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Post by Seldom Seen on Mar 5, 2021 10:57:01 GMT -5
I've spent a small fortune on implants for my wife over the last twelve years with mixed success. Currently, she's enduring a two post, six-tooth bridge procedure for the lower jaw and she's just about ready to move to the dental bridge phase. I'll admit her dental hygiene can be spotty and she's a smoker.
A year ago I visited my dentist's office and had the elder of a father and son team perform a checkup. His son had been monitoring some gum loss on three of my teeth. His dad told me I should get three implants and tried to send me to an endodontist. I was a bit put off because while waiting, I had been forced to view a rolling photo show of his recent two-week trip to Thailand with his young wife. I though it odd to say the least, especially since his son, my regular dentist, hadn't seem too alarmed about the situation on my previous visits.
I told father dentist I would double my hygiene efforts and brush after every meal where, previously, I was more of a morning and evening brusher. I believe my tooth stability has improved through this effort and I seem to be doing fine although, I'll admit, I won't tackle a cob of corn with wild abandon any more but the three teeth in question are serviceable for the moment.
Should I wait until the situation becomes untenable or is there some advantage to forging ahead before the teeth are "toast"? I'm interested in your experiences before I complete an upcoming checkup or seek an endodontist's advice. I've always believed that putting off replacement procedures as long as possible is the best approach to health and dental care.
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Post by jhawkr on Mar 5, 2021 11:35:46 GMT -5
Last year I had to decide whether to go with a 3 tooth permanent bridge or a implant after an upper front tooth broke off at the gum line. The cost was $2600 to go the bridge route and $3000 for the single implant. The other alternative was a “flapper” tooth. I ruled that out immediately. I decided to go with the bridge because I had one tooth next to the lost tooth that I thought was sketchy and would need a crown soon anyway. I got 2 new crowns connected by a bridge tooth. They look great and work well and the only downside is flossing under the bridge daily. I have bigger issues than teeth, although they are very important so went with the cost effective permanent solution.
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Post by Seldom Seen on Mar 5, 2021 12:43:21 GMT -5
Yeah they gave my wife a flapper but she won’t wear it. She’s had it worked on a few times but it’s just not comfortable enough to work for her.
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tmc
Wholenote
Posts: 907
Formerly Known As: tmc
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Post by tmc on Mar 5, 2021 14:56:37 GMT -5
Depending on the problem, waiting could lead to bone loss which could add a bone graph to the implant procedure. I went with the implant because it was a permanent fix to my problem. I just reclined in the chair they injected who knows what into my arm, and an hour later I handed over my wallet.
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Post by Harleyboy on Mar 5, 2021 19:02:58 GMT -5
When. I lived in Fairbanks I spent 10 to 15 thousand dollars on implants that didn't take. These were all done by a specialist, required surgery, a nurse, an anesthesiologist.. He did bone grafts, inserted wires all kinds of crap.. Nothing worked.
I moved to Oregon. New Dentist said, "I'll take all that crap out of your mouth for free.. Wait 4 months, and I'll put implants in for $800 bucks each and guarantee them." I have several successful implants now. Never a problem with any of them.. I'd suggest shopping around. Going to more than one Dentist for an exam and recommendation is way cheaper than letting the wrong Dentist do the work..
Remember, some of them finished at the bottom of the class.
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Post by Jim D. on Mar 5, 2021 20:31:22 GMT -5
I had a molar that ended up not being a candidate for a root canal procedure. I opted for a post implant. Not cheap but I choose a first rate specialist. The same day the the artificial tooth was affixed to the post it was as if it was a natural tooth. Zero problems almost a year later. Best decision I could have made. I do have dental insurance but the out of pocket was still substantial. The process took several months, but the results are perfect. I am no expert here, but I would be leery of a compressed, short term procedure.
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Post by Mikeyguitar on Mar 6, 2021 14:52:09 GMT -5
Dental implants because of gum loss? I had some gum loss going on with my front bottom teeth.
My dentist did simple fillings - easy peazy.
I've thought about implants in my bottom jaw because my teeth on either side are short compared to my other teeth, causing an over-bite. But there really isn't much wrong with them other than that...so I'll just let them go until there's a bigger problem.
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Post by LesTele on Mar 6, 2021 15:16:16 GMT -5
I just wear a mask and no one can see my terribly British teeth.
At the moment I can’t get near a dentist because of the thing. I need a new veneer but no one wants to deal with me because it’s not an emergency.
We have universal dental care in the UK, up to a point. I could pay top dollar and get it done immediately.
That’s not my way. Also, the mask thing😀😷
Edited to add that I’m aware that it’s not a relevant post. I just need to vent if dentistry is mentioned.
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stl80
Wholenote
Posts: 216
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Post by stl80 on Mar 8, 2021 17:22:58 GMT -5
I drill and tap steel all of the time. The thought of implants makes me shudder plus not covered by my insurance. I have 3 bridges and they work just fine.
Jim
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Post by dukedog on Mar 8, 2021 17:39:18 GMT -5
Yikes, I'm really sorry about everyone's dental woes.
I'm significantly younger than most of you (40), so haven't had to deal with any of that. Very glad to be of the fluoridated, sugar-free, and non-smoking generation.
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Post by rok-a-bill-e on Mar 8, 2021 17:55:11 GMT -5
dukedog, if you are still a part of the pasta, rice, and bread eating generation then don't let your guard down. As far as your teeth are concerned those are just sugar in another form.
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Post by walshb 🦒 on Mar 8, 2021 22:34:47 GMT -5
I had a dental implant of a front tooth, about 15 years ago.
No regrets other than what it cost me at the time. Dental insurance didn't cover any of it, IIRC. About $2500 out of pocket, back then.
I've had no issues with it, and I did wear a flipper for several months while the bone that they added from another area of my jaw was healing.
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krrf
Wholenote
Posts: 376
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Post by krrf on Mar 9, 2021 9:53:06 GMT -5
I have two implants for molars that were root canals gone bad. The dentist was a specialist at it and I've had zero problems 5 years later. I didn't have a same day procedure, but instead they drilled in the implants and I ahd to wait a few months before they put on the crowns. The most disturbing part was when they checked the torque on the implants with a baby torque wrench to make sure they were bonded to the bone.
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Post by RonC Picker on Mar 10, 2021 20:42:46 GMT -5
I've had 3 of them. Two were no problem at all. The third one failed twice...done by the same Dentist/Periodontist, using the same brand and implant type. He retired and the new dentist who bought the practice used a different brand/type implant and it was successful. No problems with any of them since successful installation.
Hardest part about it is the procedures taking several months to complete, especially at the twice failed site: Let bone heal a couple of months, install implant and let the bone heal to anchor the implant for a couple more months, get impressions made for the crown and wait a week or two, finally install the crown.
I'll add that I did have a bridge prior to getting the first implants. What I hated about it was getting perfectly good "anchor" teeth ground down to install the bridge, which lasted maybe 6-7 years before one of the anchor teeth developed a split and had to be pulled. Goodbye bridge and you now have a gap of two teeth! Pissed me off to no end...sigh.
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