Whenever a tooth is lost, there is a mandatory healing period. Most people don’t want to walk around snaggle-toothed until a month or two has passed. There are some temporary measures that can be done in the interim to avoid the embarrassment of going without a front tooth.

Temporary Bridge After Implant Placement

If a bridge is planned, then the teeth on either side of the extraction site can be prepared (removing the enamel) and a plastic temporary can be constructed. This way, the patient can leave the office with their smile intact. One to two months waiting time is necessary before taking final impressions because the gums will recede during that time. If the permanent bridge is started too early, then there will be a hole between the artificial tooth and the gum will appear.

Temporary Denture to Replace a Missing Tooth

Another option is a temporary partial denture called a flipper. This nickname is very descriptive because the denture tends to flip around in the mouth during function. It has a plastic plate that covers the roof of the mouth, so it will affect taste and speech. But at least one can leave the office with teeth to smile with.