I broke one of my two big front teeth

[smo]

I broke one of my two big front teeth last week. Actually at the start was a stupid mistake (one of those instances where you think you're invincible) me trying to crack a (supposedly soft shelled) crab claw. After a couple of tries I managed to crack the claw alright.... Nothing (seemingly) happened but the next morning I woke up with painful swelling sensation on the other side of the upper jaw, where a couple of cavities resided (and were in the process of waiting for fillings), so I thought the cavities had acted up and caused the swelling. I almost went in to see the dentist then, but after a week, the pain went away and I thought that was it. An appointment has been previously made for me going in next week for the fillings anyway.

 

Then earlier this week, I bit into a skewer stick. Interesting this time, maybe not surprisingly so, no pain, just a loud crunch noise, then the big tooth flew out. Just like that, a sudden rush of air. Only the chipped base remains. I am thinking of the worst scenario where I'd have to get one of those screw-through-the gum implant thing, or the best scenario would be technology is advanced enough to make a sturdy replacement, ie crown. (FYI, it happened in the street and I was walking around rain puddles therefore there was no chance for me to see why it went/recover it.)

 

So if any TV members have gone down this road before, I'd very much like to hear your input before my upcoming visit to the dentist. I'm sure there are other options available that I'm not aware of..
Thank you much in advance.

 

ps - I just read a thread about tooth decay a couple of threads down in which a "bridge" was also mentioned...I'm also at retirement age and tooth decay has already occurred here and there, the one I just lost was rather thinned out at the backside.

[tonray]

It really depends on how much of that tooth is stable above the gum line. If they have to shave some off to get rid of any decay and there is not enough left to crown, then needs to come out. 

 

If they can save it then crown is a good option. If not, then you have 2 choices: Extraction and subsequent implant or extraction and bridge which uses the adjacent teeth as anchors, which would necessitate the grinding down of 2 healthy teeth to make the bridge fit, most dentists will recommend implant.

[smo]

Thanks tonray for the very clear and informative info, just the kind of knowledge I need to arm myself with when I walk into the dentist's cubicle next Tuesday. btw, do you know  a general figure for the cost of one implant? (the bridge option doesn't sound too good). The place that I'm going to is the Mahidol Dental Hospital off Victory Monument in BKK which I guess is in the mid-range regarding price. 

Thanks,
 

[tonray]

It can vary from 50,000 to 80,000 baht depending on manufacturer and dentist

[smo]

Thanks tonray for the numbers. I went in for a check up at Mahidol dental clinic (in bkk) today. Doc says that an implant to cover that ghastly hole where the front tooth used to be would cost around 60K baht, so she grudgingly goes the crown route, in conjunction with a root canal on the remaining base of the tooth, the total cost of which would be 20K. Before anything is done, I came home with a temporary tooth, which makes me feel "human" again.

 

[KittenKong]

On 06/08/2017 at 8:35 PM, tonray said:

It can vary from 50,000 to 80,000 baht depending on manufacturer and dentist

 

Mine were 40,000B, all-inclusive. Some places here do advertise 35,000B but that may not include all the extras (X-rays etc).

 

[KittenKong]

10 hours ago, smo said:

Thanks tonray for the numbers. I went in for a check up at Mahidol dental clinic (in bkk) today. Doc says that an implant to cover that ghastly hole where the front tooth used to be would cost around 60K baht, so she grudgingly goes the crown route, in conjunction with a root canal on the remaining base of the tooth, the total cost of which would be 20K. Before anything is done, I came home with a temporary tooth, which makes me feel "human" again.

 

In this particular case as the root seems to be sound it would be a shame to remove it. Plenty of time later to put an implant in if the crown fails in 10-20 years.

 

I think you made the right choice.

[smo]

On 8/10/2017 at 9:05 AM, KittenKong said:

 

In this particular case as the root seems to be sound it would be a shame to remove it. Plenty of time later to put an implant in if the crown fails in 10-20 years.

 

I think you made the right choice.

Thanks Kittenkong for your input and reassurance, I really appreciated it. If by chance you got your implants done in Bangkok, do you mind sharing the name of the clinic/hospital, and while we're at it, the doc name also?  The info might come in handy...The price (40K or only double of what I'm gonna pay for the crown including root canal) you quoted seems tempting, I might go for it, not right now, but sooner than "10 - 20 years" perhaps? (You are welcome to pm me for the info if you don't want to make it public) Thanks,

[KittenKong]

54 minutes ago, smo said:

Thanks Kittenkong for your input and reassurance, I really appreciated it. If by chance you got your implants done in Bangkok, do you mind sharing the name of the clinic/hospital, and while we're at it, the doc name also?

 

Phyathai hospital, Sri Racha.

 

I think their list price is 45,000B now and as far as I know they only have the one implantologist. Her name has been mentioned on here several times but I can look it up if you need it. They have a British rep named Gavin on their international staff who is very helpful and whose details are here:

http://www.phyathai-sriracha.com/pytsweb_eng/index.php?page=contact

 

If the root of your tooth is still sound I see no reason why you should not get many more years out of it.

[smo]

On 8/13/2017 at 0:36 AM, KittenKong said:

 

Phyathai hospital, Sri Racha.

 

I think their list price is 45,000B now and as far as I know they only have the one implantologist. Her name has been mentioned on here several times but I can look it up if you need it. They have a British rep named Gavin on their international staff who is very helpful and whose details are here:

http://www.phyathai-sriracha.com/pytsweb_eng/index.php?page=contact

 

If the root of your tooth is still sound I see no reason why you should not get many more years out of it.

No I won't get rid of the tooth while it could still be of use. It's just that losing one good front tooth at this late stage in life makes me feel a lot less self-confident (it even had me start thinking maybe I should arrange my own funeral now while I still can...that sort of things, crazy I know). 

 

Thanks for the link. I'm in BKK so I doubt when the time comes I would make the trek down to Sri Racha to see your specialist, but who knows, I will put the info in my Rolodex for now. 

 

Thank you for being so helpful and your input is very much appreciated.