Dr. Chal,
I have a Root Canal and cap on a front tooth. My dentist believes
it is fractured and suggests an implant. The procedure takes about 4
months of healing before another cap can be "installed" and an upper
plate will hold a tooth in place until that can happen. Is there any
other way to fix the tooth?
- Susan
Susan,
There are two good options for replacing a front tooth. One is a
dental implant, as your dentist
has suggested. The other would be to place a
dental bridge. Read the two pages linked here to see the advantages and disadvantages for each option.If the teeth on either side of this front tooth
are in good condition and don't already have crowns or large
fillings, I would tend to agree with your dentist that the implant
would be best. There is new technology available, though, called
teeth-in-an-hour, where the
implant is placed with computer precision and we can put a crown on
it right away without waiting the four months.
- Dr. Chal
