Thank you for your web site. I have read a lot of it and you have some tremendous information here for visitors!
I have a complicated situation. I’m 34, and my upper left canine never came in right. It’s in between the two bicuspids and in front of them. The baby canine is decaying and doesn’t have much root left, so it needs to come out, which will leave a space there. But the orthodontist says that because of the structure and positions of the roots of the other teeth, the permanent canine can’t be moved into that space.
What are my options? Do I have them extract the baby canine and the permanent one and then get braces to widen the space where the baby was so a full-sized canine implant can be put in? How about a bridge there? Or can something else be done with a smaller implant plus veneers or something to create the illusion of normal teeth?
- Diana in California
Diana,
It sounds like a very interesting case. It’s tough to give an answer of what’s best for you without seeing it and a full clinical exam, but I can give you some ideas.
I would not do a mini implant. Having anything other than canine teeth where the canines are supposed to be almost always ends up looking funny. There’s a bony prominence that’s supposed to be there, and the canines also frame the smile.
It sounds like you are going to have to have the baby canine and the permanent canine extracted. From the picture you’re giving me, it looks like any effort to move the permanent canine may move it completely out of the bone.
I would definitely lean toward an implant, based on what you’ve told me. A full-sized canine implant. If you have to move some teeth to get that done, then I’d do that, too. If you have a bridge to replace the canine, the bone will shrink in that place and you’ll lose the “canine eminence” on that side of your face.
But realize that I don’t have all the information. This is a case where you need a dentist who is expert in both cosmetic dentistry and implant dentistry to give you a thorough exam and explain your options. We’d be happy to see you here. But if you want to find someone close to home, since this treatment is going to span months, I’d look for a dentist who is accredited in cosmetic dentistry by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. I’ve been an accreditation examiner for the AACD for many years, and I have great respect for the dentists that successfully make it through that accreditation process.
Good luck.
Related links:
Teeth in an hour
Dental bridge vs implant - the pros and cons of each treatment
Tooth replacement options
Dental implant insurance