I’m hoping you can help me. We were in a car accident. The only one hurt was my poor 12 year old daughter, who lost a front tooth. She is distraught. I’ve already taken her to an emergency dentist. However, I need to figure out what to do for her appearance. All the emergency dentist did was remove the root tip. What are our options?

Deanne T.- Phoenix, AZ

Deanne,

First lets look long-term. Once she is old enough for a permanent solution, the ideal treatment is to have a dental implant placed. A dental bridge is a good “second place” solution too.  Her mouth is still changing, so it would be unwise to do it now. However, you need to make sure she receives a treatment that will not only make her feel comfortable with her appearance, but will also keep that space open so there will be enough room for an implant or bridge in the future.

Here are some options:

Hawley Retainer– This is your least expensive solution. It is a wire and acrylic retainer that has  a fake tooth attached to it. It stays in by using the suction of your mouth.

Essix Style Retainer– This has an invisible tray (sort of like Invisalign Braces) with a fake tooth attached.

A Delineator– I’m excited about this new option just recently put on the market. It is made of acrylic and plastic and uses the adjacent teeth to help it stay put, which makes it very stable. The thing I like most about it though is it ensures optimal implant placement. If you’re even considering a dental implant in her future, this is the best temporary solution.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.