I Feel Your Pain
Q: Life is really three steps forward and two steps back. Try as I might I can’t seem to get my teeth fixed and they stay fixed. Over the years, I had decay then root canals and crowns. Then they said I had a hard bite because my crowns started breaking off and then I’d lose a tooth. I got so frustrated that I stopped going to the dentist even though I had missing teeth on the top and needed a bridge for each side.
After years of poor chewing I went back because I had a toothache and didn’t think I could lose another back tooth. The dentist was very helpful and the root canal went so well I decided to do a bridge on one side and an implant on the other. That was two years ago since that bridge went in and I’m ready for the implant. The dentist took a 3D picture of my upper jaw to know how much bone I had for the implant. When he took the 3D I asked if it would show the bridge. He said “yes” and so I said, “I felt a twinge on the bridge, could you check it out?”
He did and we were both surprised to find a crack had occurred on one of the bridge teeth about half way up the root. I was so frustrated. The dentist has been good about understanding but it’s a here we go again moment. The dentist said the root of the root canaled tooth he’d done was very small and thin and my hard bite may well have been the culprit. I really don’t know what to do. The fractured tooth is in the middle of the bridge and if it comes out, which it must, the bridge fails and I’m out – again.
A: I feel your pain – I really do. In the day – years ago – we didn’t have many answers as dentists. With implants, it’s almost always possible to use implants to replace the bridge or replacement teeth and then put crowns on them or create a new bridge. It takes time and specific experience to do that but the skills are more available now then they’ve ever been.
Sometimes a middle tooth that helps support a bridge can be removed along with that section of the bridge, leaving the ends still crowned.
Grafting may have to do done and then implants placed which will give you the needed strength for you hard bite. Speak to your dentist. He may be able to help with the financial aspect. Don’t give up, there are strong lasting solutions.
If we can help, we’d like to. Call 778-410-2080 for a consultation or visit us today.
Based on actual patient cases
© Calvin Ross Crapo
Victoria Implant Centre 778-410-2080