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Original poster

Dental Implant?

101 replies

DentalDisaster · 27/06/2022 15:22

Does anyone have one? Did you previously have a bridge or a gap?
what sort of cost for one front tooth?

Bupa dental care website just says ‘ From ‘ £1995 so I know it is going to cost a LOT more.
I don’t have the money, can’t afford it but I can’t live with a missing front tooth! The bridge keeps failing and falling off and my confidence is crushed. Help!

OP posts:
Original poster
DentalDisaster · 03/07/2023 18:55

I have bitten the bullet and have started the process to have an implant.
I’m terrified. Not just of the cost (£3,600 which is money we really don’t have), but also of the future.

#What if the implant doesn’t actually stop the pain I’ve been experiencing since this awful bridge was fitted last July? (I’m a grinder so it’s possible it due to increased grinding, despite sleeping in a mouth guard)
#What if it fails? I’ll have spent so much money for nothing.
#what if it breaks and needs replacing in the future & I can’t afford it?
#what if I hate how it looks?
#What if I really need this amount of money in the future and now its gone? -a real possibility tbh.

God, it’s so difficult.

I wonder why is it that DH happily spent nearly £3,000 on a motorbike for himself a few years ago, yet I’m struggling to spend any money on myself, even though it could possibly be life changing.

I came back for a re read of all the posts saying how great your implants are to try to ease my fears.

@Mers30 have you had yours all done now? If so are you pleased with how it’s gone?

OP posts:
Original poster
DentalDisaster · 03/07/2023 18:56

Glad you are so pleased with yours @Soproudoflionesses I wish I’d done it before the price of everything went up!

OP posts:
namechanged221 · 03/07/2023 19:45

Reading with interest. I have a big gap at the lower back and my dentist recommends an implant. I had the tooth removed just before covid started then thought no more of it. But now dentist says one of the bordering teeth may become loose if I don't take action.

I'm not worried about the money, more the fact it may go wrong or get infected. I'm not up for any of that. I hate dentist and avoid it. That's why I probably lost the tooth

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Dental health
Mers30 · 03/07/2023 22:10

Hi. I had 2 implants done last September. The whole procedure was NOT painful just uncomfortable. More with the thoughts of a drill going into my gums. My dentist was absolutely superb. I had no side effects. Very little pain afterwards but considerable swelling which reduced after 3 days. Removal of stitches were over in about 10 seconds. Fitting of implants maybe 20 minutes but there is no pain at all. I would highly recommend implants. Not something to be taken lightly as the cost was just over 7000. Only downside, as we get older and lose more teeth-more implants. More cost! But....my teeth are permanent, dont go into a jar at night and no longer sticking false plate to roof of mouth.
If you can afford it ....DO IT! 😊😊

Original poster
DentalDisaster · 03/07/2023 22:24

Glad you are so happy with them Mers.
The security of permanence is what I’m after. The constant fear of this bridge falling out again is awful.

OP posts:
theyarereallytakingthepissnow · 03/07/2023 22:42

It's important. It's your smile and confidence day in day out. Just take each appt and each step of the process one at a time knowing you're one step closer to being done and when it is done it's great.

So happy with mine and worth the £, time and little bits of discomfort which I was well numbed up for. Antibiotics and painkillers after the drilling into the bone appt, easily managed. About £3000 middle top tooth.

Original poster
DentalDisaster · 04/07/2023 06:09

very true about confidence, I feel I could maybe live with the pain if it didn’t look so awful. I’m not bothered about the actual procedure at all, although not looking forward to the bone graft, just the worry of how it will turn out and will I be happy with it after spending so much.
I will update once it’s underway.

OP posts:
Witchinawell · 04/07/2023 06:22

I’ve got one too - honestly much much better than a bridge. Happy to answer questions.

Witchinawell · 04/07/2023 06:24

Re the bone graft, whilst the noise is truely horrific during the procedure, I can’t remember any actual pain as doctor ensured I was adequately drugged up ! I’ve had my implant now for 10 years and still in excellent condition. Good luck !

SuperGinger · 04/07/2023 06:35

I had one the dentist screwed it up 3.5k down the drain

gerispringer · 04/07/2023 06:37

It’s definitely worth spending money on your teeth - they’ll last longer than a motorbike. I’ve got an implant and have had it for years with no problems. Definitely money well spent. You have frequent visits to the dentist in the process so you don’t spend the money in one go - its over about 9 months. My dentist does payment plans. Go to a dentist who specialises in implants then you’ll have more confidence in them and don’t be afraid to ask all your questions.

lightlypoached · 04/07/2023 06:40

I had one of the very first ever, back in 1990. It's still in and working.

My advice. Is to shop around and look hard at recommendations

catpoppet · 04/07/2023 09:33

Another benefit of implants is, they prevent the teeth above / below from weakening and falling out. When there's a gap there's nothing for the tooth above to "press" on which maintains the bone density. If there's no tooth there the bone around tooth above or below will weaken to the point where it could fall out over time. So there's another big reason to consider implant. The implant provides the structure for the other tooth to bite on and keep the bone above or below healthy!

I think a lot of people don't realise this. So implants are also about saving your other teeth as well as getting a gap filled.

catpoppet · 04/07/2023 09:34

BTW I had an implant, the cost was only around £1300 ish (about 4 years ago). At a reputable implant centre. From what i understand they keep the cost down because it's all they do day in day out. So it could be worth finding an implant specialising centre rather than a traditional dentist to save on cost. Also as they do it all the time they are experts!

Freebritney · 04/07/2023 10:55

catpoppet · 04/07/2023 09:34

BTW I had an implant, the cost was only around £1300 ish (about 4 years ago). At a reputable implant centre. From what i understand they keep the cost down because it's all they do day in day out. So it could be worth finding an implant specialising centre rather than a traditional dentist to save on cost. Also as they do it all the time they are experts!

@catpoppet can you tell us where? I would travel for that price.

catpoppet · 04/07/2023 11:01

@Freebritney it was in Brighton at the Implant clinic https://www.brightonimplantclinic.co.uk/
can't remember exact amount but definitely in that region. although I suspect that it will have increased a lot since. Bear in mind you will need a number of appointments spread over time so that may increase your costs a lot!

catpoppet · 04/07/2023 11:02

having looked at their price list it doesn't look like it's massively more expensive than it used to be.

Freebritney · 04/07/2023 11:37

catpoppet · 04/07/2023 11:02

having looked at their price list it doesn't look like it's massively more expensive than it used to be.

Thanks @catpoppet

FarTooHotForMe · 04/07/2023 12:52

I had 2 just before Covid and they cost about £4500, I didn’t even think about them now.

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 04/07/2023 12:56

I'm interested in implants too. I had a tooth removed yesterday. It was broken and infected. Back molar. It took the side of my gum away too due to its positioning. I've been in agony for around 15 years with my teeth and wondering now if I should just have implants instead of constant root canals. I think I have periodontitis though so we'll see. I might go for consultation.

pambeeslyhalpert2 · 04/07/2023 12:58

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 04/07/2023 12:56

I'm interested in implants too. I had a tooth removed yesterday. It was broken and infected. Back molar. It took the side of my gum away too due to its positioning. I've been in agony for around 15 years with my teeth and wondering now if I should just have implants instead of constant root canals. I think I have periodontitis though so we'll see. I might go for consultation.

Go and see a periodontist who can sort your gum issues and do the implants too x

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 04/07/2023 13:02

@pambeeslyhalpert2 I will thanks! Desperate to be out of pain. The removal yesterday apparently the root was curved and the dentist wanted me to go have it done surgically but I said I couldn't wait. She did it carefully and managed to get the whole tooth out without shattering the root which she expected to happen.

Original poster
DentalDisaster · 04/07/2023 14:58

SuperGinger · 04/07/2023 06:35

I had one the dentist screwed it up 3.5k down the drain

Noooooooo! Didn’t you have any come back? How did they screw up?

I’m feeling a bit foolish. I haven’t shopped around loads, had calls with two others, but I’ve gone with a dental surgery recommended by someone I know who had one there 3 months ago and is singing their praises. I however, have been put with another dentist. Now I’m going to worry about that, but I went for it as I thought that at least another dentist is there that has good recommendations. I don’t know anyone else that has had one so can’t get recommendations from anyone else.

@Witchinawell well now I’m worried about the procedure!
🤣

OP posts:
cherrypied · 04/07/2023 20:16

I'm part way through my dental implant procedure. Had a failed crown front tooth and didn't want a bridge so implant was the only option.

Had the extraction and a bone graft in December. Got a temp NHS plate denture which is gross. That was £409

That was left to heal for three months then I had a CT scan (110) and had the implant and another bone graft eventually in June. This heals for three months. You can have it instant but I really want it al to heal at each possible stage.

My dentist is great. He's an NHS dentist that does implant as well. Its costing 2k including sedation. He sedated al his patients as he says it much better for the patients recovery and it must be easier to the dentist remember nothing other than coughing and being asked if I need drink.

He stitched the implant rather than leave it open so its buried.

Next stage is X-rays in august and then an abutment fitting which also needs to heal and then impressions and finally a crown.

I really struggled after my extraction in December with pain and went back to work the next day for two days but then had to have two days off as was in so much pain. Too me a few weeks to fully recover.

After the implant I had two days off work as normal rest days then had two days off sick and this was the way to do it! I talk a lot in my job and it was just impossible after the extraction.

Anyway good luck!

Wherearemymarbles · 04/07/2023 20:23

Gosh,
just looked at my post from 12 months ago!!
process completed in May. Very happy, feels and looks perfect but was just shy of 2 years from start to finish and several very uncomfortable procedures!

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