Listen to Your Dentist When They Recommend Wisdom Teeth Extraction

You may have heard of veneers and crowns, which are permanent cosmetic dental features that fit over or on front of teeth. The devices make a smile more attractive by covering permanent discoloration, creating more regularly shaped teeth, and filling gaps between teeth.

One device that doesn't get as much attention is a set of removable clip-on teeth that are custom-made in a dental lab for each individual patient. This is a way to get a more appealing smile without any invasive procedures. 

About Clip-On Teeth From Dentists

Also known as snap-on teeth, these devices make up a full set of upper or lower teeth that you simply place over your existing teeth. Your back teeth hold the appliance in place without any adhesive. There also are products available with fewer teeth if you want to hide defects in a small area, such as the front of your mouth. 

A dentist or dental assistant takes an impression of your teeth so the lab technician who makes the artificial teeth can customize them for your mouth. 

These are not the same products as the cosmetic teeth you can buy in stores and order online. It's difficult to achieve a natural look with those products since they are not customized. 

Advantages 

Unlike crowns and veneers, clip-on teeth can hide a missing tooth or even several missing teeth. Crowns and veneers can be made large enough to subtly fill a small gap between teeth, but they need an existing structure in the jawbone to be attached to. 

Clip-on teeth do not involve removal any of the tooth structure, which is required for placing veneers and crowns. They also generally cost less than veneers, crowns, bridges, or dental implants, which replace a limited number of missing teeth. That's important, since dental insurance typically doesn't pay for cosmetic dentistry. 

Are There Drawbacks?

As with dentures, people who begin wearing these artificial teeth need some time to adjust. They have to get comfortable with speaking and eating while wearing the teeth. 

You may have to avoid eating sticky foods while wearing the appliance, since the teeth can come loose. 

You'll also need to clean the appliance at least once every day by removing it and soaking it in a cleansing solution, as you would do with dentures. You'll gently brush away food particles before soaking. 

What You Can Do Now

Schedule an appointment with a dentist who offers cosmetic dentistry services, such as Staller & Gandel D.D.S, and find out whether clip-on teeth would be a good option for you. You'll be able to look at a sample of the appliance and view photos of people wearing the false teeth. That way, you can see for yourself how natural the products look.