Archives for March 2022

What’s the Cheapest Fix for a Tooth Broken at the Gumline?

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My front left tooth broke below the gumline. I am looking for a cheap, fast way to fix it. I don’t know if there is anything like an affordable implant. Will a mini-implant work? If not, I am interested in something that is not expensive. I suppose there are not many options, but what is the least expensive? Thanks. Bart from WVA

Bart,

Cheap options do not last. You can ask a dentist to bond the tooth back with composite as an inexpensive fix, but it will not look good, nor will it last. Two treatment options can restore your tooth, but neither is cheap or fast.

Restoring a Tooth that Broke at the Gumline

Depending on the severity of the break, a dentist can restore a tooth that breaks at the gumline a dental crown or a dental implant.

Dental crown

If you do not have a strong bite or deep overbite, a dental crown might be able to restore your tooth. Treatment steps include:

  • Root canal treatment
  • Inserting two strong, flexible post in the tooth to absorb stress on the crown and prevent tooth root fracture
  • Building up the tooth and post with composite
  • Bonding the crown to your tooth

Dental implant

Dental implant components, including root form, abutment, and crown

If you need a dental implant, it will mimic a natural tooth.

If your tooth broke at the gumline, weak and you have a strong bite, a dental implant is the only solution. You will need a standard dental implant—not a mini-implant. Although mini-implants are more affordable, they are not durable enough for front teeth, molar teeth, and most teeth. A mini-implant might support a small upper or lower incisor. And some dentists use mini-implants to secure a denture.

An implant and crown cost about twice as much as a root canal, two posts, and a crown, and it takes longer to heal. But a dental implant will last longer because the implant fixture fuses with your jawbone like a natural tooth root.

You can choose to get a dental crown, but understand the risk of failure if you have a strong bite or underbite. It is usually best to get the most effective option and avoid spending more time and money in the long-term.

We recommend scheduling an appointment with a dentist who has advanced cosmetic and implant dentistry training to discuss your options.

Dr. Steven Brooksher, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Baton Rouge, sponsors this post. Dr. Brooksher is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

Five Dental Tools and Materials That Damage Porcelain Veneers

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I have eight veneers on my upper front teeth. I received them last October from a dentist in Indiana. Now that I live in NM, I am concerned about my dental exam and cleaning appointment with a new dentist. Is it possible that the hygienist will break or loosen my veneers around my gumline? – Thank you. Damon from NJ

 

Damon,

Thank you for your question.

Photo of the tip of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneer; from the Baton Rouge office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.

Porcelain veneers

It is good that you are concerned about how a dental hygiene appointment will affect your porcelain veneers. A hygienist will not loosen or break your veneers. But if a hygienist uses incorrect tools, they can damage the glaze, which will make the surface of your veneers dull.

Dental Tools and Materials That Damage Porcelain Veneers

A dentist and hygienist who received advanced training in caring for porcelain veneers will avoid these tools and chemicals:

  • Power polishing equipment – Although some equipment is safe for natural teeth, it can harm porcelain veneers. For example, Dentsply’s Prophy Jet is a device that sprays a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and water on your teeth to clean them quickly. But the chemical blasts away the glaze on your porcelain veneers, and they will begin to stain. And other brands of power polishers will damage your veneers.
  • Ultrasonic scaler – The scaler can cause small chips at the margin of you veneers as it gets rid of calculus and bacteria. Plaque and stain can accumulate around your veneers and cause decay.
  • Heavy-duty manual scalers – If used on the margins of veneers, a heavy-duty scaler can scrape or chip porcelain veneers.
  • Coarse polishing pastes – Although polishing paste restores the gloss of natural teeth, it can scratch porcelain veneers. Trained hygienists use ultra-fine polishing paste instead.
  • Acidulated fluoride – Acidulated fluoride etches the surface of porcelain veneers and removes the glaze. A hygienist will use neutral fluoride gel instead.

Ensure your new dentist is an advanced cosmetic who regularly places porcelain veneers. Team members know how to take care of your teeth and veneers without damaging them.

Dr. Steven Brooksher, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Baton Rouge, sponsors this post.

My Implant Denture Makes My Lips Look Bulky

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Should permanent dentures (all on four) be placed with the anterior teeth 2 to 3 mm from the gum line, or should they follow the gum line? Is this a standard procedure or the dentist’s choice? I have bulky lips from a denture that protrudes. I’m doing some research and figuring out what to do next and whether I can trust my dentist. – Thanks, Demetrius from NJ

Demetrius,

Before we answer your question, we want to define the gumline. As shown in the picture to the right, the gumline is the edge where the gum meets a tooth. Consider some examples:

  • If a tooth is extracted, there is no longer a gumline.
  • If a tooth is replaced with a dental implant, the gumline is the edge that meets the dental crown.
  • If all your teeth are missing and you receive a complete denture, the gumline is the edge of the pink, gum-colored acrylic that meets the false tooth.

We defined the gumline because it is impossible to place a dental implant at that location.

You’re probably referring to where a dentist places teeth near the jawbone ridge beneath the denture.

Complete removable denture

When you receive a complete removable denture, your dentist should place the denture’s front lower teeth directly over the bony ridge. If the denture is too far forward, it will tilt back when you bite anything with your front teeth.

All-on-4 dental implants

Denture above dental implants ready to be screwed on

All-on-4 implant denture

An implant-retained denture, such as All-on-4, is secure and won’t tilt when you bite. The placement of denture teeth 2-3 millimeters from the ridge, as you described, is close enough within range for a removable denture or an implant denture.

Aesthetics and facial appearance are essential for natural-looking results. But measurements alone should not determine where a dentist places your denture. Advanced cosmetic dentists make a wax model of the denture for you to try in before the lab completes the acrylic version. The wax model lets your dentist evaluate how the implant denture affects your facial features, lip, speech, and the overall function of your mouth.

Adjusting your denture to soften the appearance of your lips

If you already have your implant denture, your dentist can remove it and reset the teeth. If the problem persists and your dentist can’t resolve it, you can schedule a consultation with an advanced cosmetic dentist for recommendations. Your dentist may charge a fee to reset the teeth, but if you’ve already expressed satisfaction, they might do it without cost.

 

Dr. Steven Brooker, a Baton Rouge Fellow of implant dentistry, sponsors this post. Dr. Brooksher is accredited by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.