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Tooth Implant

16 years ago

I am considering this for one very wobbley tooth. It's a bottom back tooth, one up from a back molar.. My periodonist has been doing implants since 1994--in fact has one himself--but I'm looking for personal experience here.

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Comments (13)

jel48
16 years ago
I have one and I'm very pleased with it. It's been in place for about three years now. The only complaint I have is that they make them a little narrower at the bottom (gum line) and sometimes food will get stuck in there. There is a little brush you can use to clean this area, but it's still a bit of a pain. I wouldn't trade for anything though. I am really glad I got the implant.

It was a long process, having it done.
socks
16 years ago
Second-hand experience here--two friends have had them and are very happy.
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OT: Need someone to commiserate with me.
Q
Comments (25)
You sure have my sympathy! We don't have dental insurance, either. We have spent a small fortune on my teeth, too, and now the dentist has recommended me to see a periodontist (?) to do something to stabilize two implants I have side-by-side that are getting loose. I know that is probably going to cost plenty, but to add to the pain (and my anger), I got a form letter from him with a long form to fill out about my past medical history and the information that they "do a thorough periodontal check-up, take x-rays, and have a "consultation" with the patient to determine the best treatment. You can just bet that every one of those little items is going to mean a big separate chunk of money. Not, "I'm going to see ($250) what I can do for your implants,...ah, yes, come in next week for a bone graft ($1000? more?), and we'll check regularly to see how it is taking, at $300 a pop." I intend to put up resistance to that "thorough periodontal checkup," at least, because my dentist is on top of any problems in that line, and I certainly don't want a specialist at this point. But do you think I'll be successful? I can just hear the receptionist saying how it would be "irresponsible" of them, once they got me in their office, not to check everything. Har har. $200 per filling certainly sounds excessive to me, too--not if it's a simple matter of drilling and filling. Is every cavity the size of the Grand Canyon? I'm sorry for both of your children, too. When I was a kid, the dentist's waiting room seemed like the ante-room to hell, but dentists are kinder these days, and getting it all done under anesthesia sounds really nice! Sorry for ranting. This is a sensitive topic for a lot of us, I guess.
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Ever heard of this?
Q
Comments (8)
Um. They shouldn't HAVE to do an implant unless his mouth is HUGE. I'm missing a tooth on the bottom. My dentist really wanted to put an implant in, but I needed braces no matter what, so I went to the orthodontist and they told me that an implant would be very bad for my mouth, my jaw and my bite. I had braces for two and a half years, and wear a retainer on the top and bottom at night. Before my braces, I had a large gap where I was missing the tooth. Now, it's snug against my other teeth, just like all the rest. So! Don't trust your dentist completely! Talk to the orthodonist first. They know more about what's good for mouths/jaws/teeth than the dentists. After all that... at least he doesn't have wisdom teeth. The year after I got my braces off, both of my brothers and I had all of our wisdom teeth removed within six months. My oldest brother had four, my other brother had five and I had four. We maxed out the dental insurance. So at least that's not happening to you! ~ Kit
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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!
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taking the lid off
Q
Comments (19)
Moni: Carefully consider your options before retiring. No matter what people say, having enough money (income) during retirement is very important for a carefree and happy life. You do not need to be rich, but you do need to have enough. As you age, expect an increase in health related expenses. From my experience, it is my health issues that is causing my largest expense increase. I am reasonably healthy for an old guy, but I am also on maintenance medications to stay healthy. My retirement at age 62 was forced. My job was disappearing. The company had decided to greatly downsize its operations at my location. I was offered a buyout plan that was equitable, but the prospect of retirement did scare me. I was afraid of retirement because I was making good money and knew that we were spending at a goodly rate, a rate that I thought I could not afford in retirement. I had thoughts of continuing to age 65 and if all was well, I would have continued on a year to year basis to age 67. The idea was to grow retirement funds to sufficient size to be comfortable. That did not happen, however, the buyout did achieve that same result. My daily expenses reduced. Savings came from no more commuting, clothing, and simpler food. Cutting out commuting was a biggie. That also reduced stress and I am much happier for that. We still take a yearly auto trip of 1000 to 3000 miles. last year, we did 2 trips. So, what did I miss? I missed the daily contact with my peers. I did not have a circle of associates outside of the job. If you have a circle of friends that you see once a week, that will suffice. I discovered that for me, I get bored if I have only one hobby or activity. I am happier if I have 2 to 3 projects to change to. Since I am a home owner, maintenance is one of those projects. Our local county trade school offers a number of low cost (to seniors) courses such as genealogy, clock repair, auto body repair, low level computer usage, choir, etc. These are good activities to keep your mind busy. It may be true that to keep your brain healthy, it need mental stimulation and exercise. One of my friends say, "Use it, or loose it".
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hgl_gaylemarie
16 years ago
I have had those teeth removed. I couldn't afford the implants at the time. I must say this...if you don't have the implant your jaw structure changes. Your face seems to sink in at those places you are missing a tooth.

That's the other side of the story.
kfca37
Original Author
16 years ago
I should have mentioned that I have solid teeth on either side of the wobbley one, so I think a bridge would be an option.

The funny thing about this tooth is that my periodonist told me that it was not saveable 15 years ago, but still useable for another two at the most. So 15 years later...
hgl_gaylemarie
16 years ago
kfca, I have a bridge. If you get one, wear it everyday. I don't and then I pay the price of TMJ! I like to chew gum and it sticks to the bridge. They have green gum stuck on them right now. LOL!

As far as eating with a bridge, I have no problem with Steak. However, salad gets under my bridge and gets uncomfortable.

I know...TMI!
sheilajoyce_gw
16 years ago
My sister had an implant. The process took 6 months or more as the area has to be prepared with oral surgery and then it healed for a few months, and then the tooth is finally screwed it.
nicole__
16 years ago
I used to have/hold a dental assisting certificate. I'd do it in a case like this. But....a pin, drilled into the jaw could create a stable base. Then the tooth could be filled or capped depending on the condition of the existing tooth. The pin is cheaper and I've had that done on myself.
trishaw
16 years ago
My DH has an implant. He got hit in the mouth at work one day! It took a long time to get it but he likes it. His sister who is a dental assistant has tightened it for him at least once. The only issue he has had is when he had surgery- they stuck a tube down his throat for breathing and chipped the tooth. It is an eye tooth for him. But other than that- he loves it.

Trish
vala55
16 years ago
If they still make the bridge like they used to, it will be hard on the teeth the wires are attached to. They may use other things like plastic, but I think they still have to shave a tooth to make room for whatever they use. I would go with the implant.
kfca37
Original Author
16 years ago
for a permanent bridge (remember this is only one tooth), the right & left adjacent teeth are shaved down, sort of like preparing for a crown, except it would be a three-but-all-one-piece deal, crown, fake tooth, crown, and that would be glued permanently.

I think the wired thing is yet another way of doing things...maybe in the case whre there aren't teeth abutting on both sides?

My next dentist appointment is a month off, so I've got time to think about it. Very thankfully, cost isn't an issue (though I'd prefer spending the money elsewhere) whichever way I go.
vala55
16 years ago
If money is no problem I would go for permanent. But if you are as old as dirt like I am, go with the cheap. LOL I had a new dentist who wanted me to spend big $$$$ on repairing my teeth. $1,500, just for two repairs. I got a referral from a neighbor and got it all done for less than $300.
pattico_gw
16 years ago
Monica pa...would probably be our expert implant person.

I hope she reads this...

She has a beautiful smile.
wanda_va
16 years ago
I've had two implants. Love them! If I ever lose another tooth (heaven forbid), I will definitely get another implant. They are expensive and it takes a long time to finish the process, but the end result is well-worth it. They look and feel like your own teeth.

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