Any downsides to implants?

[BLLB]

Funny thing, both the dentist and the ortho said since he was a boy to go ahead and do it. Which, being a "girl" myself, i thought was pretty funny.

DS just wanted to do what was the fastest

 

[Tink575]

Dental implants that is. DD16 is missing the two top lateral permanent teeth so we have gone to the consultation with the periodontist for the implants and our family dentist for the crowns. Now that the sticker shock has worn off...I want to know if anyone has had them and now regrets it or has had problems? I need to know all of the positives and negatives to dental implants before we shell out that much money. We have already gone through $5800 in braces. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful that so far this is the only thing that is "wrong" with DD so I do feel blessed. I just want to make sure we are on the right path and making the right choice with implants. Thanks!

I had an implant for the tooth next to my front tooth on the top 33 years ago. After the crowns on my front teeth needed replacement I had the implant redone to match. The original implant lasted 33 years with no problems at all. Worth every single penny and that "tooth" always seemed stronger than my other teeth.

 

[ekatiel]

DS does not have one of his lateral teeth (had a baby tooth but no adult tooth behind it). DS needs braces so rather than have an implant, the ortho and dentist recommended removing the other lateral tooth and closing the gaps. The ortho showed us pictures of other recent patients he had done this for and we would not have known had he not pointed it out.

I am missing these same teeth, and that is exactly what the ortho did for me. You cannot tell that I am missing any teeth at all. Pushing them together is likely the cheapest option, too. I know OP said her daughter couldn't choose this option, but for anyone who can, it is a great option. --Katie

 

[MrsPete]

Both my children were born missing some adult teeth. Only the oldest has has her implants at this point, but they were definitely the right route to choose, and we anticipate doing the same thing for the younger when she's ready. Comments on my experience:

Be aware that an implant is a several-step procedure. You don't just go into the office one morning and walk out at lunchtime with an implant.

Our daughter had her wisdom teeth out /the baby tooth that was "holding the spot" out / the implant put into her jaw all on the same day. She was put to sleep for this procedure. The implant itself is kind of like a screw that goes into the jaw, but it is full of holes. The bone grows through the holes, making it a permanant part of the body. She lived with the implant and a "cover" -- I forget the real word -- for a couple months.

After that, the dentist x-rayed her and said that her jaw was accepting the implant perfectly, and he okayed us to go back to the dentist.

The dentist removed the "cover" and placed a "fake tooth" over the implant.

The process was time-consuming (I want to say it was something like 4 months between the implant going in /process being finished, but worthwhile. The tooth has given her NO TROUBLE in the two years she's had it. I don't notice that it's not a real tooth, and she treats it just like a real tooth as far as brushing it, etc. It requires NO EFFORT on a daily basis.

I understand the implant is for life, but the fake tooth eventually will need replacing -- but it should have a decades long lifespan before it needs replacing.

The cost was high: All told, and I think this included the wisdom teeth, I think I paid over 4K.