Dental Advice faq from Seattle Area Dentist

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I am 45 years old. I've had peridontal surgery and braces on my teeth 2X. I have missing teeth and I was never told I needed additional dental work to close the gaps of the missing teeth. Needless to say, here I am with missing teeth and my teeth are shifting once again. I am now also having intermittent bouts of bleeding of the gums. I am DESPERATELY in need of advice. Do I go see a periodontist or orthodontist? I don't want to go and have braces put on (yet again) only to find out I have a gum problem. My parents and older siblings all have full or partial dentures. I don't want to lose my teeth. I am willing to do whatever I need to do to avoid loosing any more teeth and to realign my teeth to their prior "happy to smile" state.

Because there are so many apparent options for you, I highlyrecommend that you visit a General Dentist before seeing any more specialists. This way, your dentist can develop a treatment plan and work with whatever specialists might be needed. The possibilities for filling the gaps in your teeth include fixed bridges, partial dentures, dental implants, or braces. If the spaces are small, veneer facings are also a possibility. If your teeth are shifting because they are loose, you may also benefit from splinting or bonding the teeth together to prevent them from shifting further. If you do not have a dentist, I recommend searching for one who provides the services I mentioned above so that you can be comfortable with whatever options he/she gives you.