dental flipper Archives - Susan M. Dennis, D.D.S

Tooth Replacement for Hockey Players

Posted on June 17, 2025 by writeradmin.

My son is a hockey player. He’s damaged teeth before but never lost one… until now. We’ve always heard not to use dental implants because of the danger of ripping out bone if it happens again. I totally get that, but he’s planning on being a hockey player for a while. I am aware that the longer he is without an implant, the more of his bone that he’ll lose. Is there any way to preserve his bone? If so, what type of replacement do you recommend?

Susie

Dear Susie,

Illustration of dental implants

I am very glad you wrote. You have so many good things in your questions. Whenever you have to extract a tooth it is very stressful. Yes, he will lose bone if there is not a dental implant there. Yes, there is a danger of bone being ripped out. HOWEVER, that danger is only there if there is something anchored to the implant, like a crown.

Here is my recommendation. First, get the dental implant placed. This will protect his bone. But, do not place the dental crown on it. As I mentioned above, that is where the danger lies. Instead, get a temporary, removable tooth replacement, such as a dental flipper. This way if he gets knocked in the mouth with another puck or a hockey stick, the flipper will fly out but his dental implant will remain secure in his jaw.

You do want to make certain that the dentist who does his procedure has post doctoral training in dental implants. This is a very advanced procedure with countless horror stories about things which went wrong from dentists who didn’t have adequate training. Dental school is not enough. In addition to their post doctoral training, ask them what their success rate is. You want at least a 95% success rate.

This blog is brought to you by Portage Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Swelling Worsened After Tooth Extraction

Posted on May 7, 2025 by writeradmin.

I had an infected back molar. The area was already pretty swollen. My dentist said that a root canal treatment is no longer possible and that I would need to have the tooth extracted. I was disappointed, but went ahead with it. After the extraction, my dentist prescribed me amoxicillin in order to treat the infection. It’s been four days since then and the swelling has gotten worse instead of better. The same is true of the pain I’m in. In fact, the painkillers he gave me are practically useless. Now the area around the infection is almost the size of a golf ball. Is this normal?

Nikki

Dear Nikki,

It sounds like this antibiotic is not working for your type of infection. There are some infections that are resistant to amoxicillin. You need to report this to your dentist so that they can switch you to a different antibiotic. Your infection has gotten worse. Don’t put off calling because this is quite serious. In fact, I would consider it a dental emergency.

If a tooth is too far gone for a root canal treatment to solve the problem, then a tooth extraction is the right procedure. Did your dentist mention the need to replace this tooth?

It is not a great idea to leave an open space in your bite. If you do that, then the adjacent teeth will shift or tip into the open space. This will throw off your bite. When that happens, you risk TMJ Disorder. That can leave you with a lifetime of headaches and jaw pain unless you treat it.

The best type of tooth replacement is a dental implant. This is the closest to having a healthy, natural tooth in your mouth. There are other, less expensive, options if cost is an issue. Your dentist should provide you with all of your options. Once the infection is dealt with, you will want to keep that space open. Until you decide on your permanent replacement, you could get a dental flipper.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Are Tooth Infections Really Dangerous?

Posted on February 20, 2025 by writeradmin.

I had a molar break a couple of weeks ago. Now the tooth hurts a lot and my cheek has stared to swell. I’ve been taking some antibiotics I had laying around. It helped at first, but hasn’t done much recently. Now I feel pain going up to my temple. Could this be a sinus thing or is it the tooth? Someone told me this is dangerous, but I don’t have a ton of money right now. How serious are we talking?

Luke

Dear Luke,

I am very glad you wrote. This is a tooth infection, and yes, it is dangerous. If this remains untreated, it could spread to your brain and become life threatening. The situation you are in would be considered a dental emergency. Antibiotics alone will not deal with the infection. The best it can do is hold it at bay temporarily. But, it sounds like you have gotten everything you will be able to out of your antibiotics.

The only way to cure this is for a dentist to get in there and physically remove the infected pulp. This can be handled in one of two ways. First, you can have a root canal treatment. This is ideal because it means the tooth can still be saved. If that is no longer possible, then you will need to have the tooth extracted. I would not mess around with this.

Sometimes patients avoid the dentist because of anxiety. If that is your case, then I would look for a sedation dentist. They can provide you with an anxiety-free appointment.

If you end up extracting the tooth, then you will need to replace it or the adjacent teeth will then shift or tip into the open space. This will throw off your bite leading to jaw pain, headaches, or even TMJ Disorder.

The best tooth replacement is a dental implant. However, those are expensive. For now, you could always get a dental flipper, which is much less expensive and will hold the space open, giving you time to save up for the implant.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Dental Implants Are Not Your Only Option

Posted on December 25, 2024 by writeradmin.

In my teen years I had an accident where I was playing a game and caught a very solid baseball with my mouth. Over the years the tooth has turned brown. My dentist said that the root is all gone and to fix it I will have to replace it with a dental implant. The problem is I still have other teeth that need work. Do I spend all my money on this one tooth and neglect my other teeth?

Evelyn

Dear Evelyn,

The first thing I am going to suggest is that you get a different dentist. He has not given you the best service; back when your tooth was first injured, as well as now when it needs to be replaced.

The reason there is no longer a root in your tooth is because of root resorption, which is happens after a traumatic injury. Your dentist should have given you a root canal treatment. Doing that would have given this tooth a chance at being saved. It wouldn’t have been a guarantee, but it would have given your tooth its best chance.

A second issue I have is that the only option he appears to have given you is a dental implant. While it is the best tooth replacement, it is expensive. There are other options. Your dentist is ethically obligated to give you all of your options. The fact that he didn’t bothers me.

Some other alternatives you have are a dental bridge, a removable partial denture, and a dental flipper. A dental bridge places a crown on both of the adjacent teeth with a false tooth suspended between them. A removable partial denture is a false tooth that will clip onto your other teeth. A dental flipper is similar but will not last as long. Most people use a dental flipper as a temporary tooth replacement while they save up for a better procedure.

I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.
Click here to learn about sedation dentistry.

Dental Implants for Baby Teeth

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Dr. Dennis.

I’m sixteen and still have baby canine teeth on the top. My mom wants to have them pulled so my other teeth will come in. I’m not too keen on having blank spaces, especially with yearbook pictures coming up. If the grown-up teeth don’t come in can I get dental implants?

Madison

Dear Madison,

Do you see a dentist regularly? I’m quite shocked that your dentist hasn’t dealt with this already. A diagnosis and treatment plan should already have been on the books for this. Personally, I think if you’ve been under the care of a dentist and he hasn’t dealt with it he’s being negligent.

The first thing you need is to get an x-ray to see why your adult canine teeth haven’t come in. There are generally two reasons. One, they’re impacted in which case you would need to have an orthodontist work with you to get them in their proper position.

A second reason would be you have congenitally missing canines. This does happen sometimes, where the adult teeth just never form. In that case, you’d have spaces which need to be dealt with. You’re a little young for dental implants because your jaw is still developing. But, that doesn’t mean you’ll be stuck with blank spaces in your smile.

Options Until You’re Old Enough for Dental Implants

Dental Flipper: This is the least expensive option. It’s a single false tooth that can clip on to your other teeth. It’s meant to be a temporary fix.

Removable Partial Denture: This would last longer and likely feel more comfortable. It will put two false canine teeth which can be slipped onto the arch and fill in the blanks.

Once your jaw is completely developed, which will be after you graduate high school, then dental implants will be a fantastic solution for you. They feel and respond like natural teeth.

Make sure your teeth are the color you want before you get your implant crown crafted. Once the crown is completed, the color can’t be changed. So, once you’re ready to move forward with your dental implants, if you’re going to do teeth whitening, do it then. This may not be necessary for you. You’re young and probably don’t have a lot of staining on your teeth unless you’re a big coffee/tea drinker.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Susan Dennis.

Flipper for a Four Year Old

Posted on September 17, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

My four-year-old had an accident that caused him to lose his two front teeth. I wanted a way to replace those teeth so I didn’t have to worry about his other teeth shifting. When I asked about getting him a dental flipper, my dentist said that was a ridiculous idea. I don’t understand. I looked online for one you can order but they only seem to have adult-sized ones. Is there a way to get him one or is my dentist right and I’m being ridiculous?

Kathryn

Dear Kathryn,

So here is the thing. You are not being ridiculous, but your dentist is correct that it isn’t a good option. I will say right up front I do not like the way your son’s dentist responded to you. One thing every dentist who works with children needs to understand is the emotional element with parents. Their child is the most important thing in their lives. Your questions should always be treated with respect. Plus, just because your question seems obvious to your dentist doesn’t mean it should be obvious to you.

When it comes to shifting teeth for children, which you were wise to consider, that mostly has to do with their back teeth because their permanent molars don’t start coming in until they’re like twelve years old. The front teeth are not that big of an issue and his adult teeth should come in just fine. If he were to lose a back tooth prematurely, your pediatric dentist would want to put a space maintainer there.

I’d also like to address why the dental flipper would not be a suitable tooth replacement in your son’s case. First, they are removable, which can be a choking hazard. Also, with them being removable it is not very likely a four-year-old is going to keep it in or keep from losing it, even if you have a very responsible young fella’. Another consideration is his jaw and mouth are in constant flux and growth at this stage of his life. This means you will have to buy new ones often.

I hope this puts your mind at ease.
This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Antibiotics and Tooth Infections

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

I had a root canal treatment a couple of months ago and then lost my job. I didn’t keep my appointment to get the dental crown placed. Now I think I’m dealing with a tooth infection as a result. I happen to have a sinus infection and can get my doctor to write me an antibiotic prescription. Is there a better antibiotic for tooth infections?

Cary

Dear Cary,

It would be a wonderful solution if tooth infections worked that way. Unfortunately, the physiology of a tooth prevents that from being a viable option. An infection kills the inside of a tooth. Because of that, the medicine never reaches the infection. At that point, the only way to “heal” the infection is for your dentist to get in there and physically remove the infected pulp. This is typically done one of two ways: either by a root canal treatment or a tooth extraction. At this point, you may need an extraction.

You may already know this, but just in case you don’t, I want to make sure you understand an infected tooth is considered a dental emergency. I don’t know if you are still out of work, but I don’t want you to put off getting this treated. People still die from tooth infections. People don’t realize how the proximity of our jaws to our brain, heart, and lungs can put you in serious danger as the infection spreads. I’m saying this not to scare you but to ensure you treat the infection seriously.

I know especially during this time with the pandemic going on, money is tough for many people. If you’re out of work, I am positive you will be able to find a dentist who will be willing to treat your infection and work out a payment option for you.

Replacing a Tooth

When a tooth is removed, with very few exceptions, it needs to be replaced. When finances are better, the ideal tooth replacement is a dental implant. It is like having a healthy, natural tooth in your jaw again. I realize that is not an option for you right now. You can either get an easily replaceable temporary tooth or invest in one of the other options like a dental bridge.

The downside to a dental bridge is that it requires the two adjacent teeth to your missing tooth to get ground down for dental crowns. If they’re healthy, you may not want to do that. Instead, you can get a dental flipper or a removable partial denture while you save up for a dental implant.

This blog is brought to you by Michigan Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Is a Maryland Bridge a Good Temporary Restoration?

Posted on September 5, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

We just completed my daughter’s orthodontics to open up a space where a congenitally missing tooth needs to be filled. The teeth had shifted over the years and there wasn’t going to be enough room, so when we were straightening her teeth we thought it best to plan ahead. We want to eventually get her a dental implant but are looking for a temporary tooth to place in there. My dentist is suggesting a Maryland Bridge because we won’t have to crown the adjacent teeth, like you would with a traditional dental bridge. I like that idea but I want to check out if it is our best idea so I’m writing a couple of other dentists to get their recommendations, including you.

Laura

Dear Laura,

Maryland Bridge

I’m actually very glad you wrote. First, your choice of a dental implant to place where her tooth is missing is a great one. That will last her a lifetime.

I don’t, however, think you should get a Maryland Bridge for your daughter. While it is true that you won’t have to crown the adjacent teeth, I wouldn’t consider it a temporary replacement option. This is because in order for it to fit properly, your dentist will need to cut notches into her teeth to help keep the wings in place. You can see an example of the type of notch I’m referring to on the left.

Once the bridge is removed, you will need to fill all that in. Anything that permanently changes the structure of the tooth cannot be considered temporary in my opinion.

A Great Temporary Tooth Replacement while Waiting on a Dental Implant

Dental Flipper

Instead, I am going to recommend you get her a dental flipper. This won’t require any structural changes to her tooth and will allow her to keep the space open until her jaw is developed and ready for the dental implant.

This blog is brought to you by dental implant dentist Dr. Susan Dennis of Kalamazoo.

Dental Flipper to Make Teeth Look Straight

Posted on August 28, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

I am way too old to wear ugly metal braces but am tired of my teeth not being attractive. I have one tooth that sticks out more than the others and they’re pretty yellow all around. Could I just get a dental flipper to snap on my teeth and make them look straight so I am no longer embarrassed by my teeth?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

I think there may be some confusion here. I placed an image of a dental flipper to the left. these are designed as temporary tooth replacements meant to hold the space open until your permanent tooth replacement came in. It isn’t designed to make your teeth look straight.

Snap-on Smile

You may be thinking of the Snap-on Smile. These do snap over your teeth. One thing to consider with them is because they go over your teeth, they can sometimes look bulky. This will be more true in your case because you already have that one tooth that sticks out. Another thing to look at is they are made of acrylic. They won’t look as natural or beautiful as something like porcelain veneers, nor will they last as long. I would plan on replacing it every few years.

I do have an alternative for you, though, which will be a permanent solution and won’t require metal braces.

Invisalign— the Alternative to Braces

In your place, I would look into Invisalign. These straighten your teeth, in less time than traditional braces, without anyone even knowing. That is because instead of using metal wires and brackets, it uses clear aligners and a sophisticated computer software program to plan out your treatment and design the aligners.

You simply pop the aligners in and go about your day. Every two weeks, you will switch them out for a new set that will move your teeth just a bit more.

Straightening and Whitening Your Teeth Simultaneously

You mentioned your teeth have yellowed over time. That happens to all of us. Fortunately, because Invisalign aligners are custom fit to your bite, they can double as teeth whitening trays. Simply ask your dentist for some professional strength teeth whitening gel and you can wear them in your aligners each day. This allows you to whiten your teeth while you are straightening them. It’s a two-for-one. To me, this is a much better solution for you both financially and in terms of creating a smile you won’t be ashamed of anymore.

This blog is brought to you by Invisalign dentist Dr. Susan Dennis of Portage, MI.

Baby and Adult Teeth Simultaneously

Posted on August 22, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

My daughter has four baby teeth that have erupted behind her adult teeth. I’m not sure what to do about it. Do I pull the baby teeth? Will her adult teeth still need braces? I’m surprised this happened. I’ve been deployed for the last year and my husband has been taking her to the dentist (I assume). When I asked him about it he got defensive. Do you have any advice for something like this?

Kelly.

Dear Kelly,

First, I want to thank you for your service. It is greatly appreciated. I know it is a sacrifice. As to the situation you are in, if your husband did take your daughter to the pediatric dentist then they should have addressed this. Since they haven’t, I think you would be better served by a different pediatric dentist or even a family dentist, which is a general dentist who enjoys treating children as well.

You didn’t mention the age of your daughter, so I’ll give a variety of advice for her. First, the baby teeth need to be extracted. Ideally, that would have happened as soon as the adult teeth began to erupt in order to prevent them from deflecting the permanent teeth, but that is water under the bridge.

It is possible she will need some orthodontics. If that happens, both traditional braces or Invisalign for teens will be an option depending on her age and level of personal responsibility.

Congenitally Missing Adult Teeth

Sometimes children have the opposite problem where they have an adult tooth that never forms. When that happens it is best to just leave it there for as long as it is healthy, viable, and aligns with her bite. If any of those change or it falls out, then it will be time for stage 2.

The ideal tooth replacement is a dental implant. However, she’ll need to be of an age where her jaw is fully developed. If she isn’t, then I would use a temporary tooth replacement, such as a dental flipper, which you can get fairly cheaply. Then, when she is old enough, get the dental implant. These are like having a healthy, natural tooth there and are permanently placed. She’ll be able to eat anything and brush and floss as she normally would.

This blog is brought to you by Dental Implant Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.