Three Times Unlucky

Question: Four weeks ago, I was eating and my upper front bridge just snapped and fell out. It was the third bridge I had. Thirty-five years ago, I had a tooth knocked out so I got a bridge. Then after about fifteen years it fell out and another tooth was bad so I got another bridge. That lasted for nearly ten years and another tooth went bad and that bridge fell out. I only had my eye teeth left and they needed root canals before this last bridge was put in. Each time I was told this would fix the problem.

The dentist I saw recently told me my bite was way off and this was the reason my bridges were always falling out. I think I need implants because he said my eye teeth were now broken and couldn’t hold a bridge. He took x-rays and other things to tell me my best choices. He said I have just enough good bone for implants but he said my bite needs to be put right if he puts in implants or I’ll just put so much pressure on the new bridge that I’ll wreck it too. I don’t know anything about my bite, I just thought it was either a bad job or my teeth are too weak. He told me that the treatment would be expensive to make the bridge on implants and put my bite right. I guess I knew that but I don’t want to throw good money after bad so that I’m in trouble with my teeth in five years. He said I’ve got good teeth on my upper right side, my upper left has some problems and my lower teeth need crowns to help with the bite and fix some broken teeth.

Is there an easier solution or is it a big deal?

Answer: A bad bite can mean many things so correcting the root causes will be important. Underdiagnosing and undertreating leaves problems that will undermine new treatment.

In essence, the position of your teeth (upper and lower) must be in harmony with the correct position of your jaw joints (TMJs). Careful dental work can achieve this balance but because the muscles, joints, ligaments, and teeth are in a dynamic relationship, minor changes can occur without you being aware. Your dentist will be looking to check this balance so minor changes can be managed.

No, there is not an easy solution. Losing all your upper front teeth is like losing the steering wheel and front-end connections in your car. Not only have you lost the mouth’s guidance systems but the force distribution on the rest of your teeth.

You have a number of options. Thanks to technology (implants) you can have your problem corrected quite quickly and not be forced to wear a denture.

Headaches, Headaches, & More Headaches

Question: About eight years ago I had problems with my front teeth and they had to come out. I had to wait till my gums healed to get a partial flipper so I could at least smile. After a year I’d had enough because I couldn’t eat with it in my mouth so I went back and they said, “We can give you a new set of teeth that will stay in better.” This time I got a real partial with clips and such so it would stay in my mouth as I ate. It was a whole lot better for about two years when I started getting toothaches.

When I went back, I was told I was getting decay on my back teeth where the partial was hanging on. Some of the teeth he filled, and others had to get root canals. They told me to take them out at night, but I didn’t want to because I was afraid someone would see me without my teeth, so I kept them in.

Well the inevitable did happen and I lost a back tooth to decay. They even had to cut part of the partial off that was hanging onto that tooth. As the dentist was doing the adjusting, he said, “You should have a bridge and get rid of this partial. Why don’t we get some records and do a proper diagnosis. The thought of getting rid of the partial was welcome and exciting.

At the consultation appointment when the dentist was explaining the process of getting rid of the partial, he asked, “do you get headaches very often?” “Yes,” I said, “about three or four times a week.” “Where do your headaches register,” he said. I pointed to the sides of my head and back of my skull. “I thought that might be the case,” he said. “How did you know,” I asked? “When I was analyzing your models on the bite simulator, I could see your lower front teeth hitting the framework of the partial and they had a tendency to push your jaw backward. The pressing of your teeth meeting the partial pushes your jaw backward, then your muscles and joint react to that force and constantly feel ‘forced.’ This leads to headaches.” Will the bridge really get rid of my headaches?

Answer: You’ve experienced some serious setbacks. Losing teeth not once but at least twice, rampant decay, and then experiencing orthopaedic jaw problems.

Dental treatment and then good oral hygiene care is a team effort with you playing a significant part. Replacing teeth with either removable teeth (a partial) or fixed (cemented) bridgework requires careful attention and good communication so that the fit is excellent and the instructions for care are communicated over and over. We all learn better with repetition.

The bridgework is easier to clean and maintain, and if done well will reduce or eliminate headaches. It will make you less self-conscious about being seen without your front teeth because they will be a part of you.

Get it done, you’ll be very happy you did.