OT - 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!

 

[Tess'smom]

I had this happen and chose to have a bridge instead of a dental implant. My dental insurance covers bridges but not implants. The teeth on either side of the problem tooth had root canals anyway - so they weren't perfect to begin the process. Getting the bridge was not a problem or painful. My dentist said that the implant was a long drawn out and somewhat painful process. Another reason to get a bridge. Hope this offers another option.

 

[LuvOrlando]

A DF of mine had this done for a front tooth and is really happy with it. It does take a while. First you get a 'flipper' tooth that is removable to keep your teeth from crouching in the space. While you wear this flipper a 'root' is implanted into your jaw and then the bone needs to heal around it. After all is well the tooth is attached to the root and you are done. DF has always been very happy with her tooth. I

The trouble with bridge work is that the Dr. must shave the surrounding healthy teeth down to stumps in order to affix the bridge. Personally, I'm not into destroying perfectly healthy teeth if it can be avoived but that's just a personal preference.

 

[LoveMyBoys]

I have 3 implants, and it was a long process, but I have to say that i am really happy with it. After they put the implant in you have to wait for it heal between 4 and 6 months, before they can put a crown on it. It was painful for the implants to put in, but worth it to me. My insurance also didn't cover it, and I had to pay for it OOP. I have two on the bottom and one on top. The one on top is because my baby tooth never fell out, and there was no permanent tooth behind it, so when they finally had to pull it, I was left with a gap. My dentist said that he doesn't recommend shaving off the two teeth around it to put a bridge, so we went with the implant. The one on top was more painful then the ones on the bottom. The bottom ones they drill in, but the one on top they had to use a small hammer (a medical one I guess) to get in. The one on top also took longer to heal. They gave me antibiotics before to prevent an infection and lots of pain killers afterward. I had it done about 4 years ago.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'm getting one tomorrow. My crown broke off and took the rest of the tooth with it. So I have a dead root. But one tooth next to this one is a virgin tooth, never been touched by a dental drill. No way I am going to have to remove it to put on a crown for a bridge. So my Oral Surgeon is removing the old root and putting in the implant tomorrow morning.

I don't need general anesthesia, so I can drive my self (I'll have local instead). I have antibiotics to start 1 hour before surgery. He took a better xray on Wednesday to see if it looked feasible to install the implant at the same time he removed the root. Sometimes they can't and have to start a bone graft going to get some better bone for the implant to get a base on. That lengthens the entire process.

It will take about 3-4 months for the implant to be ready before my dentist can put the crown/tooth back on the implant base. This is costing me about $1650 for the procedure tomorrow. The new tooth is not included in this price.

The oral surgeon said the biggest problem with implants was infection, thus the antibiotics right away.

Good luck.

 

[crazywig]

i had 2 done last year (at the same time). like others, NOT covered by insurance. at my initial appointment with the periodontist i had to give him $5,000 and no, that didn't cover the actual crowns (my regular dentist put the crowns on). insurance paid about half of the cost of the crowns, which were $1k each.

i had 2 teeth pulled and two implant screws put in at the same time. i was in the chair for hours but no pain. some pain after but i did go to work the next day. i had to wait 6m before they could even cast for the crowns. i think it was 8 months total between the posts and actually getting the crowns screwed on.

very expensive but worth it. this was the last resort after bone grafts, etc. failed to save my molars. my dentist said these are the strongest ones in my mouth now LOL.


good luck today deb!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I was in and out in less than an hour. My left side of my face is still numb, but that is going away. I've got pain killers, but my oral surgeon said I could also take Ibuprofen if I wanted. Felt absolutely no pain at all during the procedure.

 

[amarberry]

My DH has been in the process of getting one for the last 9 months or so. He started having problems with the tooth right around Christmas. He'll finally be getting the crown in late October.

I think the level of pain depends on which tooth is at issue. I don't remember him having a lot of pain with the extraction and graft, but he was pretty miserable after the implant. He had to eat soft food for a week or so and then he had to be very careful with how he chewed food.

Insurance hasn't covered anything, but the extraction (couple hundred $). When it is all said and done, the entire process (including crown) is going to be about $5,000. Hope he doesn't have to have another one.

 

[Syrreal]

I have 2. They are really not that big a deal. The process itself can take a while since it is sometimes suggested that the pin part be put in a few months after the tooth is taken out (this depends on the dentist and on bone density). The actual putting it in takes about 1/2 an hour from the 1st numbing shot until you are closed up and ready to go home. Then anywhere between 4 and 6 mos later you come back for the permanent tooth. Once that is in you can't tell the diff between the implant and your natural teeth. It didn't really hurt me at all (and I am wimp when it comes to pain)- less than taking out a wisdom tooth. They give you antibiotics and painkillers and on the 1st day you are only supposed to have liquids like ice cream/smoothies/lukewarm soups but the next day you are supposed to eat regular. The day of, it helps to keep an icepack on your face to cut down on swelling and discomfort. It is expensive but worth it IMO.

 

[isla bonita]

I have one and it is the best thing I could have done.

I also have had not a single problem with it.

More cash then you want to spend but for me it was worth it.