Dental implant -front tooth -opinions please

[cherrypiepie]

I've had a bit of long story with my tooth- the one next to the very front one in the right side. I'm 41. The tooth has had a crack in it for years, probably as a result of an ill advised bottle opening attempt in my late teens. The root was taken out 12 -15 ish years ago as it was sensitive to air and then went brown over the course of several years. the new dentist (who is amazing and I trust) tried bleaching but it fractured along the crack, and then a crown. When he put the crown he hesitated as there was a lot of decay and suggested an implant would be better, but at my requested continues with the crown. He called it a 'show crown!'

So now the crown as predicted has come loose about 4 weeks ago and I need an implant. Today he has recemented the crown and he said it good and secure.

I go back in January (my request as that is when my next appointment is) if this holds and have impressions for a denture. It's a 45 minute drive to dentist, each way so have to factor in that.

Then I have the extraction and the Denture fitted and leave to heal for 3 months. Then have the implant surgery and a scan (in another surgery) at some point too and leave to heal for three months ( he could fit the crown to the implant at this point but said it is best to wait on a young patient) and at some point bleach my teeth (new trays needed) one last time before the final part of the crown being fitted.

The crown look really good so much better than the old cracked brown tooth so I'm sad that it had failed but happy it will look good again and be secure. He reshaped the other teeth as well.

I'm worried about the denture. And the surgery and the extraction.

Any advice. How long off work (probably as leave as I have had covid and miscarriage this year so at a trigger point for absence management) for the dental implant surgery?

How will I get used to the denture!? My mum had one set of dentures and she couldn't talk at all then a single one on like a brace and that was fine! He mentioned a bone graft and it should need much as I am young.

Does this all sound right!? Thanks.

I was wearing a denture (front tooth) but wanted an implant as I felt it would look more natural. Missing tooth had been knocked out a few years earlier when my DC headbutted me as a baby! Because it had been missing for so long I was told I needed a bone graft first as the bone needed to be built up in order to secure the implant. I was prepared for it to be painful but the whole experience was far worse than I expected.
It took 8 months longer than I had been told to expect too due to various set backs (bone graft wound became infected and had to be redone, placement of the actual implant was crooked first time so had to be redone, stitches came loose so had to be redone etc.) The whole experience was horrific and the end result wasn't even that good. I thought that you wouldn't be able to tell that I'd had any work done - to me it still looks like a false tooth. Maybe I just got unlucky, maybe the dentist just wasn't up to the job (although he was highly recommended). The expense was eye watering as well. I personally wouldn't recommend it to anyone as for me it just wasn't worth the pain or expense for the result that I got. If you can stand wearing a denture (you do get used to one!) I would stick with it. If you do decide to proceed with it best of luck - I hope it goes smoother than mine!

Miscarriage should be disregarded for trigger points, otherwise it's potentially discrimination.

Most companies are also disregarding Covid to support public health aims

Can't help with the tooth, I have a crack in one of my front ones where a boy kicked me in the mouth when I was fourteen!

Thanks for that @VanGoghsDog I did think that too about the miscarriage. Wasn't sure about covid.. feels very unfair as I never have time off and had four days with miscarriage to have surgery.

I do like my job and employer is nice. They would be reasonable.

@Jody21 omg that sounds like a nightmare! I was thinking I might get used to the denture.

I told a colleague in Friday i needed one and she simply said no one will know and she is so right! I think I feel there is a stigma of having a false tooth!!

Watching this post with interest as I'm think about it

My dad has just had an implant on his front tooth. It did seem to involve quite a few different steps like you've described, it took months from initial consultation to tooth finally in place.

His tooth looks great, you would never know.

He had discomfort but nothing unbearable, he just took paracetamol.

Sounds like @Jody21 had a terrible experience, my dad sounds like he was lucky in comparison and everything went smoothly.

Have you considered a bridge? I have a bridge for a missing canine; we looked at an implant but needed a bone graft and the time + amount of surgeries/recovery times etc that might be needed and the fact that anything to do with teeth freaks me out made me go with the bridge. It’s only fixed to one other tooth and has been going strong now for 7+ years.. it’s very sturdy and I’ve never had any issue (touch wood). It’s also very natural looking and people haven’t noticed to my knowledge.. just a thought. Also, think the bridge was considerably less than the quote for the implant (but I am a private patient so not sure how that works with the NHS).

I have a similar issue with a front tooth, been putting it off for years but know I eventually need to deal with it. Dreading the treatment and especially getting a denture even on a temporary basis, already have a bit of a lisp and am paranoid I won’t be able to speak properly. My plan for the new year is to go down the implant route so watching this thread with interest X

I'd go for extraction and bridge personally.

My top outside incisors are missing (never grew) and I have a Maryland bridge. It looks completely natural, and is far easier (and probably much cheaper) than an implant.

I too have a front tooth dilemma.
Mine was cracked years ago (my brother, still blame him).
Nerve and root were removed eventually when I was in my teens then tooth taken out in my early thirties - I'm 49 now. Had a denture for ages which was awful then
had a bridge put in when I was pregnant with DS3 and it's still hanging on in 13 years later.

If this falls off eventually other than another bridge is implant the only option? Don't fancy the recovery of an implant

My son had a denture and then a bridge. (Main front tooth missing). It’s just coming loose yet again...

He’s had so many procedures that he can’t face an implant but the bridge only stays in for about a fortnight at a time.

My DH is currently going through this. He is missing 5 teeth at the front right now. 1 fell out and 4 were extracted several months ago. He has had dentures since, which took a bit of fiddling with but are fine now.

He is getting the bases on 15/11 and the crowns 3 months later.

He is planning on having 2 days off after the bases, but I don't know where he got that from. If you are worried about time off, then maybe see of you can do it before a weekend?

He advised against a bridge as you need to prep (I think by this he means grind down in some why) the adjoining tooth to secure it too. He said he prefers not have to damage the healthy teeth.

But yes it is an option and he would do it. He also likes doing implants as he had the special training.

He is an NHS dentist that does implants so my current crown ) I chose the prettier looking one) and implant will all be as a private patient as it is not covered but the NHS. He advised a private denture for a little more cost.

He very kindly refunded half the amount of the crown as it failed so quickly.

Shall I keep updating this thread with my implant story?

@Frymetothemoon 5 implants!

Good idea about a weekend to recover. Not sure why I'm thinking about it. I suppose I was trying to gauge how major the surgery is. Sensible thing is Friday and weekend off and worry about it on the Monday morning if I'm not healed enough.

Good luck to your husband!

I lost a front tooth as a child and have had an implant since my teens. The original one lasted 40+ years and would probably have lasted until I pop my cloggs. I replaced it only to get a slightly better cosmetic result. I expect this one will see me out!

I don't recall either procedure being particularly arduous. A visit for taking a mould, then the fitting plus a later adjustment, as far as i recall. Definitely worth it. I wouldn't have a denture if it can possibly be avoided.

I would find out about having an immediate implant fitted.

I have an implant replacing a molar which was left for three months to heal after the molar was extracted and the gum receded significantly not only where the implant was placed but also on the adjoining teeth. The gum also looks quite sunken above the implant itself. No one warned me this was a possibility!

Now it's not too problematic as it can't be seen where it is (although this could potentially cause sensitivity too it's ok at the moment), but if this was a front tooth I would not be happy at all.

Find out about an instant implant and if your dentist can't do it, I'd ask around at specialist implant services. Best of luck.

I’ve just had two fitted, Upper left side, so not at the front but one is a molar so quite a big gap to have filled

It is lengthy as you have to leave time at each stage but o actually never had an issue with any of the procedures. The bone graft sounds grim but it wasn’t painful and I never needed any time off work

My only caveat would be I’m a terrible patient and so had conscious sedation for each big step (fitting the pins, doing the graft) but the results have been great and feel much more secure than the bridge o had before

Like you I have a failing crown at the front and I’ll definitely have another implant when the time comes

I had similar, the false tooth was awful i just could not get used to it, or i kept forgetting to put it in. To be fair i dont think it was a particularly good fit really but i hated it so paid a ridiculous amount for an implant. Took a few visits and was not pleasant but not too awful, mainly uncomfortable having mouth open for so long, having the gum cut and stitched was the worst bit but once it was all finished i am happy with the result, no one would know and i dont have to faff about putting a plate in.

Oh and i didn't have time off work except for a couple of hours after the surgery bit when i didnt go back in, it was fine if a bit sore and i did whistle a bit through the gap while i waited for the next bit of the treatment

I have had a front tooth implant after a crown failed and I had an abcess. The procedure itself was relatively painless and I did not need time off work. It is much more painful extracting a molar than a front tooth in my experience. I also needed a bone graft and this sounded painful but wasn't.
The denture was not great, it wasn't a perfect fit but I could speak ok. You have quite a large roof plate in your mouth to hold it and it took some getting used to. I had to wear mine for much longer than expected as this all happened at the start of the pandemic and the dentist was closed for a long time. I was self conscious about the denture.
However i am delighted with my implant - it is much better than the crown and you would never tell that it is an implant. I'm so pleased I got it done.

Where are you? I can recommend the dentist I used (Bath).

I had a bone graft and implant at least 10 years ago now, and I think techniques have moved on since then. Having the bone graft etc was pretty unpleasant, but not the worst experience I've ever had at the dentist. I wasn't prepared for how swollen everything was afterwards and it got worse before it got better, but it was all gone in a week to 10 days. I've not had any bother with it since (fingers crossed) and it continues to look good (although to be fair, its a side tooth, not a front one). I think for a front tooth, and for a big job like this, it might be worth getting a second opinion if you can afford it.

I am due to have an implant fitted soon and the dentist told me it was he easier and less painful that the extraction.
I will wait and see!!

I had a front tooth implant 15 years ago. It was reasonably straightforward - quite a few stages as PP have said, but no unforeseen snags. The only long term issue is I had it done in my early 20s, then took up drinking black coffee and red wine so it's now a bit lighter than my other stained teeth, but guess that could be sorted with some whitening for the other teeth.

Recovery was fairly straightforward - I was on a gap year at the time, but can't imagine I'd have needed more than a day or two off work. And definitely better than a denture - that was ok as a temporary fix during treatment, but I was always phobic it was going to fall out! I didn't need a bone graft so can't comment on that, I'm afraid.

[quote cherrypiepie]@Frymetothemoon 5 implants!

Good idea about a weekend to recover. Not sure why I'm thinking about it. I suppose I was trying to gauge how major the surgery is. Sensible thing is Friday and weekend off and worry about it on the Monday morning if I'm not healed enough.

Good luck to your husband! [/quote]
Thanks! Come back to me in 10 days and I'll tell you how he's doing

He advised against a bridge as you need to prep (I think by this he means grind down in some why) the adjoining tooth to secure it too. He said he prefers not have to damage the healthy teeth.

It depends on the type of bridge — my Maryland one has a 'wing' and is just glued on to the back of the tooth next to it.