Hi Bryanna. Hopefully you remember me from my earlier posts this year regarding my front tooth.

I had my front tooth (#8) pulled in mid March and now am scheduled for my implant surgery in a few weeks. My oral surgeon told me he saved my extraction tooth and I have the option of having it bonded for a few months to my other front teeth a month after the implant surgery. That way I won’t have to wear my flipper anymore. I am getting sick of my flipper, so this sounds interesting. I know it will be months before the permanent crown goes on the implant.

Have you heard of people using their extraction tooth during the dental implant process? I am considering it but not sure if I want to fool with it. Also the tooth that was pulled had been though a root canal. Any advise or suggestions? Thanks!

Also, anyone that has had this done I would like to hear about your experience too.

Hey Alex!

Using the extracted tooth as a temporary replacement during the healing phase of the dental implant is done very freuquently for the front teeth. The tooth is bonded to the adjacent teeth with a composite (tooth colored) filling. The downside to this is you cannot use that tooth to eat with because the bonding is only somewhat stable for chewing purposes. However if you are careful with your diet (no biting into a sandwhich for instance), you don't have to use your front teeth to eat.. so that is good! The upside to bonding this tooth in is ..... it will look natural and you won't have to deal with the flipper anymore. The extracted tooth does not go into your gum at all..... it is simply bonded on the other teeth and is taking up the space, that's it.

The only concern I would have since the tooth was root canaled is the color of it. Root canaled teeth can darken..... so make sure the tooth looks esthetically good before having it boned in. If at any time after the bonding you don't like the look, it is easy for the dentist to remove and then you would just have to wear your flipper again.

Hope this info helps!

Bryanna