Has anyone had a dental implant?

[ParkEndStreet]

I've got the post for mine being inserted next week. I'm definitely no wuss when it comes to pain and have a high pain threshold, but I'm dreading this.

Just interested so hear real life stories of the procedure and the recovery (swelling? Pain levels? Did you need any time off work?). Thanks.

That's interesting that they're prepared to do drilling. I thought they weren't doing that yet because of aerosols.

Sorry - I don't have anything useful to add.

I had a tooth implant last year and it took around a week for the swelling and soreness to settle down. I was given antibiotics and corsadyl mouth wash.

People have different pain thresholds, but I think most people would agree that you need to have a good supply of painkillers for at least the first 24 hours.

I had a top front tooth implanted about 15 years ago, no pain/discomfort that I remember, it was well worth it.

There was no pain during the appointments but I had quite a lot of pain for 2 days after. Definitely stock up on pain killers they kept it at bay. The rest was painless.

Do you mind me asking how much it's costing. I may need one for a front tooth.

Had my post inserted three weeks ago, and yes was surprised to get seen then, as thought it would have to wait for much longer due to lockdown.

Found the process to insert the post uncomfortable and tiring. It was one of my back molars so not easy to reach and I have a small mouth. Took about 40 mins in all but apart from the discomfort didn't find the actual process too painful. Did have a little swelling and slight bruising for a couple of days and needed pain killers for the first evening. Apart from that have been fine, keeping it clean and it seems ok when I went for a check up last week. Good luck

Thank you all, appreciated.

@Disfordarkchocolate - it's £2400. But for me it's going to be worth every penny as I HATE HATE HATE having a gap.

@Rookie93 that's interesting and thanks for sharing your experience. I think that's pretty much what I was hoping for (if you know what I mean). I'm dreading it, but it's one of those things I know it's a means to an end and the sooner I get it done, the sooner it's done and dusted.

I was meant to be having it done in May but was obviously postponed. I'm not sure it is an aerosol procedure as they tap it in to place not drill I believe?! Whatever the case,my practice are being super super careful regarding the guidelines so they wouldn't do it unless they were allowed.

I had four done at the front. I was sedated during the procedure. I had very little bruising or swelling and what I did have went away within about three days.

Best thing I ever did.

@Fosler that's great, nice to hear that - on both fronts. It's amazing how much the state of your teeth can impact you isn't it.

@Fosler that's great, nice to hear that - on both fronts. It's amazing how much the state of your teeth can impact you isn't it.

As there's no tooth nerve (?) does that mean the pain is more like a 'wound' in your mouth, rather than a toothache-type pain?

Not sure if that makes sense or if I'm being thick but it seems like it may be logical in my head

OP will they prescribe decent painkillers?

@AbsentmindedWoman - yes, I guess.

But they knock the post up into the bone 🤢

@AbsentmindedWoman - yes, I guess.

But they knock the post up into the bone 🤢

I had 2 but one didn't work, not enough bone. Both at the top towards the back. I had a bone implant but there was a risk of poor bone. Procedure was 90 mins under a sheet with the dentist gowned up. It was a long 90 mins. No pain, removed the 2 teeth, then drilled the upper jaw which was unpleasant but not painful. Posts inserted and temp teeth put on. Photo's taken before and after. Went back after a couple of weeks for the proper teeth. £4k. Had Strauman implants a Swiss maker but other brands available. Had mouthwash for a couple of weeks. Surprisingly little pain. Could do with a couple more but don't want to pay 1000s for something not to work.

I had two put in more than 20 years ago. Both are still in place and haven’t moved, and they work well for chewing.

The procedure was actually less painful than many other dental procedures such as root treatment or tooth extraction or caries filling. Afterwards, I had some modest swelling and pain, and had to be careful what I ate and to be particularly careful about oral hygiene (good cleaning without disturbing the implants).

They do normally need to do some drilling rather than knock it in. Vibrations from drilling felt odd, but not painful.

It’s a really effective treatment, expensive but also potentially a permanent solution that gives appearance and function almost as good as a real tooth. There is just a slight loss of the elasticity that a natural tooth-in-root has. But I have gotten completely used to it.

Good luck ! And, if the dentist is competent, you won’t really need luck. Well over 90 percent of dental implants last for at least 10 years, and probably longer but it’s expensive to follow patients for that long.

@YankeeDad - thanks so much.

Really reassuring. I'm expecting some discomfort at the time and some swelling and pain. In terms of hygiene afterwards, I had to do all that when I had the extraction so that's fine.

I've had lots of dental work before including root canal (which was surprisingly ok!) so I should be ok. The dentist is very experienced and I trust him entirely. He's been very thorough in the assessment and looked carefully at the bone density etc through the use of a CT scan.

Looking forward to cracking on with it now and getting that part ticked off the list!

I asked my dentist about them when I was 25. He said no point in getting them if Youre young as they will only last 20ish years.

Do you have someone to take you to the appointment and bring you home afterwards? If so, you could ask your doctor to prescribe you a sedative to make the process a bit more relaxed for you.

For big dental work I think you just have to try and get into a zone (like with childbirth!). It's soon over, and you'll be really proud of yourself when it's done.

@lemmathelemmin I'm early 40s

@lemmathelemmin
It depends on the individual case, of course - but I got mine when I was 25, and I am now over 50 and still have them … and I would not do anything differently.

Also even if an implant does fail after 25 yeras, I would rather have to replace it once than have to replace a crown+bridge every 5-10 years. Plus with crown+bridge you have to grind down and root-treat the adjacent healthy teeth in order to attach the crown+bridge.

You should also be aware that a general dentist sometimes has a financial incentive to recommend crown+bridge over implant if they don't place implants themselves, because they with C+B they can do the whole job, but with implant, they have to refer and may lose the patient.

If you coped with a root canal you should cope with this. I had my front tooth implanted and as a pp said its time consuming rather than painful so uncomfortable keeping mouth open. I think they cut your gum to reach the bone to drill in or screw in the post then sew it up around the cap on the post so you may feel the stitches, it can be a bit sore and you cant brush it so need a good mouthwash to keep it clean. Good luck it will be worth it.

I had two done under sedation and that was fine.
However when the anaesthetic wore off it was agony - not surprising asthenosphere jaw bone is cut into.
The dentist just repeated the mantra “research has shown that ibroprofen and paracetamol are the best painkillers for dental pain”.
Well in my cast that just wasn’t so but maybe the dentist said that rather than admit they’re not allowed to prescribe anything stronger.
In the end my dh got something off a friend who was recovering from cancer and that helped a lot.
If you’re in a lot of pain afterwards maybe ring your doctor - though why dentists aren’t allowed/won’t prescribe proper pain relief for a known painful procedure goodness knows.