Im Missing a Lower-right Canine (#27) and my Dentist Says the Place is Too Small for Implant, What Should I Do?

Question

Im 22 years old and when i was 18 i was hit with a baseball, dentists had to remove my inside canine and i was left with my milk canine untill it felt a couple of month later. Asking for a solution to my missing tooth i asked about implants but my dentist says the space is too small for an implant.. what should i do?

Scott Young, DDS · Answer

This space is too small for a dental implant. I would see an orthodontist and have the space widened with braces or Invisalign. Once the orthodontics are completed and the correct space achieved, then dental implant placement should be a viable option. Good luck.

Vivian Maung, DDS, MS · Answer

It does appear that the space is too small for an implant and opening space would be challenging. It is probably easier to close the space with orthodontic treatment. We commonly do this for patients that have missing teeth. Once the space is closed it would be difficult for anyone to notice that you are missing a tooth. Basically your first pre-molar will take the place of the missing canine. We can even do a little reshaping of the premolar to have it look and function more like a canine.

Neil Elman, DDS · Answer

It does not appear that there is enough room for an implant here. I would suggest that you look into orthodontics and have the space opened up so that an implant can then be placed to fill in the gap.

Bradley J. Daar, DDS · Answer

Space is always a concern with regard to implants. Too little or too much can make tooth replacement a challenge. In your case, not enough space is obviously the issue. Not only for an implant, but the space is too small for any replacement solution.

	This is one case where some minor orthodontics may be indicaed in order toi create the necessary space for the area to look natural following tooth replacement. It is important that the Orthodontist or Dentist performing the tooth movement is knowledgeable in Implant placement needs. It is very easy to move the portion of the tooth that is seen and appear to have room for a replacement tooth. Unless the roots are also repositioned, an implant may still not be possible to place. Once the adequate space is created a natural looking and functioning tooth can then be placed.

Anthony J. Rega, DDS · Answer

Looking at your space between the teeth looks very limited. It will be very difficult to open it to 7mm for a good size implant to be placed into the area that will last and be functional. The best solution would be to close the space with orthodontics.

Robert Penning, DMD · Answer

This is definitely a tricky situation. The FDA recently approved new, smaller implants that might fit in the space(a hybrid mini-implant). If not, you can close the space with bonding or porcelain veneers. If your dentist says the space is too wide for that, the bicuspid can be moved forward a bit orthodontically and this will make it easier to close the space though it will still take some creativity by the dentist to make sure it looks realistic three-dimensionally. Good luck - hope this helps.

Donald L. Wilcox, DDS · Answer

You could bond the sides of the two adjacent teeth to close the space. Or a tooth could be bonded into the space using the back of the adjacent teeth to support it. Either of these techniques are conservative and require little or no tooth removal.

Sue Wendling, DMD (retired) · Answer

I am treating a patient right now with the same problem . We are aligning the teeth and roots with Invisalign creating space for an implant. This is a great long term solution.

Lance Timmerman, DMD, MAGD - Account Suspended · Answer

ask about braces to expand and open the space. A narrow implant can be placed.  It can be complicated and take time, but is possible.

Ira Shapira, DDS (in memoriam) · Answer

I cannot see the entire mouth but if the bite is good and you are not a candidate for orthodontics there is an easy cosmetic fix.  The space can be bonded or better yet closed with ceramic veneers.  No tooth preparation is required and it would not require anaesthetic.

	If there are spaces in the arch orthodontics can easily widen the space to make room for a narrow implant.

Im Missing a Lower-right Canine (#27) and my Dentist Says the Place is Too Small for Implant, What Should I Do?

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