DENTAL CARE

Q:I Need A Flipper To Replace My Two Front Teeth

A:When my new patient set up his appointment, he requested a flipper. What is a flipper? A flipper is another name for an acrylic, partial denture. In the same sense that people use the words cap and crown interchangeably, so too does this apply to a flipper. It is much easier to say flipper than it is to say acrylic partial denture. This device typically replaces one or two teeth in the front of the mouth. It can replace more teeth than that and is dependent on the situation. The flipper does not have any wires on it to hold it in place, but that can also be situation dependent. A flipper is a cosmetic replacement of teeth for a short time. Chewing is challenging as well as keeping it in the mouth. Maybe that is where the name is derived. Patients can “flip” it out of their mouth with their tongue or fingers with ease.

Now that we have defined a flipper, let me get to this week’s case. I expected to meet someone with a space between the upper front teeth. Instead, a gentleman sits down in the chair, and his two lower front teeth are gone. He proceeded to tell me that he saw a dentist approximately 45 minutes from his home based on his daughter’s recommendation. The dentist was a specialist and said to the patient that he needed to find a “regular” dentist as he could not “finish the work.” Removal of these teeth occurred approximately six months earlier, and the unsightly gap needed correction. The plan, at the time of the initial procedure, involved placing only one implant and hanging a tooth off the implant. Although he was missing two teeth, there was not enough space for two implants.

I was not comfortable with the amount of room for the implant and hanging tooth. I felt that the area would be challenging to keep clean, and the result would be a less than ideal look. The teeth next to the open space were not in the best shape. Based on everything that I saw and conversing with the patient, I suggested a different course of action. I recommended that we remove the two adjacent teeth. Now I could create a fully supported and cosmetically acceptable bridge. This approach was a better choice than the original suggestion with a single implant and teeth jammed in the area of missing teeth.

With the patient in the chair, I called the surgeon and presented my plan to him. He was in total agreement with me as this was a better choice for the patient. Since he does not make the final teeth, he was hesitant to suggest this initially to the patient. At this point, everything was good, or was it? There was still one small issue that concerned the patient. He asked me to do the rest of the work, including the surgery. He liked the idea of seeing one person and went to the surgeon only because of his daughter’s recommendation.

I thanked him for his confidence but politely declined as this would not be the right thing to do. I could not take away work from a colleague. I was very impressed with the patient as he understood the correct and decent approach to the situation.

What happened to the flipper in the meantime? I plan on making an immediate flipper for him, so he will have four good looking teeth on the day that the surgeon takes out the other two teeth. He will wear those teeth until I make him the final bridge.

As always, I enjoyed the problem solving of this case. If you need someone to “finish” your work or just want reassurance that you are going down the right path, please contact our office. Just call Megan at 440.951.7856, and she will schedule an appointment for you.

The Healthy Smile 34586 Lakeshore Boulevard (¼ mile west of Route 91 on Lakeshore Blvd) Eastlake, Ohio 44095 440-951-7856 Severance Medical Arts, Suite 603 5 Severance Center Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118 216-371-2333 www.jeffreygrossdds.com