Dental implants

[Benducci]

Has anyone had dental implants? My cap fell off my tooth & the dentist said the tooth underneath is no good (I had a root canal one on it about 6-7 years ago) and I have to have the tooth removed & a dental implant put in. This sounds really scary & painful. Can anyone explain this to me? Thanks!

 

[mickeyboat]

I don't have experience, but will tell you that if you have dental insurance, make sure you know all the ins and outs of the coverage. Some insurances have no coverage for implants, some the tooth can only be gone for a certain period of time before the implant is put in, you might come up against your yearly maximum, so if you are close already, you might want to schedule it for next year (if you have a calendar year deductible).

Good luck.

Denae

 

[DisneyMim]

I just got back from the dentist so your post really caught my eye. Yes I have had an implant, and root canals, and now am getting a "gold" tooth (that's what I call it, my Pirates's tooth HAHA). I have had MAJOR problems with my teeth so I hear ya and totally understand how scary it sounds. Really, overall it wasn't that bad. The worse thing is that the total process took about a year and you need to keep going back. First I had to have my tooth pulled, or what was left of it, it was a tooth that had had a root canal years ago and was now all infected (gross!). Really that was the most painful and hardest part, but I have wonderful dentists and nurses and they helped me a lot. I should add that I am the biggest baby of all time, hate, hate going to the dentist. After they pulled the tooth you need to wait for it to heal and then they will do the actual implant. This is done in parts, first you get the "rod" that the cap will cover and finally you get the crown and it's all good! I know I'm not explaining it correctly, but your dentist will give you info about it and you can read it for yourself. Yes it is expensive. Mine cost about $5K, but that included the tooth behind having major work done as the infection was in there too. Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to tell you to not worry, I love my implant now, it feels just like a real tooth and doesn't hurt at all anymore. For me it was worth the cost and time because I have a tooth there instead of a bridge or a hole!!

Good Luck!!

 

[disneysnowflake]

I had to have a dental implant of a molar. I don't have dental insurance, so it was strictly cash.

First I had to have a metal little rod placed into my jaw. The oral surgeon numbed up the area then used a small drill to drill into my gum so it's straight down into the jaw. It's vertical where a collar would be placed for the implant to sit on.

That cost me $950 just for the metal rod. It took about 20 minutes and didn't hurt AT ALL. The dentist gave me a prescription for pain medication, but I needed nothing. I didn't even need Tylenol. I felt normal and all I had was a scab where they had to break the gum to put the rod in. It was a breeze.

I had to go back in 2 weeks to get it checked, then had to wait a few months for them to put the collar on. They had to cut my gum again. Again, no pain.
That was included in the $950 price.

Then the big money. The dentist charged me $1500 for the tooth. He made a mold and had the tooth made. Again, no trouble at all. No pain.

The only pain in the entire procedure was the pain of having to pay so much money for one fake tooth.

 

[Nala56]

I also lost a crown and the tooth underneath is too bad to save. My dentist said I must have a oral surgeon remove and she is going to make a bridge. They make a crown for the tooth on either side and a false tooth in the middle. I'm not sure of the price yet, but she did not mention an implant. Maybe I should ask her before I commit to the bridge?

 

[LindaR]

I know what the OP means........DD17 is looking at having to have numerous implants (most in the front) because of the incompetence/negligence of her orthodontist. I was told that the teeth in front (or the ones that show when you smile) require a level of expertise that most dentists don't have (they can do molars) and that we'd have to go to an oral surgeon for her work. I'm looking at $1800 per tooth.........and I don't have dental insurance.....and I'm a single mom. Talk about freaking out! She has a fear of the procedure. I have a fear of managing to pay the bill.

 

[RadioNate]

I have a fear of it all. I need 2 implants and 6 crowns. My insurance won't conver any of it because it is congenital and the teeth were missing before this policy.

Nala - I'd look into an implant before comitting to bridges. I currently have 2 Marilyn bridges like you described and they've been nothing but problems. I've had them 15 years and realistically they should have been replaced years ago (they generally have an 8-10 year life span) but I want to do it right with a competent oral surgen and cosmetic dentist and I can't afford that it yet (we are saving). I'd talk to your dentist why she belives that bridges are the correct solution.

 

[Nala56]

radionate,

thanks for the info, I will ask about the implant. Seems foolish to crown two perfectly good teeth if not necessary.

 

[tar heel]

Nala -- A bridge generally costs the same as THREE crowns, so you're talking $3,000 range. I've had one for about 25 years. I wouldn't say it's constant problems, but it is annoying to get stuff under it. I carry Superfloss in my purse b/c I can't stand the feeling.

 

[Benducci]

bumping for some more opinions. I am probably going to have the tooth extracted but I am undecided if I want to go through with the implant. The tooth is the last one in the back on the bottom - do I really need a tooth there?

 

[Deb & Bill]

I just got back from the oral surgeon with my new implant. I was in the chair about 45 minutes. He numbed it up good and removed what was left of my tooth (only the root). I'd had a root canal on that tooth, so he said that sometimes it makes it a bit harder to remove. It wasn't. I return back in 5 days for follow-up.

I'm still numb on my lower left side. I have pain meds if it gets bad, but he also said I could take Ibuprofen if I wanted to instead. Or use ice packs. He started me on antibiotics to help reduce the chance of infection, which, he said, is usually the only problem with implants.

I felt no pain whatsoever during the procedure. No yanking, no tugging, no noises coming from my mouth other than when he was getting the bone ready to put the implant in with the drill (for about 5 minutes off and on total). I repeat, I felt absolutely no pain during the procedure. We'll see how much pain I have later on as the anesthesia wears off.

I also have a prescription mouth rinse to use three times a day.

Today's procedure (remove the old tooth remains and set the implant) cost $1600. That covers all the followup visits, too. It does not cover the cost of the tooth to be placed on the implant.

I drove myself there and home. No problem with that.