You’ve Lost a Tooth, Now What?

Sometimes things just happen.  You bite a cherry pit one too many times.  You think you’re an ice crusher.  Your tooth gets tired and breaks in half and has to be removed.  The adjacent teeth are happy and do not want to get involved. So what to do?

In the past your choices were to just go without the tooth which is still a possibility today.  Most people want to replace the tooth.  You could involve the adjacent teeth with a bridge which is three teeth connected together.  However, with this option the adjacent teeth have to be cut down in order for crowns or caps to be placed.  Then the three teeth are connected making it harder to clean the area.

Another option is to make some plastic teeth that you place In your mouth in the morning and remove at night.  Problem here is they move around and do not feel like real teeth.  They're not wooden like George Washington’s teeth but they are not real either.

Today there is a better option, it's called a dental implant.  Here the adjacent teeth are not involved.  This is not a removable device but like a tooth stays in your jaw.  Just like a regular tooth it is easy to keep clean.  No matter what we do in dentistry we cannot recreate nature but this is a close second.

For an implant a piece of titanium is placed in your jaw resembling the root of your original tooth.  Then a crown is made which resembles what your tooth looked like in your jaw.  It’s not a real tooth but it functions and feels like the one you lost.

Dental insurance companies will generally cover half the cost of the procedure.  It takes a little while to complete and it does cost you some money but in the end most people are happier to have the missing tooth replaced.  At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS located on the upper east side of Manhattan we place and restore dental implants.  Consider us a one stop shop so all of the procedures are done in house.   

Getting to us is easy.  If living in the area; just walk to 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets.  The Q, 4 ,5 ,6 subway lines and bus service is within one block of the practice.  We are always happy to meet with you and help solve your dental needs.  So, if you’re missing a tooth or are just in need of a cleaning give us a call at 212 517 9000.  You’ll be glad you did.

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you