Having watched DH go through getting one tooth replaced I to am perplexed by those Ads. I assume they are as false as most of that sort of thing. They don't tell you although the pictures make it plain if you know what to watch for that these ads are for anchored dentures but you would still have to wait for the anchors to heal in before you could use them I would think. I know they tout the idea that people can just walk out with teeth but I suspect that would be the exception and not the rule. People who lose teeth or have worn dentures for many years usually have bone loss in the jaw.

Judy - I think those ads are just a come on. If you think about it - you do walk out with a nice new artificial tooth in one day - but that's only after months of prep work and healing.

I think my first implant took nearly 7 months from extraction to walking out the door with my new tooth.

Talk to Marilyn! She had them all done like that. They look fantastic.

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2736210/dental-implants#n=33

I found Marilyn's thread - I didn't realize she had them all in one day although they were temporary teeth and she did return to get the permanent ones later.

Had one done and I am about to get a bridge replaced. Being older they use a bit of cadaver bone to build up the area for the implants. Depending on the person it could take up to six months to be ready for the final crowns.

My treatment plan is to do the extractions and wear a flipper til that heals and then go back for the implants and prep work. More flipper time. Then when all is healed and the bone is ready my dentist will do the final crowns.

Implants to hold a denture or partial go more quickly. They don't seem to need as strong a foundation as for individual teeth.

Is this being done by a general dentist or a specialist?

My exposure is limited but it has seemed that the more highly trained specialists (like prosthodontists and oral surgeons) more often than not prefer to allow time, often some months, for the implant and the bone to fuse together before placing the replacement teeth. Maybe not always. I don't know enough of the details of what is done under what circumstances.

General dentists can place implant posts and add teeth to them but few do so with the same skill and knowledge as the specialists.

In this area I have never seen a general dentist do implants. I sure wouldn't go that route. My dentist works together with the implant oral surgeon. All three of us decided on the treatment plan. Lots of phone calls and I had face to face visits with each. At first the dentist was going to do the extractions but now we decided it would be best for the oral surgeon to do them. My dentist took the molds and had the flipper made. Dentist won't be involved again until the area is ready to be have the permanent crowns placed.

I had one implant years ago and it's my favorite tooth! No problems with it at all, but I can imagine it would be hard to have more than one done at once. I'd never go to anyplace that is advertising implants, esp cheap or fast track. In my area, the oral surgeons specializing in implants have more business than they can handle - they don't need to advertise.

I’m in the midst of my second one now. The periodontist did the extraction and implant at the same time. I still have to get the crown. I will have that by the end of October. I had the implant last April. By the way, it’s costing me $6500.

Pal, besides regular brushing/flossing/pro-cleaning, do you recommend other maintenance?

Thank you for this post. I need one extraction and am deciding on what to do from there. My one implant will be almost $7000. Seems like a lot for one tooth.

Don't believe the implications in the ads. What you describe sounds about right for required time. Additional time was needed in your case due to the infection. When you loose teeth, the jaw bone begins to reduce. I had 6 weeks added to my procedure while I grew enough bone to support an implant. My schedule:

1. Extraction.

2. One week later, the gum was opened and the site prepared for bone growth. Ground up cadaver bone was put in place and the gum sutured closed. The cadaver bone acted as an armature for bone growth. There may have been a hormone added tot he mix.

3. Six weeks later, an X-ray showed that I had grown enough solid bone to continue the procedure. An imprecision was made to constructing the new tooth cap and the post installed. A small cap was screwed onto the post.

4. Another waiting period of a few weeks to allow bone to infuse around the ribbed implant.

5. Once the the implant has been accepted by the body and rigidly surrounded by bone, the remainder of the procedure can be accomplished. The time required varies for different individuals. This can be 4 to more weeks,

6. After it has been judged that the implant is ready, the remainder of the procedure is quick and easy. this requires about a 30 minute session in the dental chair. The small cap is removed from the post and the abutment (cap) is screwed on. A tiny version of a mechanic's ratchet wrench is used to install the final part. LOL Final fitting and adjustments are made and then it is done.

Three to six months is normal for this procedure.

I have been very satisfied with my implant. It is acting as a backstop for the few teeth I have on that side. The only surprise I got was when I brushed my teeth for the first time after installation. I discovered that there was a recess under the cap on the inside surface. The cap did not go all the way to the gum as it did on the outside surface. This recess needs cleaning with floss or water pick.

Chewing forces stimulates the jaw bone and keeps it from loosing material at that location.

Thanks for all your I put, very helpful. I never expected teeth in a day as you see in advertisements, I just don't feel this misleading adverts should be allowed.

Did you read Marilyn's post that Marie cate linked to? She is very happy with hers and they look beautiful. So for some people it certainly can be an option. Not for others.

Marilyn's teeth are beautiful, but they were also very expensive.

In 2005, I had two implants to support a bridge of three teeth. The cost was $5,200 back then. It took many months to go through the process. I love, love, love my implants!!! For me, they were definitely worth the time, money, and discomfort (very little discomfort).

The "teeth in a day" add is only misleading to the extent that the commercial makes it sound like it's a possibility for many people. The patient in the commercial is probably typical --already had dentures--, but they say nothing about what percentage of patients would actually meet the criteria. But technically it can be done.

But this is the corporatization of healthcare.

Now you can get Invisalign-type braces over the internet (Smile Club) and they make it sound easy peasy and like it's about six months.

Even when done conventionally, Invisalign without proper patient supervision can be disastrous. As in "hey, if changing the trays every two weeks straightens my teeth in two years, I will just change the trays every two DAYS!"

Of course all the trays arent supposed to be doled out at once but it happens.

Well, damn. I thought I posted to this thread, but it went on the one with the link maire_cate posted. So if you want to read it, go there. Basically I said I have had them 6 years. No problems. And I would do it again.

One thing I didn't say....often people who have been wearing dentures over a period of time, have bone lose significant to the extent the all on 4 procedure might not work....I don't know. I had teeth, just not good ones, and I did not have bone loss.