I have an infected first molar. There is not a molar behind it. My choices are a root canal treatment (which is rather expensive) or extract the tooth and get a dental implant (which is more expensive). Of course my dentist gives me all the expensive options. What I’m wondering is if I can use snap-on smile to replace this tooth. That seems much less expensive.
Amanda
Dear Amanda,
I am very glad you wrote before following through on this plan, which will end in disaster for you.
First, you said there is no molar behind your first molar. That tells me you’ve already lost your second molar. Removing the first one without a stable replacement will reduce you to a soft diet for the rest of your life.
Snap-on Smile is not a tooth replacement in the way you are thinking. It is designed to give you a temporary smile when going for something like a job interview or photoshoot. It does not actually replace teeth, but rather snaps in front of them.
You could get a removable partial denture but that would have to attach to something and would likely have to go to the other side. Even that way, you would have an unstable bite. One side has permanent teeth, the other only temporary. This is going to put a lot of stress of the remaining permanent teeth.
You could extract it and get some dental implants, but honestly, saving your tooth is the best option, even if the tooth will require a crown. I would bite the bullet and get the root canal treatment.
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