Anyone with a Dental Implant?

14 years ago

I am slowly absorbing the fact that, most likely, I'll need to have an upper molar extracted. Two failed root canals and now a (potentially) failed apioectomy--I'm feeling some pressure/throb in the area on occasion. I'm 54 and have never had an extraction before. My first thought is an implant but my employer's dental insurance doesn't cover it and from online information it is enormously expensive. Has anyone had an implant? Was it painful? Since it may be some months until I need it, should I start looking for supplemental insurance, if possible? Any and all experience welcome, and thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

minnie_tx
14 years ago
I don't want to tell anyone about my implants (which I'm having removed BTW) MY advice is to keep your bottoms for as long as you can it is much easier to work with false upper teeth than the bottoms. ? Why do you have to have an implant just because you are having an extraction? especially since this is an upper ?
terilyn
14 years ago
My oldest son has an implant on front upper tooth. Was knocked out and all bones broken when he was 7, he went through flippers and bone grafts until he reached bone maturity. Had the implant then, he is 27 now, no problems at all.
Related Discussions
Dental Implants
Q
Comments (14)
To me, it was not that painful, not even as bad as a root canal, and although we don't have much money, my implants are worth every cent. I got two implants way in back, lower jaw, over 8 years ago. The crowns on them were connected at the top for strength. Finally, just recently, the crown began to "show mobility," and--to make a long story short--our dentist ended up having to remove the crowns this week so a periodontist could check what was going on. Fortunately, the furthest back implant turned out still to be solid as a rock, while the one in front of it is only a bit wiggly, due to an infection and some bone loss. The dentist thinks it can probably be saved with a bone graft, but I'm looking at around 6 months or more of having temporary caps on those implant posts. Fine with me! I loved having these implants, which felt exactly like my own teeth once I got used to them. Even if it had turned out that the present implants had to be completely removed and the whole procedure repeated all over again (spoken of as a possibility before the dentist found them in fairly good condition), I would gladly have done it. Mwoods: It's your jaw, of course, but for me, at least, having a hole drilled into the bone was completely painless (after the needle with anesthetic), and even the day of the implant, with some good painkiller (hydrocodone), I was able to go out with a friend and pick out and buy a new car. Not a bad experience at all! The implants have never given me any pain in use. I agree with others who say it is important to find a dentist with plenty of experience and a good technique for doing the implants. As for the money, you may be looking at several hundred (at a guess) for building up the bone, then more for the implant itself. Once it has healed well, a post is attached on top and a crown made to be glued onto it. The crown will also cost several hundred, probably. I can't recall exactly how much my total was.
...See More
Tooth implant anyone had one?
Q
Comments (10)
I've had two implants, but both were on teeth that were removed several months prior. There was little pain with either implant. The oral surgeon who did my first implant explained to me that drilling into bone is similar to drilling into soft wood - there isn't much resistance. As for why implants are a long process, this is what's required: 1. Evaluation and x-rays to see whether you have enough bone to do an implant. If you don't, then you have to have a bone graft before they can do the implant surgery. 2. Implant surgery. This takes about two hours. During this surgery, the gum is opened and holes are drilled into the bone to implant the the base of the implant into the gum. 3. Then, there's a waiting period of 2-6 months, during which the bone grows into and attaches to the base. Sometimes, the surgeon can make a prosthetic tooth to fill the gap in the interim. 4. During recovery, the gum sort of grows over the base, so the oral surgeon does a second, very simple, procedure to expose the base. 5. After that, you go to your dentist to have the false tooth made. Once it's made, they attach it to the base. All told, my implant procedures both took more than six months. *So* well worth it, though!
...See More
Dental Implants
Q
Comments (38)
I have had my implants for 6 years now. Not one problem. No regrets. I had them made just like the temporaries, which were more square than most false teeth you see. One thing you see a lot is little round teeth. I didn't want that. My natural teeth were more "square-ish" than round. As for having it done in a day....it appealed to me. I am not afraid of much, and I can't say I am afraid of a dentist, but I had some horrible experiences plus some very shoddy work done, when I was young. I was very careful choosing who did them, and it had to be someone I felt very comfortable with. When I found out I could have it all done in a day....I figured I could handle anything for a day. As it turned out, it was totally painless. I was offered a script for pain meds to take, as needed, and turned it down. Little swelling and one bruise the size of a dime. My doctor does nothing but implants. People from all over the country go to him. He has other dentists in his practice who do the more routine things. I would just say, as I think I have said before, if you choose to have it done, get the best you can find. I honestly did research this very carefully for 3 years before having it done. I talked to a lot of people too...some who hadn't had it done but thought they knew a lot about it. In every instance, they were wrong. One told me I wouldn't be able to eat solid food for 6 months. Wrong. If you could cut it with a fork or into pieces, you can eat it. Now I can eat anything. Corn on the cob, apples. It is as close as you can come to having natural teeth. They don't slip, and I can't even tell they aren't natural by the way they look and feel. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
...See More
Dental Implants.........
Q
Comments (19)
All on 4 or implants in a day is a way to place two implants on the lower, two on the upper and make dentures that anchor on to those. It's a very specific procedure and it is typically for patients who have been without teeth in the implant sites, have adequate bone in those sites, are free of infection and meet a number of criteria that make such a procedure possible. You can also have an implant restored in a day (although not with the permanent crown) either in a spot where you have been missing a tooth and there is adequate bone, or if you have a tooth that can be removed leaving enough bone to place the implant in the socket and achieve primary stability enough that it can be loaded immediately with an abutment and a single (usually temporary crown). Both of these situations are referred to as immediate loading. I will not place implants for immediate loading. I also don't do immediate placement into extraction sites, because I only do guided surgery where the placement is pre planned on a CT scan ahead of time and a guide is fabricated to place the size and position that has been planned. (It is possible to do this for immediate. but one needs their own CBCT scanner and a fabrication method for the guide onsite). I will refer people to others for extraction and immediate placement, but I never recommend immediate loading. The failure rate goes up. I have only seen a couple All-on-Four cases in person and the were both failing. I am going to say something that may seem mean, but this needs to be put into perspective. If you had 6 teeth that needed to be removed and these teeth were infected, this did not occur in a day. Teeth are not inanimate objects that happen to be in your mouth. They are living tissues. You had a chronic infection and a chronic disease, periodontitis, (whatever the origin) that took some time to develop. Why would you expect this condition to be cured in a day? Please be patient. I am not judging or assuming anything about how the condition developed. I treat some very advanced disease and I know there are many factors that may lead a patient to end up with hopeless teeth. But it really isn't realistic to expect a chronic condition to be treated overnight. You also have to be aware that once you have the implants, they are a part of your body and they need to be maintained. On one hand implants are very successful. On the other hand fully two thirds of implants have been found over time to have some sort of inflammatory process around them.
...See More
bigfoot_liz
14 years ago
you will not find any insurance to cover it, especially not supplemental unless it was caused by an accident. you also must get it fixed while with your current insurance otherwise any work whether it's an extraction, bridge or another root canal/cap will not be covered on another insurance company policy. my dh had an upper back molar pulled yrs ago and now no insurance company will pay for the bridge, it's out of pocket. dental insurance is almost becoming a waste of $$ since they cover nothing now like root canals, caps, bridges etc...really anything but 2-cleanings, 1 x-ray set and a couple of fillings per yr. we droppped our's since we only get cleanings w/ a rare problem maybe once every 5 yrs that none cover now. ~ liz
carol_in_california
14 years ago
I have two upper molar dental implants next to each other....it was done about ten years ago. It was expensive but well worth it if you think about cost per year.
I had an exceptional orthodontic surgeon (a perfectionist) and a very good general dentist.
Make sure the dentist and surgeon you pick are very experienced in dental implants.
mboston_gw
14 years ago
I am having an upper molar (#2) extracted tomorrow. It's my back one on the right but I am not having an implant done. My dentist says I shouldn't miss it and I am nearly 60 so my teeth shouldn't be moving around all that much. I have a big crown next to it and he said if it were that one, an implant would be necessary. Unfortunately, I also need that crown redone. Looking like I will spend sometime in the dental chair over the next couple of months.

BTW, I am having them put me to sleep. I am a big baby that way - plus my mouth is very small and I always am choking when they do the crowns and back fillings. Just hoping the pain afterwards isn't too bad. Its the first tooth I have had to have pulled since a bottom molar when I was just a kid. Ended up with a bridge for that one some years later.
vala55
14 years ago
If you have a tooth pulled you need an appliance (spacer) or an implant to keep the teeth from moving later on. I think you meant an implant for one tooth. At your age I would do it even if I had to borrow the money. It's very important. I am 75 and I would not do it now. And for anyone who need to have their bottom teeth pulled leave 3 or 4 if you can, they will work as implants and hold lowers in place when you eat. Check around for a reasonably price dentist. There are good dentist out that will do it cheaper. Looks of the tooth is not so important if it is in the back.
matti5
14 years ago
marita, my DH had the same issue as you did, two failed root canals and an apioectomy in 2008. Since then, every few months he had throbbing pain and was given antibiotics each time. We finally made the decision to have the tooth pulled and prep it for an implant. When it was extracted 3 weeks ago, the tooth crumbled and an abscess was found. The oral surgeon used a cadaver bone and now we wait 3 months for that to "grow", so we can proceed with the implant. Our dental insurance covered 80%.
wanda_va
14 years ago
I had two implants done in 2005 (I was 58). I love, love, love my implants...and if (God forbid) I ever lose another tooth, I will immediately start the implant process.

It's expensive; insurance companies generally do not cover it; it takes several months from start to finish; there is some (not much) pain; wearing the temporary partial plate during the process was horrid. But it is sooo worth it in the long run. And I decided that I'm worth the cost--I'm spending my grandsons' inheritance....

If you have specific questions, I'll be happy to try to give you answers.
joann23456
14 years ago
I have two implants, on my two front canine teeth.

There is some pain with an implant, but not nearly so much as with a root canal. My oral surgeon explained that it's like drilling through pine - it's soft, and you can drill easily.

It does take a fair bit of time, as I remember. My oral surgeon used conscious sedation, prescribing 3mg. of Ativan prior to surgery. So I wasn't put out, but I wasn't really there, either. It was terrific and cheap, and I highly recommend it

I also agree with the poster who said not to bother to look for new dental insurance. I haven't found an insurer yet who covers dental implants.
matti5
14 years ago
We have Delta Dental and they covered 80%.
yayagal
14 years ago
I broke a molar about a year ago and the crack went down to the bone so I had to have it removed (no pain) and the implant done. I love my implant, so much better than a crown. I went to an endodontist for the removal of the tooth and the implant. It' cost me 3200.00 which killed me but I don't regret it. My son had one done six months ago and he only paid 1200.00 so shop around but make sure you get references. The pain was not bad as I took my med exactly as prescribed. I got the flip tooth (another 350.00) only because my 50th wedding anniversary was coming up and a big party was planned and you could see the gap when I smiled. It was a waste of money, I only used to 3 times. Go for it, you'll never regret it. I'm 71 and not sorry I did it. I have all my teeth and didn't want one missing.
jel48
14 years ago
My insurance covered about 2/3 of the cost of my implant. They also provide similar coverage on bridges. So it all depends on the insurance you have. I did end up paying somewhere around a thousand dollars out of pocket. But it was not that much more then my share would have been for a three tooth bridge, which would have been the alternative.

The implant process took a long time. I had to wait a few months (3 or 4) after the extraction to have the pin put in. Then I had to wait a similar amount of time for that to heal before having the crown done. I did have a temporary crown in the meantime.

I love the implant. I've had it hmmm.... maybe 5 years now. The dentist told me that he'd been doing them for 17 years and had a few that the post hadn't healed right (a small handful) where he'd had to reset the post. He said he'd never had one come back with any problems once the post was healed.

I had him put me under to set the post. I didn't have a lot of pain after that. Certainly nothing like a real toothache, the pain you have from the extraction itself, or the pain that I've had with an abcess, or even the kind of pain I've had a time or two from 'rough' dental work.

I love my crown. I also have one three tooth bridge, and I'd take the crown any day.

Anyone with a Dental Implant?

Comments (12)

minnie_tx

terilyn

Related Discussions

bigfoot_liz

carol_in_california

mboston_gw

vala55

matti5

wanda_va

joann23456

matti5

yayagal

jel48

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US