It’s one of the most dreaded things in the world for many people: losing a tooth, or having one become so badly damaged that it must be removed. If this has happened to you, you’ve no doubt been left wondering how to handle it. After all, now you have a gap in your teeth, and not only can that affect your physical appearance (potentially lowering your self-confidence int eh process) but it can also impact you health and quality of life as well (because of how that gap can affect the way you both talk and eat).
How to Solve This – The Provisional Tooth
This is where getting a provisional tooth comes in. A provisional tooth is, by definition, a temporary replacement for the tooth that you have lost or had removed. That being said, there are different options when it comes to provisional teeth, and it’s important to understand your various choices before making a decision (you’ll likely be unable to change your mind once the procedure has been done, after all).
One variety of provisional dental work is temporary crowns. The crown, in case you weren’t already aware, is the portion of your tooth that is visible above the gum line. A provisional crown, meanwhile is a temporary crown that is placed on a tooth ac a placeholder, until a permanent crown can be created and installed in the patient’s mouth.
That being said, there are also different types of temporary crowns available, with most dental experts distinguishing between provisional crowns and short-term temporary crowns. A true provisional crown, for example, is designed to be quite durable and can last for several months without issue, whereas an ordinary temporary crown is more for aesthetic purposes and is not designed to last for long periods of time.
More Types of the Provisional Tooth
Another type of provisional tooth is the kind seen with provisional bridgework, which involves crafting a temporary bridge for your teeth. One of the most commonly seen types of provisional bridges is called a “flipper”, called such for the way it can be easily flipped in and out of your mouth. Flippers are essentially a partial denture that is removable thanks to its unique design, which resembles a retainer.
There are also traditional temporary fixed dentures, which are technically provisional (in that they will eventually need to be replaced with true dental bridge) but otherwise function similarly to regular bridges (in that the teeth surrounding the gap need to be prepped for the bridge).
There are also other types of provisional teeth, such as Do-it-yourself emergency replacement teeth, which can typically be found in kits. These kits typically contain special materials and tools that can be used to craft a temporary replacement tooth yourself. This option is great for short-term tooth replacement (although some brands are notable for being able to last for several months before needing to be changed), and has the additional benefits of being both easy to use at home and affordable.
