. If there’s a way for you to peek at the tooth, do so. If the tooth looks intact, but there’s a hole in the center, then you’re talking about the temporary filling falling out. If there’s any disintegration to the tooth, then you’ve got a crumbling tooth.

If it’s just the filling, you can likely wait until your appointment. You may want to take the precaution of getting some temporary dental filling material. You can find it at many pharmacies. Bear in mind, it’s only meant to be used for a few days. So, keep the appointment you have with your dentist to get your dental crown.

If you wait too long after a root canal, the tooth will become brittle and could end up crumbling as your husband suggested. If that happens, they’ll be nothing to crown and you’ll be looking for tooth replacement options.

On the other hand, if the tooth has started crumbling, the sooner you get in to see a dentist the better. In fact, I’d call your dentist right away and let him not what happened. He’ll want to crown the tooth right away if it’s still possible.

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