How to Replace a Tooth Yourself Using Temptooth

Missing a front tooth can be inconvenient and embarrassing. Finding a dentist to replace that tooth can be difficult. Steve Howard, inventor of Temptooth, understood this problem and saw it as an opportunity. Mr. Howard cleverly developed a simple technique for temporarily replacing single teeth with a safe material. The technique is a simple, inexpensive do-it-yourself craft project. As a dentist, the product appears interesting. A patient, Claire B., volunteered to test Temptooth for this report. Claire is missing a front tooth (figure 1). Can she fabricate a temporary replacement tooth without professional assistance?

Mr. Howard delivered a kit overnight. Temptooth is not available in stores. The only way to purchase a kit is by ordering from www.temptooth.com. The kit costs $24.95, and shipping is an additional $5.95 to $49.95 depending on the speed of delivery. There is an additional charge for Saturday overnight delivery. The kit contains enough to small plastic beads to fabricate about 10 temporary teeth, a brochure, and a CD with high quality photographs and directions to replace single missing teeth (figure 2).

Claire spent about 15 minutes studying the brochure and the contents of the CD. She asked for a glass container (she had to use a plastic cup), a small sharp scissor, and a metal spoon or wooden tongue blade. Claire used a microwave oven to heat water in the cup to 150^o F. She dropped about 10 beads into the warm water. In about a minute, the beads were clear. Claire scooped up the beads with the tongue blade. They stuck to the plastic cup a little, glass would have been better. Claire formed the plastic mass into a small sausage shape. She looked into a mirror and pressed the plastic into the space between her teeth where she was missing a tooth. Claire folded the extra length of plastic behind her teeth and flattened the excess against the backs of her teeth. When the plastic firmed up, she snapped the resilient plastic from between her teeth and cooled it further in tap water. Then, Claire used the small scissor to trim away the excess.

Figure 3 shows the Temptooth in position. It snaps into place just as Claire made it. Claire made an acceptable temporary tooth on her first try. The material can be reheated to try to improve the size and shape of the temp. Another recommendation from the instructions (and Mr Howard) is to heat the plastic in tea to stain the plastic a more natural color. The standard color is very light.

Claire's evaluation is that lay people can use this material to create an acceptable temporary tooth. Claire said that she would use a Temptooth if she was missing a tooth, had to appear in public, and was not able to see her dentist for a couple of days. From a professional perspective, Temptooth has certain advantages. It costs hundreds of dollars for a dentist to replace a single tooth with a temporary device such as a "flipper" (similar to an orthodontic retainer with one or two teeth). The flipper appears more realistic than a Temptooth, and will stay in place better. The Temptooth will not stay in place when eating and will soften with hot drinks.

Caution, the Temptooth is likely to come lose. It might be swallowed or inhaled. Swallowing a replacement tooth of any kind is not a hazard. Inhaling a replacement tooth is a serious problem requiring an emergency room visit. While unlikely, this is a concern with any kind of dental device including permanent bridgework and dentures.

Dr David Leader has no financial or professional connection to Temptooth or Steven Howard, the inventor.