Re: Rebuilding Crowned Lateral Incisor with 4 unit bridge

Wilson wrote:
My front four upper teeth had crowns installed 17 years ago. This was
done to close a gap between the central incisors, and because #7 and
#10 were "peg teeth". I am also missing #6 and #11 (cuspids), which
never came in with adult teeth.

Recently, my #10 (Lateral incisor) crown broke off at the gumline,
while biting into submarine sandwich. (Hey, there's a tooth in my
sandwich. HEY!! IT'S MY TOOTH!!! )

The dentist said there wasn't enough tooth left and pulled the
remaining root. He said putting a post in wasn't an option, as the
roots were very short.

Now, he wants to build a bridge across #9 through #12.

Is this a reasonable option? I like this option because it fills in
all of the gaps on the one side. Will it be strong? Will it last? Is
an implant a better option?

Would it be better to (gulp!) bridge from #5 through #12 and fill in
all gaps and get a nice white smile? (#5 and #12 are strong teeth, but
worn) Is it likely that I will have to replace crowns #7 and #8 soon?
I am in my early 40s.


Thanks to all who contribute to this forum. It is very helpful !



First of all, I'm assuming that #6 and 11 ARE in fact missing congenitally. These teeth are frequently impacted. You must be sure your dentist has taken adequate x-rays to rule out this possibility.
It seems that you are entertaining a complex restorative plan to replace one tooth. What I don't know is what the condition of your current crowns, what your current appearance is, etc. I personally would have been loathe to crown all your front teeth to close gaps in the first place--very aggressive treatment, when porcelain laminate veneers or even resin bonding might have achieved as good a result without drilling down your teeth so much. So it comes down to a value judgement and appearance, money, and your wilingness to sacrifice tooth structure for esthetic appearance.
I happen to agree with Alex, esp. if your other teeth look OK. I wouldn't worry about losing the crowns if they look OK. There could be extenuating circumstances that may make placing a single tooth implant difficult. But for me the choice would be clear.

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001
.

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