What can I do for a missing front tooth? Veneers? Prosthesis? Crowns? Bridgework? How much does it cost to have your teeth redone? How can I get my teeth done when I don’t have the money? And finally, what are the habits that damage the teeth, and how to avoid them?
I. What Can I Do for a Missing Front Tooth?
For cosmetic dentistry, you can choose between several techniques. To choose the one that suits you best, you can discuss it with your dentist.
Here are some of the most common techniques.
1. Dental Veneers
A dental veneer is a thin layer of resin or ceramic that is glued to the tooth. It is used to repair teeth that are stained, decayed, or damaged.
It is also used to help tighten a diastema or gap or to correct receding gums.
If you wish to have all your teeth restored at once, dental veneers are the ideal solution.
It is also the appropriate and long-lasting solution to tooth whitening.
Dental veneers have several advantages. They only need one session to be applied and do not require surgery.
In addition, they last up to 20 years, provided you practice good dental hygiene.
You can choose between traditional ceramic veneers, ceramic film veneers, and prefabricated ceramic veneers.
2. Removable Prosthesis
It is commonly called dentures. It is a prosthesis that allows either to remake its teeth or to replace several diseased teeth.
The removable prosthesis rests on the gum, the underlying bone, and the remaining teeth.
Depending on the patient, the dentist can choose between a complete prosthesis and a partial resin prosthesis.
The former is indicated if the patient has no teeth left and is made with a resin base and artificial teeth in porcelain or resin.
The resin partial denture is made of resin with clasps made of soft metal.
The prosthetist may add metal elements or fiberglass to reinforce the whole.
This type of denture is usually used temporarily after recent extractions.
3. Dental Crown
The dental crown is used to restore damaged, broken, or cracked teeth in a durable manner.
It also serves to stiffen the tooth so that it does not break. In general, dental crowns are made of ceramic.
The dentist cements the dental crowns on the visible part above the patient’s gum line.
First, the dentist trims the tooth to accommodate the crown. Next, he or she takes impressions made with a paste that is inserted into the patient’s mouth.
These impressions are sent to a laboratory to make the ceramic crown.
While waiting for the crown to be delivered, the dentist may place a resin crown to save space for the final crown.
Once the crown is delivered, the dentist places it and checks elements such as shade, contact points, and occlusion.
4. Dental Bridge
You can choose between a fixed ceramic or metal-ceramic bridge.
A fixed ceramic bridge is used to replace missing teeth. It is an ideal aesthetic solution for restoring your front teeth.
When the bridge is placed, it rests on the adjacent teeth that serve as abutments. Before placing this type of bridge, the dentist performs an assessment.
Then he or she grinds down the adjacent teeth. These teeth can be devitalized or kept alive.
Next, an impression is taken and sent to the laboratory to make the framework. Finally, the framework is placed on the adjacent teeth using suitable cement.
A metal-ceramic bridge is used to replace one or more of a patient’s missing teeth.
It is made of a metal alloy that is covered with layers of ceramic. It has two advantages.
On the one hand, it gives a natural appearance to the tooth. On the other hand, it can last up to 30 years.
Like the fixed ceramic bridge, the dentist first performs an assessment. Then, he makes an impression and sends it to the laboratory for fabrication.
A first test is made for control and adjustments. Once everything is in order, the bridge is installed.
5. Orthodontics
Orthodontics is the most time-consuming treatment for teeth, especially the front ones.
Classical orthodontics is a treatment that aims to correct the misplacement of teeth.
It also has a preventive, corrective, and modifying objective. It also optimizes the postural balance between the bone structures.
All of this is done with a functional and aesthetic goal in mind. Previously, orthodontics was reserved for adolescents and children, but nowadays, even adults have recourse to it.
You also have lingual orthodontics, which has been around since the 1970s.
This is a palliative treatment in which the dentist places orthodontic attachments near the tongue, i.e. on the inside of the teeth.
This treatment is invisible and may interfere with the patient’s speech during the first few days of the appliance’s placement.
Invisible orthodontics with aligners is recommended for the elderly. The dentist applies invisible and transparent aligners.
With this treatment, the patient realigns his or her teeth while keeping a bright smile.
II. Front Teeth Replacement Cost
The cost of a dental makeover depends on the treatment.
- For ceramic veneers, the average price is $1,500 per tooth from one to four veneers. For five or more veneers, the price per tooth is $1,000.
- For prefabricated ceramic veneers, the price is between $500 and $1,000 per tooth.
- For traditional veneers, you should expect to pay between $700 and $1,400 per tooth.
- For fixed ceramic crowns, you can expect to pay between $1000 and $1,500.
- For a fixed ceramic bridge, you need to budget between $1,300 and $3,000.
- For a metal-ceramic bridge, the average cost of a tooth is $900.
- For removable dental prosthesis, everything depends on the size. But from $500, you can enjoy this treatment.
- For invisible orthodontics with aligners, you need to budget between $3,500 and $5,000. And for simple corrections, you should plan on $2000.
note that all these prices depend on many parameters. We can cite for example:
- The location of the dentist
- Dentist’s experience
- The condition of your teeth
- The material to be used for the repair etc.
III. How to Have Your Teeth Redone When You Have no Money?
To redo your teeth without money, you have the choice between two solutions.
The first is to go to a dental school.
Usually, fifth-year students under the supervision of a professor use special equipment to take care of their teeth.
All you have to do is go to a university hospital with a dental school to open its file and take x-rays.
Once you have deducted your social security and health insurance contributions, you won’t have to pay much more.
For elderly people, for example, this care can be completely free.
IV. What Are the Financial Aids to Redo Your Teeth
To have a prosthesis can be expensive. Indeed, the price varies according to the expenses to be taken in charge, the material, and the difficulty of the realization among others.
There are several options available for those who need free or low-cost dental treatment
Because of this high price, many people refuse to get treatment. However, there is financial aid available to help people get their teeth restored.
These include dentists’ associations, Payment Plans, care in a dental school, 100% health, tax deduction, and exceptional assistance from the Health Insurance.
V. Broken or Worn Front Teeth: How to Repair Them?
To repair worn or broken teeth, your dentist can suggest two techniques.
The first is with composites. These are pieces of resin that look and feel like teeth. The dentist places them by bonding and can modify them.
However, the composite can stain or fade, and its lifespan does not exceed ten years.
Veneers are the second option. These are small, custom-made ceramic plates that cover the visible surface of the teeth.
They are more resistant than composites and are similar to tooth enamel. This technique can be very aggressive. The teeth must be filed down before they are placed.
VI. What Are the Habits that Damage Teeth?
Several factors contribute to the damage to your teeth. When you chew ice cubes, chew on pens, use them as tools to open a beer bottle for example.
You can damage them by eating a lot of sweet or acidic foods. Or a lot of tea or coffee.
And then you don’t brush your teeth. Smoking is also harmful to your teeth.
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