It’s one of the most dreaded situations for people all around the world: a missing tooth. Whether it happened because of an accident (maybe you took a volleyball to the face). Or because of medical reasons (perhaps a cavity that could not be removed and had to take the whole tooth instead). You now have a gap in your teeth and must find a solution.
That’s where an emergency false tooth can come in handy.
Luckily, if you find yourself short a tooth and in need of a replacement, there are many temporary tooth replacement kits currently available for purchase. There are even DIY options that you can buy; these are great if you want something that you can make yourself at home for an affordable price.
That being said, there are a variety of other temporary tooth options to choose from as well. some more complicated and costly than others. Some of the more common options for dealing with a missing tooth are as follows:
Cemented Temporary Crowns
This type of temporary tooth is essentially a crown cemented into the gap where your missing tooth used to be. The most notable benefits of this option are that it fills the gap quickly, is cemented into place for greater security and stability, and looks quite realistic.
On the other hand, getting a cemented temporary crown is often a more involved process. Compared to other temporary tooth options, and is also more expensive because getting a cemented temporary crown is an actual dental procedure. That must be done by a dental professional.
Dental Flipper
This is one of the most affordable options (DIY emergency false tooth notwithstanding, of course) and it essentially functions as a retainer. But with a false tooth attached to fill in the gap where you old tooth used to be. Dental flippers are one of the most common solutions to missing teeth, thanks largely to their affordability and functionality; they are also easy for dentists to make, taking only about two days at the most to create.
That being said, dental flippers do have drawbacks. One of the most notable drawbacks is that a dental flipper will usually not match up well with your existing teeth. Making the fake tooth more noticeable. Furthermore, eating and talking might feel uncomfortable due to the bulky nature of the dental flipper.
Temporary Dental Bridges
This option relies on the healthy teeth surrounding the gap for support. But as long as those teeth are healthy and stable a temporary dental bridge is often the most durable option. For temporarily replacing a missing tooth. This option is also more affordable than a true dental surgery. But still not as cheap as DIY emergency false tooth options.
Additionally, one more notable downside to using a temporary dental bridge to cover a dental gap and replace a missing tooth. Is that it can be difficult to clean under and around the dental bridge. which can lead to a build-up of plaque.
