Replacing a tooth that has been lost to trauma or disease is not a quick process. Often the extraction site will need time to heal, and if the tooth is to be replaced with a dental implant, additional procedures such as bone or soft tissue grafts may be required. This can mean going without a permanent replacement tooth for a few weeks or for several months.
Obviously this isn’t ideal, particularly as the loss of any tooth can affect the position and stability of those remaining and if the missing tooth is highly visible then its loss can be distressing. Flipper teeth are one solution to this problem.
In This Guide
- What is a flipper tooth?
- How much do flipper teeth cost?
- Who are they for? Adults or kids?
- Benefits
- Drawbacks
- What to Read Next
What is a Flipper Tooth?
A flipper tooth can be constructed before the natural tooth is removed. It is made from pink gum-colored denture acrylic that supports the replacement tooth. It may have clasps that fit around existing teeth to help hold it in place. This appliance is easy for the patient to insert and is easily taken out for regular cleaning. A flipper also improves the ability to eat and chew food.
How Much Do Flipper Teeth Cost?
Flipper teeth typically cost between $300 and $500. The price depends on the number of teeth that require replacing and the type of materials used and can vary considerably. A flipper that has wire clasps for example, will cost more than one without.
Who are they for? Adults or Kids?
They can be used by adults who are missing a single tooth, or who have lost several teeth that are not adjacent to each other. Using flipper teeth can restore the appearance of natural teeth in a way that is immediate and inexpensive. While normally used as a temporary measure, some adults will choose flippers as a more permanent solution for tooth loss.
Dentists sometimes recommend flipper teeth for children who may have suffered damage to their front teeth and who are still waiting for their permanent teeth to come through. Wearing them can help restore a child’s self-confidence during this period, which can be an important consideration. They can enable a child with a missing tooth to maintain an appealing and pleasant smile.
Benefits
Affordable
They are inexpensive to make when compared to other options. This can provide valuable time to save up for more permanent and more expensive restorations such as a dental bridge or a dental implant.
Quick Solution
They can be used right after natural teeth are removed and are often pre-made prior to tooth removal.
Fewer Visits to the Dentist
They can often be made very quickly, requiring fewer visits to the dentist compared to a more permanent partial denture that may have a metal alloy substructure.
Lightweight
They are lightweight and some people find them easy to get used to wearing.
Improve Your Smile
They can instantly improve aesthetics, alleviating the embarrassment many people experience when they lose a tooth in a highly visible area in their mouth.
Can Be Modified
The structure of flipper teeth allows some degree of flexibility so if another tooth is lost within the year, the dentist can add this additional tooth to the denture.
Drawbacks
Weak
They are not very strong or stable, which can make it tricky to chew and some people choose to leave their flipper teeth out while eating at home.
Noticeable
The metal clasps sometimes used to hold them in place can be difficult to hide, making it more obvious that a person is missing one or more teeth.
Fragile
They are fragile and easily broken. A broken denture can only be mended by a dentist or by a dental laboratory and this may mean going without the flipper for a day or more while it is mended. Frequent breakages could prove increasingly difficult to mend.
Uncomfortable
The overall weakness of the material used to make them does mean that the base of the denture must be quite thick and broad. This additional thickness can make the denture uncomfortable, especially towards the end of the day after a long period of use.
Unhygienic
The design of a flipper can create unhygienic conditions in the mouth, preventing saliva from having a cleansing effect, particularly on the denture surface closest to the gums. If not meticulously cleaned, flippers can increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
Can Become Loose
After only a short period of use, they can become increasingly ill-fitting and loose. This may mean they are uncomfortable to wear and will rub on the gums, increasing the risk of bone loss in these areas.
What to Read Next
Over to You
If you have flipper teeth or are considering getting them, I’d love to hear from you! How much did they cost? Were there any complications? Was it painful? Let me know in the comments.
Anyone have experience with Flippers for just side teeth? How is chewing? With them? Can you do flippers for top and bottom that you wear at the same time?
I have a side tooth (behind my canine, upper tooth, flipper. I can’t afford another implant right now. The flipper: I love it…I sometimes don’t take it out when I’m socializing, in a restaurant. Sticky foods the only problem, and some meats.
My dentist said her patients sometimes have upper and lower flippers and like them.
i am so upset i lost my front tooth after a fall & its almost all gone! nothing to attatch a crown too! implant will be $3500!! there’s no way! a partial is covered by my insurance but a “flipper” is $700!! what is the difference?
The difference besides cost is the flipper is not permanent, it comes right out with a slight tug of your finger. But it stays in place when you put it in; but for very sticky foods, and doughy breads, in my experience.
A partial is far more stable and stationary…even though you take it out too. I believe there’s metal involved…they ‘hook’ onto other teeth, and can sometimes be an adjustment period of many months to build up gum tolerance. I’ve had one. It was nearly impossible to tolerate. The thickness of the plate was horrible. My speech was adversely affected, I did the best I could, but when my new dentist introduced a flipper….I was super happy.
I have had a flipper in my front tooth for about 5 years. I had it for less than a week and it broke. So I had to go back to the dentist and have them fix it. This was because they didn’t tell me that it was cosmetic only, so I tried to eat with it. Not wise. Once I knew this and started removing it to eat. I didn’t have any additional breaks. In the beginning it was a little rough on my mouth, but it wore down. So now it pretty much feels like a part of my mouth. I am contemplating getting another tooth added to it that broke. However; I am stuck between that and a bridge, because I would like to be able to eat without taking the flipper out. It being in the front is why its so delicate. It doesn’t have much support as far as eating with it.
I had a flipper tooth made in Indonesia (I was there on vacation) for $9 US. Ridiculous that it’s so expensive here!
I am about to have a fractured upper tooth extracted & the dentist mentioned a flipper. I’ve been doing my homework to learn more about it and other options so that I can make the best decision for me. Since most of the comments here are positive, I’m feeling better about this option. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and helping me in making my decision. And for those who really hate their flipper, I hope you have found something that works better for you b/c mouth pain is the absolute worst to suffer.
PS: A dentist on the Internet advocates anything except a flipper (“Why I Hate Flippers and You Should Hate It Too”), possibly b/c he can get more $$ from his patients for other options?! Hmmmm.