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A dental flipper is a type of removable partial denture replacing one or more missing teeth. It consists of a pink, gum-colored denture base designed to fit around your existing teeth on either side of the gap. The denture base supports a replacement denture tooth. Usually used as a temporary tooth replacement, a Flipper tooth can be very successful.
Benefits of a Flipper Tooth
Here are some of the benefits of choosing this option.
Affordability
A Flipper tooth is the cheapest way to replace a missing tooth, especially compared to the alternatives.
Easy to Make
The process of manufacturing a Flipper tooth is quick to complete. Your dentist may be able to provide you with this tooth replacement on the same day or the next day, so it’s ideal if you need a tooth removed and don’t want to be left with a gap.
Natural Looking
Modern denture teeth are pretty good and come in a huge range of different shades, shapes and sizes so your dentist can custom make your Flipper tooth, so it looks good in the mouth. It will hide gaps between your natural teeth so you can smile confidently.
Protecting Existing Teeth
When you lose even a single tooth, it destabilizes your remaining teeth. They can start to shift toward the gap left by the missing tooth. These unwanted tooth movements can change your bite and weaken the teeth that start to move. Correcting these problems later can be difficult, so a Flipper tooth is a good way to ensure these adjacent teeth cannot move.
Convenience
A Flipper tooth is very easy to wear, and you can take it out whenever you want to clean it.
What Is the Cost of a Flipper Tooth?
The cost of a Flipper tooth can vary considerably, but it is the least expensive way to replace a missing tooth. The price quoted by your dentist can depend on the location of your dental office and the materials used to make your Flipper tooth.
For example, some denture teeth can be more expensive than others but will look and feel more natural, and the cost of the pink acrylic base used to replicate your gum tissue can also vary. Generally, a Flipper tooth will cost several hundred dollars to make.
Can I Eat with a Flipper Tooth?
A Flipper tooth is fairly fragile and more designed to hold your natural teeth in place and restore your smile so you do need to take some care when eating. Generally, it may be best to avoid chewing directly on the Flipper tooth, only using it to eat softer foods.
How Do I Take Care of My Flipper Tooth?
It is easy to look after a Flipper tooth, but it is important to follow a regular routine. Below are some easy tips to help you care for your Flipper tooth.
- Before you go to bed, you must take out your Flipper tooth and clean it thoroughly.
- You should clean your Flipper tooth with a denture brush, preferably after each meal, to remove food and bacteria buildup. It is better to use a denture brush as an ordinary toothbrush can harm the acrylic of the Flipper tooth.
- Clean the Flipper tooth using a proprietary denture cleanser or mild dish soap and rinse thoroughly under warm water.
- Avoid using hot water to clean your Flipper tooth, which could distort it.
- When you aren’t wearing your Flipper tooth and overnight, store it in a glass of water, as it is important it doesn’t dry out.
- It is best to soak your Flipper tooth in a denture cleaner overnight several times a week to keep it fresh and clean.
- Your Flipper tooth can be stained if it comes into contact with darker-colored foods and drinks, including beets, cranberry juice, and coffee.
- While wearing your Flipper tooth, try to avoid playing with it with your tongue, as this will loosen it. If the Flipper tooth does become loose, use your tongue to reposition it and bite down gently.
What Is the Alternative to Having a Flipper Tooth?
A Flipper tooth is a temporary option, so when your dentist provides you with this prosthesis, they will also want to discuss how to replace the tooth permanently.
Potential options include:
Dental Bridge
A dental bridge is a very popular option and is fixed permanently in place. Your dentist reshapes the teeth adjacent to the gap so they can be covered with dental crowns. These crowns are shaped to look exactly like real teeth, so they should look and feel very natural.
A replacement tooth made from the same materials is attached to these crowns and is called a pontic. It is also shaped to look and feel natural and rests directly on your gum. The result is a three-tooth dental bridge consisting of two crowns and one pontic and which is permanently cemented into your mouth.
Opting for a dental bridge is a relatively cost-effective solution that can be completed fairly quickly. Treatment is quite non-invasive and long-lasting, but you will probably need to replace the bridge in ten years or so. You can possibly prolong the life of the restoration by practicing good oral care, but it will not last forever.
Dental Implant
A dental implant is a way of artificially replacing a missing tooth, consisting of a small post made from titanium or zirconia, a strong ceramic material surgically inserted into the jawbone. Once the post is embedded in the jaw, it soon becomes fused with the bone around it and is strong enough to hold a replacement tooth in the form of a dental implant crown.
Unlike a dental bridge, a dental implant is self-supporting and isn’t anchored to the adjacent teeth. Instead, it helps support these teeth by ensuring they remain in place and sharing the load created when you bite and chew food. A dental implant tooth closely mimics a real tooth, and one of the major advantages of this treatment is the protective effect on your jawbone.
Normally, when you lose a real tooth, the jawbone surrounding it begins to resorb without the stimulation provided by the tooth root. The artificial tooth root in the form of the implant post provides a similar level of stimulation and prevents jawbone resorption from occurring.
A dental implant is a more expensive option but is a long-term solution for tooth loss. Well-cared-for dental implants can last for many years or life, have a biting strength similar to real teeth, and look and feel exactly like natural teeth. Often, a Flipper tooth is used while patients wait for the more permanent solution of a dental implant.
However, implant treatment is now sufficiently advanced, so experienced implant dentists can often remove the failing tooth, insert a new implant post, and even fit a temporary implant crown on the same day.
Read more: All-on-Four Dental Implant Problems and Complications
How Long Can I Use a Dental Flipper?
As stated earlier, dental flippers are a temporary option. They are normally used while waiting for the gums to heal before choosing a more permanent solution like a dental bridge or implant. While some people may choose to wear dental flippers permanently because they are a low-cost option, they are not meant to be worn in the longer term.
However, teens under 18 who are missing teeth may need to wear a dental flipper for longer than normal until their teeth and jaws have finished growing and developing, and they are old enough to have a dental implant.
Can I Sleep with My Dental Flipper?
No, as just like an ordinary denture wearing a dental flipper places constant pressure on your gums that, over time, can lead to bone deterioration and gum recession. You must remove your dental Flipper while you sleep to give your gums time to recover.
When you have a failing tooth or suffer tooth loss, it’s important to consider all the options available; a dental flipper is just one solution. When you see your dentist, they can discuss options available to you in far more detail, show you how they would work, and provide a treatment plan that details the costs and time involved for each procedure.
A dental flipper is a budget-friendly temporary fix while your mouth heals, but a permanent restoration like a bridge or implant is what protects your jawbone long-term. Visit our dental practice in Sheepshead Bay, where the VITAdent team can walk you through the options and build a treatment plan around your budget. Schedule your consultation today to restore your bite with confidence!