Beautiful!

Wow - nice! I, too, need extensive work on my teeth. I'm not intending to be nosy and am not asking for specifics, but was it terribly expensive? Such as $15,000 +? For the work I need it'd be well over that amount, according to my dentist.

Your new teeth look absolutely wonderful.

Marilyn, if the temps. look that good, you'll be gorgeous when you get the real ones! Really nice. Your hair is cute too. :)

Marilyn, if the temps. look that good, you'll be gorgeous when you get the real ones! Really nice. Your hair is cute too. :)

Yes, it was expensive. I could have had a nice, fancy pick up truck. It was $50K. I had wanted them for a long time and had been saving my money. Then Jody was off work for a year and had to spend it to get by. When he got a settlement, that is the first thing I did. Funny...I had researched this for 3 years. I mean constantly....I had read literally everything I could find on the internet and every video on youtube and every video on Vimeo...and I knew who I wanted to do it...Dr. Brueggen in Houston. The doctor who pioneered this procedure was Dr. Malo in Portugal and Dr. Brueggen trained under him, and years later when Dr. Malo wanted the procedure done, he got Dr. Brueggen to do his....so I knew he was the best. Plus, I had seen him on tv and I liked him because he was so laid back and seemed very kind. And he is....a super nice man.

Before we even put the check in the bank, called to make an appointment. He had a cancellation so I got in the next day. When they asked me when I wanted it done....I said now! They said they couldn't do it "now" but they could do it the next day. I got there at 8:30 and I left at 6:30 pm. Absolutely no pain. I haven't had to take as much as a tylenol.

Anyway, I knew I would never get another hunk of money like that again...and I had gotten to the point that I didn't want to go out in public. So the money wasn't like we ever really had it....we didn't miss it.

There are several places that do it cheaper. I even considered going to Costa Rico. There is a franchise called Clear Choice that I have heard good things about. Usually it is about $18,000 an arch. It can even be less.

I'm so glad you got this. You really look beautiful! Thanks for sharing all the information!

Thanks, Marilyn. They were certainly well worth it. Perfect.

Actually, I didn't have any say in these teeth, because it is all done in a day, you don't really have time to have very much in put. But they said they will make the permanent ones any way I want them. I am pleased with the way these look...considering it was all done in one day...I thought they did a good job.

Wow -- that smile lights up the room. Very pretty and very natural looking. Implants are amazing. I have one. They sure are expensive, but so much better than bridges or dentures.

I'm so happy for you. I love your hair, too! I can't think of a better investment that your own health, appearance and happiness.

You look fabulous....I have had some real dental issues too and wonder if I might not end up with the implants at some point...They look wonderful...Congrats.

You look wonderful!!! Having had dental implants myself, I know what a blessing they are. I agree that it was a worthy investment, and I congratulate you on your fabulous new smile!

Oh wow they look fabulous! Lucky lady. My husband seriously needs them he has had several fall out or break. He was a heavy smoker for years and it caused his gums to receed and damaged his teeth.
I would love to have them too, due to strong antibiotics when I was a child with my teeth just coming in,my teeth came in discolored not white. I hate them.

So happy for you.

Looking good!

and I had gotten to the point that I didn't want to go out in public.
I'm sure that your new smile, and self confidence will vastly improve your already good quality of life. I'm so happy for you.

Sue

They look so natural I just thought they were yours if I thought at all. We all start needing dental work at this age I think. At least everyone I know needs it. You should have whatever makes you happy. You are so pretty it is a crime you didn't want to go out in public. Merry Christmas.

Marilyn--so that's what you look like when you smile!! ;-) I always thought you were pretty with that nice, thick hair, but now you're a knockout. They did an excellent job--do you want to change anything when you get the permanent ones? If so, how do you know what you need/want changed? By how they feel?? 'Cause those look terrific!

Sharing your happiness with you, pretty lady.

Wow!
Your smile is wonderful!!Great haircut too!

Hi Marilyn,

Oh My Goodness...those are BEAUTIFUL! What a wonderful gift and in such a short amount of time. Congrats on your new teeth and your new look.

I'll bet you smile all the time now. Money well spent!

sooey

Awesome! You look great!! (I'd love to have them)

I wish I could have the dental implants too - they look really great. Congrats.

Patti, when I went for a check up after three weeks, Dr. Brueggen was talking to his hygienist and he said he really liked the way the teeth look. They had told me to bring a picture or give them any input I wanted and they would make my permanent teeth to look however I want. I more or less trust his judgement on it. If they looked like the ones I have now, I'd be pleased. But look at what they can do. This lady is on his website and I have never seen any teeth look any more natural than hers.

As to how they feel....there was a little bit of getting used to, but not bad. Now they just feel natural. I had no pain...little swelling and one small bruise at the corner of my mouth. I was awake but sedated while he did it. I don't know....I think some of it may be motivation. When I got contact lenses when I was 19, the doctor told me how I would adjust would depend a lot on how motivated I was. I was motivated, and I had no problems.

When I went back for my three week check up, he gave me two water piks. One Ultra Flosser and one that is the same but portable. He said it is very important to keep them clean, so I am very conscientious about that.

Don't know how the permanent ones could improve on those. That's just a wonderfully natural looking picture. I'm happy for you.

I've got that to look forward to--(long time smoker here and gums have receded and I've lost most upper back teeth) but dentist says my sinuses are in the way and I'd need surgery there first if I really want implants. So you just enjoy the heck out of them. :)

Marilyn,
I have to agree with everyone that your teeth are beautiful! You have a great smile!

I'm a little confused about how all your work was done in one day. I'm going through an implant process now on one front tooth. The tooth broke and was not repairable so my dentist pulled the root. They have made a temporary artificial tooth called a flipper for me to wear. I had to wait for the area of the pulled root to heal before the oral surgeon would implant the stem that is going to hold the new tooth. I now have to wait for 5 months for the bone to grow around the implanted stem before an artificial tooth can be attached to it. Are we having a completely different procedure because mine is called an implant also?

Beautiful! Just beautiful! Your smile says it all. Money well spent.

ML

Here is my dentist's website. It may answer your questions there, but I will try to explain too. I had all of my teeth pulled, and then immeiately, he placed implants that screw (for want of a better term) into my jawbones. Then (immediately) an arch of teeth was attached top and bottom.
The teeth are screwed into the implants....four on top, four on bottom. If he did a single implant, for one tooth, it might be done differently. I know he does that too.

As for sinus lifts....he said he can almost always avoid doing them. He said I have "weird" sinuses. (Okay...but I have never had a sinus infection...so they must be good) :)

The procedure is called "all on four"....meaning, all teeth on top (or bottom) are attached to the four implants.

I have to wait six months for the bone to grow around the implanted posts (I call them screws), and then I will get another set of teeth, the permanent ones.

I have to be careful with what I eat....anything that can be cut with a fork. No biting with my front teeth...like eating pizza. The diet hasn't been nearly as restrictive as I thought it would.

I'll be happy to answer any more questions, if I can, or point you to the answers that I found on line. But, yes....everything was done all in one day. I arrived at 8:30 a.m. and I left at 6:30 p.m. I was sedated during the procedure but awake.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dr. Brueggen

Here is video of my dentist, explaining the procedure.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dr. Brueggen...video

You look great Marilyn!! Thanks for the links too... very interesting.

That was a great video, Marilyn. I love the way the doctor speaks! I think you and I are having basically the same procedure since you also have to wait for the bone to grow around the "screw." It's just that since you had so many teeth pulled, they had to give you something more as a temporary measure than what I received. It's also probably the reason for the subtle restrictions to your diet--not wanting to stress those screws before the bone had grown around them.

Again, all I can say is that they look fantastic! I know you are very, very happy.

The all on 4 is done as an alternative to dentures.

When I saw him on the Wellness Hour, I knew right away that I would like him. He is incredibly kind an laid back....and yes, a country boy. I didn't have to feel intimidated and I was immediately comfortable with him.

I researched this so much and there is a forum called Real Self, for all kinds of cosmetic procedures. I just read a post today by a woman who went to Clear Choice and said it was the worst experience of her life and she wouldn't do this again if they paid HER 10 times the amount of money.
She said she has had excruciating pain and now when she talks, she "whistles". She was so unhappy. I am so glad I went to Dr. Brueggen. For one thing, if you are going to have anyone screw posts into your jawbones...their level of expertise is to me more important than even the money you pay. I literally have had no pain...taken nothing but some antibiotics that he prescribed...and couldn't be happier with how I was treated and the way this has turned out.

I am going to send his info to my brother in law, he was in a very bad accident years ago, and they did dental work back then but he is having major problems with them now and he really needs someone who is knowledgeable enough to determine what can be done at this point to fix was done and what he is dealing with. His jaws were broken badly and wired back together which is yet another complication.
The local dentists where he is in south Louisiana are not the best and none feel they want to deal with it. They have done a couple implants and he has lots of pain with them.

I know that you are thrilled with them and you should be, great that you did your research.

Raven, I highly recommend Dr. Brueggen. He has great reviews on the internet too. He is someone that I bet your bil would feel comfortable with. He is an avid sport fisherman. I could hardly get a word in when Jody was with me because they kept talking about fishing.

So beautiful Marilyn!!! You sure deserve this...now your smile is as lovely as your heart. :)

You look beautiful.

I am so happy for you, Marilyn! You look stunning!

raven, if you have OK teeth but are discolored, why not just get veneers?

Marilyn you are a beautiful person, inside and out.

It's nice to see you writing, Marilyn; I haven't seen you post in awhile but didn't want to call you out quite yet. :)