Age creeping up and now need to think of dental implants for one side of my upper jaw. Bone loss seems to require bone grafting and eventually 2 implants. Has anyone done this, how did it go and was it difficult to do? Any advice appreciated and TIA
I've had implants/bone grafts. The procedures went easily and well. Virtually pain-free during and after. I am hesitant about having a GP place the implants, I'd suggest a Periodontist or Oral Surgeon. They can be a bit pricey with both the surgical procedures and the restorations, but they function great, probably better than your own good teeth, and way better/more comfortable than compromised teeth.
I've had implants/bone grafts. The procedures went easily and well. Virtually pain-free during and after. I am hesitant about having a GP place the implants, I'd suggest a Periodontist or Oral Surgeon. They can be a bit pricey with both the surgical procedures and the restorations, but they function great, probably better than your own good teeth, and way better/more comfortable than compromised teeth.
I agree with having Oral Surgeon placing the implant. I have one and it required some bone graft before it could be placed and have not had any issues. This was done ~20 years ago. All of my regular dentists since then have been impressed by the work he had done. Unfortunately he has since passed away.
I've had one done twice due to tooth trauma and incompetence
1. The implant was not set high enough so the crown looked awful compared to natrual teeth
2. Was experiencing bone loss around the implant.
For the second one, I switched to a more experienced oral surgeon. They had to remove the previous implant, do a bone graft and let it heal for 4-6 weeks. Since it was a front tooth, I had an invaslign with one of the front teeth painted white so I didn't look ridiculous.
After that healed, implant went in, another 4 weeks of healing. They used plasma from my blood to speed the healing process. After the implant heals, they can screw on the crown.
It's been 15 years since i had it re-done on the front tooth and no isses.
From an experience point of view, the worst part is the novacaine shots, that and the noises you hear. I would recommend it as a permanent solution, but make sure you pick quality practioners. A lot can go wrong with these things if the implant isn't set correctly.
I had a bone graft and dental implant done by a oral surgeon
Snickers: Never thought I'd be posting about dental work but it just so happens I am in the midst of what sounds like pretty much the same procedure. When they said they were doing a bone graft I asked 'if they were taking a piece out of my leg etc.!' Turns out when people do the organ donation they also take the bones, grind them up and distribute them for bone grafts. Looks like it kinda comes out of a tooth paste container. My orthodontist removed the old root and infused the space with this graft material. The freezing part wasn't fun and your mouth will be a little sore for 7-10 days so you have to be careful chewing but other than that it wasn't a big deal. Now I have to wait 3-4 months for the graft to take.
As noted the real killer is the cost as it is effing expensive even with a pretty good dental plan. Enjoy!!!
Grafts and bridges. First two I did were advertised $1800 each. Then the dentist gets sent to prison. The rest done by university dental school faculty, I wasn't trusting anyone else. The cheap ones turns out we're clones. They sell them at conventions. Implants.com identify them so faculty dentists could get crowns made. Some guys by fancy new cars, I bought a new mouth. But the ladies smile when I do !
And I echo what Bill in UT said, go to a periodontist or an oral surgeon. As a currently practicing GP that places implants, multiple units requiring grafting should be handled by a reputable specialist. Should be about 4-5k per site/tooth, if it's grossly lower than you're likely getting substandard parts and care
I went away from root canals and crowns after I was made aware that it is possible to have a 2nd root canal (3rd?) on the same tooth!!
I am done with root canals - if a tooth becomes abscessed it gets pulled period.
It is a little expensive out of pocket but, I highly recommend it.
It is a time consuming process. The first visit the pull your tooth after the take some blood from you (very little). They mix that blood with bone powder from cadavers (sounds gruesome - I know). then they pack the whole where your tooth was and you go home for about 3-4 months until that packing (through grafting) becomes part of the jaw.
Then the 2nd visit (3-4 months later) they put the titanium base of the implant in and you go home for another 3-4 months until the jaw grafts itself to the titanium base.
Then they scan your mouth with a very small camera(?) to make a crown for the implant. This is recent technology. I used to have to go to my regular dentist and he would make a ... he would fill a mold with playdough (I am sure that is not what it is and they have a real name for it) and you would bite down for about 5 minutes until it firms up and they (the Lab) would make a crown from this. I n about 2 weeks you go back to your regular dentist and he puts the "crown" on top of the implant.
The whole process is painless - really. You just have to be patient - it takes a while. But, I have never experienced any pain or discomfort (my 4rth tooth). If you can afford it I highly recommend it. Your dental insurance will help but, I think I have paid about $3,500.00 per tooth? Somewhere around there but, I would do it again in a heartbeat. No more extreme pain from abscesses, no more cracked crowns that can be odorous, no more anything.
p.s - I have not read any othe comments. If this is a repeat of what some others have said - I apologize.
Forgot to mention, oral surgeon to be doing the procedure.
Yes but, if you aren't the nervous type - I have all 4 implants with just Novocain alone. I admit to taking a couple of valium before I went in but, he pulls your tooth and then packs it and then uses stitches to sew it all up. It is not "real" surgery. When I left the office I did see some people who looked like they were recovering from anesthesia (sitting in recliner seats under blankets) .... but, I do not like the gas stuff. Makes me feel "off" the rest of the day ... and a couple of times I think I went to work afterwards. It is so not a big deal.
... having it done by an oral surgeon doesn't shift the procedure into Medical coverage by your insurer?
It might. Like I said in my previous posts this is my 4th tooth I am having done. This is the 1st time the dental insurance wrote back and said that this should be submitted to medical not dental.
I still do not know what the outcome will be I am still in the middle of the grafting of the implant and my oral surgeon is very patient when it comes to billing.
Grafts and bridges. First two I did were advertised $1800 each. Then the dentist gets sent to prison. The rest done by university dental school faculty, I wasn't trusting anyone else. The cheap ones turns out we're clones. They sell them at conventions. Implants.com identify them so faculty dentists could get crowns made. Some guys by fancy new cars, I bought a new mouth. But the ladies smile when I do !
Back in my day, the quality of care in dental school clinics was very good and the prices were very reasonable. But you needed to have a lot of free time and patience.
And you are talking about tooth issues.
I agree with having Oral Surgeon placing the implant. I have one and it required some bone graft before it could be placed and have not had any issues. This was done ~20 years ago. All of my regular dentists since then have been impressed by the work he had done. Unfortunately he has since passed away.
1. The implant was not set high enough so the crown looked awful compared to natrual teeth
2. Was experiencing bone loss around the implant.
For the second one, I switched to a more experienced oral surgeon. They had to remove the previous implant, do a bone graft and let it heal for 4-6 weeks. Since it was a front tooth, I had an invaslign with one of the front teeth painted white so I didn't look ridiculous.
After that healed, implant went in, another 4 weeks of healing. They used plasma from my blood to speed the healing process. After the implant heals, they can screw on the crown.
It's been 15 years since i had it re-done on the front tooth and no isses.
From an experience point of view, the worst part is the novacaine shots, that and the noises you hear. I would recommend it as a permanent solution, but make sure you pick quality practioners. A lot can go wrong with these things if the implant isn't set correctly.
As noted the real killer is the cost as it is effing expensive even with a pretty good dental plan. Enjoy!!!
I went away from root canals and crowns after I was made aware that it is possible to have a 2nd root canal (3rd?) on the same tooth!!
I am done with root canals - if a tooth becomes abscessed it gets pulled period.
It is a little expensive out of pocket but, I highly recommend it.
It is a time consuming process. The first visit the pull your tooth after the take some blood from you (very little). They mix that blood with bone powder from cadavers (sounds gruesome - I know). then they pack the whole where your tooth was and you go home for about 3-4 months until that packing (through grafting) becomes part of the jaw.
Then the 2nd visit (3-4 months later) they put the titanium base of the implant in and you go home for another 3-4 months until the jaw grafts itself to the titanium base.
Then they scan your mouth with a very small camera(?) to make a crown for the implant. This is recent technology. I used to have to go to my regular dentist and he would make a ... he would fill a mold with playdough (I am sure that is not what it is and they have a real name for it) and you would bite down for about 5 minutes until it firms up and they (the Lab) would make a crown from this. I n about 2 weeks you go back to your regular dentist and he puts the "crown" on top of the implant.
The whole process is painless - really. You just have to be patient - it takes a while. But, I have never experienced any pain or discomfort (my 4rth tooth). If you can afford it I highly recommend it. Your dental insurance will help but, I think I have paid about $3,500.00 per tooth? Somewhere around there but, I would do it again in a heartbeat. No more extreme pain from abscesses, no more cracked crowns that can be odorous, no more anything.
p.s - I have not read any othe comments. If this is a repeat of what some others have said - I apologize.
Yes but, if you aren't the nervous type - I have all 4 implants with just Novocain alone. I admit to taking a couple of valium before I went in but, he pulls your tooth and then packs it and then uses stitches to sew it all up. It is not "real" surgery. When I left the office I did see some people who looked like they were recovering from anesthesia (sitting in recliner seats under blankets) .... but, I do not like the gas stuff. Makes me feel "off" the rest of the day ... and a couple of times I think I went to work afterwards. It is so not a big deal.
It might. Like I said in my previous posts this is my 4th tooth I am having done. This is the 1st time the dental insurance wrote back and said that this should be submitted to medical not dental.
I still do not know what the outcome will be I am still in the middle of the grafting of the implant and my oral surgeon is very patient when it comes to billing.
Whatever you decide.
I highly recommend it though.
Back in my day, the quality of care in dental school clinics was very good and the prices were very reasonable. But you needed to have a lot of free time and patience.