Question: I need to have a front tooth pulled and then wait four months before my implant, then four months more for the crown. I was told the only way to have a temporary tooth during this time is to wear a removable denture with one fake tooth. My dentist called it a ‘flipper.’ This sounds very cumbersome; any ideas? – Dr. Vatore in Boynton

Answer: Anything you put in your mouth named after a TV show about a sea mammal can’t be fun.

A ‘flipper’ or transitional partial denture, is very common. They can temporarily affect speech and can be difficult to eat with (much like my parents after two glasses of wine).

A new product called ‘Snap-It’ uses a specially designed custom acrylic set of teeth that clip to the adjacent teeth. The device is made in a lab from a set of impressions of your teeth. Not every patient is a candidate. For free consumer info on Snap-It, contact us.

Dr. Josephs will be giving a free lecture on implant, cosmetic and general dentistry and signing his latest book in Palm Beach on Oct. 15 from 11 a.m. to noon. Call (561) 832-2917 to register.

Dr. Josephs practices Cosmetic, Implant and General Dentistry in Palm Beach and can be reached at drjosephs@palmbeachdentist.com (888-378-6684) or visit www.palmbeachdentist.com

by Dr. Mitchell A. Josephs