Teeth Bone Loss Treatment
Hello BPN! It turns out I have been losing the bone under my upper front tooth. My dentist referred me to a periodontist. The periodontist recommended to pull out my healthy front tooth, take bone material from back teeth, add to the front and implant a new tooth in the supplanted bone - a treatment that will take about a year. Has anyone heard or used other possible treatments that would not pull my health tooth out? Do you have any provider recommendations? Thanks so much!!
Oct 6, 2019
Parent Replies
I don't have specific info on this - I apologize for that. BUT I have had a implant on a front tooth due to a childhood accident (had a root canal and a cap I used to have to replace every decade until the last bit of the original tooth fell out, leaving nothing for a cap to cover, hence the need for an implant). I am SO glad you are asking for additional opinions. I would absolutely recommended you first try EVERYTHING before getting rid of an original tooth - unless it is absolutely rotted. Here is what I found out...
1. as soon as they remove your tooth to start the implant process, your gum on top of that tooth will pull up - because the implant process takes like 6+ months and there is nothing for the gum to adhere to. So although you'll have temps, your gum won't be able to stick to it (I apologize for the non-technical language) and withdrawal. As it is in the front it left me with an odd gummy look. So my choice was to have an extra big front implant (as I had all this new space on top where the gum used to be) or have the top part of the implant painted pink to match my gum line which is what I did - but trust me you can see that there is something a little odd about my tooth, the eye catches it. I was so sad they didn't warn me of this complication but in truth I didn't have any other options - except a bridge but because it was a front tooth, I didn't want a bridge and that would have caused the same gum pull-back.
2. In my case, my dentist recommended I get a veneer on my perfectly good other front tooth - telling me that when they make the implant they will make the veneer and I will have perfectly matching teeth. I stupidly agreed and found out that the process of making veneers is of course different than implants so they never match, have slightly different colors, shapes and I am now stuck with the upkeep on both teeth - my veneer cracked after 7 years and I had to replace it a couple of years ago, and while I was on a trip. Now I am always worried about when it will crack next.
This was a dentist I had gone to for a long time and trusted. I have now learned to NEVER get rid of a tooth that is working, particularly a front tooth. I suppose a different one wouldn't have been nearly as traumatic. But it should be a last ditch solution when nothing else works and it is a health crisis. If I were you I would try any and every thing, even alternative things about the bone loss - I don't know what they may be. But for example, is it really that bad? can one just live with the bone loss? As surely most of us in our 50s have it. What else can one do about it? do you do preventative things like daily oil-pulling (weird I know but very effective in keeping your mouth healthier - have no idea about bone loss but if mouth is healthier than it might help a little) or ANYTHING to put it off - who knows, maybe in another 5 to 10 years you will have more alternatives.
For your dentist, it's just another day at the office. But for you, you'll live with their recommendations for the rest of your life, so don't rush into it. Of course I don't know your whole situation, I just through I'd give you my 2 cents from my experience.
I really like my periodontist Keith Chertok in Berkeley.