Insurance barely touched mine—just a tiny bit for the flipper, nothing for implants. I went with a flipper too while saving up, but man, eating with it was awkward. Honestly, sometimes I wonder if just leaving the gap would've been easier...
Leaving the gap might seem easier, but did your other teeth start shifting at all? That was my main worry. I tried going without anything for a few months and chewing on that side just felt weird. Ever notice any changes with your bite?
My dentist told me teeth can shift over time if you leave a gap, but honestly, I didn’t notice anything at first. After about six months, though, I started feeling like my bite was a bit off—chewing on that side just felt awkward, kinda like you said. It wasn’t painful or anything, just weird pressure. I ended up getting a partial because I got paranoid about things moving around too much. If you’re worried about shifting, maybe ask your dentist to check your bite every few months? That’s what helped me catch it before it got worse.
That pressure feeling you mentioned is all too familiar... I ignored a gap for a while and my teeth definitely started drifting. It’s wild how subtle it is at first. Getting a partial was a smart move—I waited longer and ended up needing more work to fix my bite. Regular check-ins with your dentist really do help catch those little changes early. Don’t stress too much, though—most shifting happens slowly, so you’ve got time to figure out what feels right for you.
Regular check-ins with your dentist really do help catch those little changes early.
Wish my kid would let me drag him to the dentist more often—he acts like it’s a haunted house. We’re debating between a partial and an implant (wallet says partial, dentist says implant). Anyone else have a kid who just wants to keep the gap?