Feeling sad and old since lost my front tooth

[Suzsuzzane]

I recently had my front tooth extracted as the cap came off and the actual tooth broke off inside it. The dentist stuck the bit of tooth back in the hole with cement (it apparently had had a root canal previously) as a temporary measure but told me it may fall out again and as my teeth are weak and I've had bad gum disease the only choices are a false tooth or an implant. I managed to get a loan, only just, for an implant but what was quoted as £3,000 has turned into £4,000 what with scans, an temporary denture etc. I'm in Somerset. I'm now in debt. When she done the extraction she had such a job getting it out I wish I'd just left it and took my chances. Now the other front tooth has movement and I'm worried I could lose this one. I would not be able to afford another implant and as id have an implant one side and a weak tooth the other a bridge wouldn't be possible. If I have to have a false tooth anyway then the money I've spent getting this implant feels such a waste, it defeats the object of going through all this if I end up with a false tooth anyway.so I feel so sad, ugly and old. My teeth are gappy anyway so losing any teeth shows. I am a single mum and I can't see that changing if I have false teeth. I just hope I don't lose anymore teeth. It seems so unfair that having nice teeth is not affordable for many and the cost of implants make these not even an option. I'm wondering if I lose this other tooth if there are cheaper places to get an implant or other options as I don't want a false tooth especially after the amount this current implant has cost. Short of winning the lottery, which I don't do, I've no idea what I can do.

Oh OP don't feel sad and don't feel pressured to get an implant if you can't afford it.

I lost an incisor as a teenager and another never came through, so I have had dentures since I was 16. I had a plate for a few years which was ok but not ideal, I then upgraded to bridges. My sister has a plate and no desire to upgrade.

30 years on I am still happy with my dentures, they look fine and work fine. Dentists always want to give you implants, it is the latest tech and they love it but you can look and feel fine with alternative dentures.

Where are you getting your treatment? What sort of price are you looking at per implant? I'm very nervous about going abroad but honestly living the way I feel is not an option either and there's no way I can ever afford to go through this again certainly not in the UK anyway!

Unfortunately I can't have a bridge as its a front tooth and the teeth either side are not strong enough to support a bridge. I had wanted a bridge but as I've mentioned in some of the replies to others on this post, one of the teeth even has movement and I fear losing that one too. At the moment I have a plate and I really hate it. If I had to have it permanently I'd be so very upset, upset being an understatement. It's not something I could live with long term.

You won't have a NHS soon

Where do you live?!

I haven't now, I've been paying private for the last 2 years as no dentist around our area is NHS. At present, and no doubt they'll get rid of that soon, only kids have NHS. Soon we will have a whole generation of people with teeth problems as few people can afford the private prices. £75 for a simple check up/consultation. Most of us have to choose food, heating, bills etc over paying that, it's not that we want to wait to only see a dentist, like me, when something big happens, its that we can't. Then if we lose it for kids we'll......

@Stillnormal

I live in Somerset

Suzsuzzane
DH and I are both being treated in Budapest. (2 hr 20min flight, Hotel and flights included in the price). We had an initial consultation which included a 360 degree x-ray also free. So absolutely no cost at all, no heavy selling and no rush to treatment.

At this stage, as I knew my teeth were terrible and wanted implants it was recommended that I had a CT scan to see if I required a sinus lift to ensure sufficient bone in which to implant the new teeth. This cost €365 . I had the scan and then with those results I was given a treatment programme covering the next 9 months. Beginning with the extraction of my rotten teeth. (8). Each extraction cost €85. (My local village dentist - private, no NHS available, charges £200).

I opted to start treatment there and then. So went ahead with the extractions. will have to wait 3 months for my gums to heal before having the sinus lifts. €635 x 2.

3 months after that the implants will be inserted. Here I have various options. The most expensive are Swiss made and cost €1200 each. They vary in price from €635 -€1200. They all come with a EU guarantee for 5 years. Should they fail at any point in that time I will receive another implant free of charge and a refund of the original cost.

I will probably opt for a combination of cheaper ones that are at the back and not visible and more expensive at the front.

I am not someone who would ever of thought of travelling abroad for medical treatment. I am only happy to do it because more than 15 colleagues have been to the same place and had superb treatment. For me that was the best recommendation. I am a very sensible slightly risk averse civil servant. Not prone to reckless behaviour.

Please PM me if you would like details of the clinic I am attending. I won't put it on this thread as I am not trying to drum up business for them - just giving you my honest experience.

As I said up thread , NONE of this should be necessary. I am legally entitled to a NHS dentist. The fact that my nearest is 4 hours away according to the NHS website- is nothing less than disgusting.

@canttellyouwhereorwhatido

I've sent you a PM. Thanks