Yesterday afternoon I went to the dentist to see about getting a partial for my front tooth. He examined my mouth very carefully and took pictures. The conclusion was that he did not think it was wise to do one. When most people close their mouth, their bottom teeth come to about the middle of their top teeth. Mine come almost all the way up to the gum line. If he made me a partial, my bottom teeth would hit it right where the fake tooth connects to the plastic, and it would break. He said it probably wouldn't last more than 6 months.
Another problem is the back teeth. In order for a partial to work well it needs to be held in place by some wires that go around the back teeth. The picture showed that my back teeth are not symmetrical at all. Also, they are very tight. If he were to adjust the bite so that the wires would fit in, he would have to work on the bite so much that it would make the back teeth thin and weak and easily breakable. Then there would be the cost of fixing the teeth as well as the cost of adjusting them and making the partial.
The dentist gave me the name and number of a place that would do "same day dentures" for about half the price and recommended going with that instead. Then it wouldn't be such a big loss if the partial broke. When I got home, I looked up some videos on youtube. There were videos of people who apparently had the same kind of bite I had. They did get a partial for the top. However, the effect of the partial was that it wore the bottom teeth down quite a bit. One lady's bottom teeth looked like they were worn about half way down. I don't want to get something that is going to damage other teeth.
So, now I need to make a decision. What are the options available to me?
1. Do nothing. Leave as is.
2. Buy "snap on teeth" (Yes, they really do make them. The cost is about $35.00 a set)
3. Try to make one myself (Yes, there are kits that can be purchased to do that or there are instructions on the internet how to make them and links to purchase the correct materials.) This does not seem to cost any less than the "snap on teeth," and I'm not confident of my ability to produce something that looks or fits right.
So that is what I have to think on and decide about. :-)
12And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. Genesis 9:12-16