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Original poster

dentures or implants help me decide...

34 replies

fixmymouth · 19/11/2024 10:13

Hi,
I am in the process of having to decide what to do with filling space from missing premolar and molar so 2 teeth.
If I go with implant then need a sinus lift so it can be packed with bone material first.
Or do I go down dentures route and if so does anyone know best ones to go for.

Concerns for me are I often get sinus headaches(usually on opposite side but still....) I have read that sinus lift surgery can make things like this worse which is a huge worry for me.

But then also read if I don't go down implant route then it can result in bone loss in surrounding teeth so cause future problems which is also a worry.

So I feel torn between chancing making sinus problems worse if I go for sinus surgery or bone loss if I go for dentures.

Anyone have any advice???

OP posts:

JurassicPark4Eva · 19/11/2024 10:18

The idea of implants makes me feel sick, so I'm resigned to needing a set of wallies in my future.

Have you the money for the implants? Have you looked at the associated risks of infection, how often they fail, cost of maintenance and so on? Could you afford to have repairs done in the future?

I also worry about the bone loss with falsies, but there's an argument that it's less complicated in the long run...

Original poster

fixmymouth · 19/11/2024 10:27

money not an issue for implants just really worried about health implications and I know vain but what my face might look like with bones loss and loss of more teeth.
have to admit not looked into implants and risks of infections or maintenance, maybe a bit naive

OP posts:

Original poster

fixmymouth · 19/11/2024 10:30

does anyone have dentures that have worked for them. I don't have NHS dentist so would be private but if willing to pay £££ for implants am certainly happy to pay for really good dentures.
I don't know enough about them but do you have a plastic plate constantly in your mouth? or the glue you see advertised on tv?

OP posts:

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ItsAllAboutTheBass7 · 19/11/2024 10:47

I'll go down the dentures route. They're much much better than they used to be. Implants often reject and can have lots of issues. A specialist advised me against them a couple of years ago as his diary is stacked full witn implant issues - it definitely put me off.

Original poster

fixmymouth · 19/11/2024 10:52

ItsAllAboutThe Bass7 that is interesting and making me wonder now . I had not thought about implants rejecting after all this , More worried about even worse sinus headaches. Never really looked at dentures before just assumed I would go for implants but worried about dentures and bone loss for remaining molar and then front premolars and front teeth.

OP posts:

Tiramisusie · 19/11/2024 10:56

My implant has been in for 12 years now and I’ve never had any issues with it, just to offer a counter view!

Goldenmimx · 19/11/2024 11:00

I had dentures done on the NHS but wasn't really happy with them at all. They just hung loose in my mouth and made me talk funny. I probably should have tried to get used to them more but just ended up not using them so they were a bit of a waste of time for me. I'm pondering implants but really I've had the gap in my back teeth for 10 and 7 years now (I had two extracted next to each other) and just got used to it. So far the neighbouring teeth haven't been impacted and my face doesn't look like it's sunk in (from what I can see from the mirror/photos) so it's not too bad. You may find that dentures done privately are better but I was just disappointed with mine

LaMarschallin · 19/11/2024 11:00

What about a bridge?
I'm not really sure what they are but a friend has one and says she doesn't remember it's there. It apparently doesn't have to be taken in and out as I assume a denture would be.
As you can tell, I know little about it but may be in the market for something similar myself soon.

Highlighta · 19/11/2024 11:06

I have had both. A plate with dentures while waiting for my implants.

I hated the dentures, but it was not something I could be without as I lost 5 front teeth. The process of getting to place the implants was quite a journey though, but I had a lot of issues and had to have a lot of bone restoration first. My mouth changed a lot during the process and the plate had to be adjusted quite a lot. It also caused me to lisp.

The implants... they are not real teeth and do not feel like real teeth. They also do not look the same as my natural teeth, but I cannot have them changed as I do not have the funds for it. But they are way better than a plated denture.

Have they not suggested one implant with bridge for the two you are needing? Or what about a clip in denture that attaches to the teeth either side?

Have those two teeth been removed yet? If not, the wait is a few months before the implant can be placed, 4 - 6 if bone is being grafted in.

I didn't have a sinus lift, but I have more sinus issues now since having my implants fitted.

There are pros and cons to each. My implants were non negotiable as the dentures really affected my self esteem. ( I am single and just new I would never meet someone with no front teeth, and shut myself off pretty much).

I would not just go to a normal dentist to have it done though. I saw a maxillofacial surgeon throughout my journey. I am not sure a dentist can do a bone graft though?

Maintenance with implants is not an issue. I had regular checks for the first few months and again a year after, just to be sure everything is settled. You will need to floss with a water flosser regularly, that is non negotiable apparently.

JurassicPark4Eva · 19/11/2024 11:06

How many teeth are we talking OP? Whole mouth or just a section? Any bruxism or other issues?

Original poster

fixmymouth · 19/11/2024 11:08

thanks all.
Tisamisusie good to hear that. Can I ask if you needed a sinus lift?
Goldenmimx yes not heard good things about nhs ones but no idea apart from that. But with sinus issues worried about sinus lift surgery.

LaMarschallin unfortunately a bridge not possible due to back molar issues.

OP posts:

PeggyMitchellsCameo · 19/11/2024 11:11

I’ve had both. My first implant was 19 years ago and I have a condition called Trigeminal Neuralgia.
I have had no issues with it all.
You need to go to someone highly skilled who is a specialist. Let’s just say stay in the UK and don’t go abroad.
Also had a denture and hated it. I was able to have a bridge, which is on my top teeth left hand side it’s not a problem.

Highlighta · 19/11/2024 11:11

fixmymouth · 19/11/2024 10:52

One of my implants did fail. So it does happen but I think its around 2% failure rate. Just where that one failed, it was a huge risk as there was no bone there at all. He wanted to use my own bone (from my hip) but in the end we decided on synthetic, so it was a risk I took which didn't pay off. That part of the graft failed. Another implant was placed next to it, I had to lose another tooth for that though sigh. This one is fine and so far so good.

Original poster

fixmymouth · 19/11/2024 11:16

thanks Highlighta interesting that you have more sinus issues with just the implants.
It is 2 teeth in upper jaw. Think I need to do more research into clip on dentures.
Sinus surgery being carried out my maxillofacial surgeon and would then go back to dentist where implant specialist with fit implants.
Not suggested implant and bridge as back molar not strong.

OP posts:

bunnibee · 19/11/2024 11:17

I have just literally finished my implant treatment for the second time. 15 years ago I had an all on 4 denture fitted, which has been great. They click on to the implants and stay there. I have just had 2 more on the bottom to hold the denture on, I must admit I feel as though I've got a mouth full of gobstoppers, as I only had 8 teeth and now I've got 10. I don't know anything about sinus treatment but I wouldn't have an implant just for 2 teeth. Agree with PP, ask about a bridge, I had one previous to my all on 4 and that was very successful, stayed for years. As far as failure is concerned, mine have been fine and I am one of the dreaded smokers!

bunnibee · 19/11/2024 11:31

Oh, forgot about the clip on denture which has wires that wrap around the surrounding teeth to stay stable. That worked well for me too. Save the implant route till you really need it.

Dolly567 · 19/11/2024 11:35

I had a denture for my pre molar jet was the worst thing ever !!!! The faff of taking it out and the lisp it gave me so uncomfortable
I happily have a gap there whilst I wait for my implant

Original poster

fixmymouth · 19/11/2024 11:40

for those who went down denture route can you recommend any?
Dolly567 can I ask why it didnt work for you? Was it nhs or private?

OP posts:

Sonolanona · 19/11/2024 13:04

I have (what sounds like) the same teeth missing. I couldn't go down the implant route as had Trigeminal Neuralgia on that side (lost the teeth unnecessarily before it was correctly diagnosed) and it was too much risk of setting it off again.
I have a valplast flexible denture.
It's nothing like NHS dentures... it's tiny, slots in with an invisible clasp and you cannot tell it's a denture.
No major prep work needed other than impressions and fitting about 2 weeks later.
Hell of a lot cheaper than implants and not invasive! Mine cost £1200 this summer . It was my second as unfortunately I lost my previous as I took it out at night put it down and never saw it again !!

But I definitely reccomend looking into Valplast... most dentists know about it, but as it's cheaper than implants they don't tend to mention it!!!
Mine is about an inch long in total and literally just plugs the gap!

Original poster

fixmymouth · 19/11/2024 14:17

Sololanona I will look into them. How does it feel in your mouth? Does it feel like a mouth of plastic and are they secure. Do you need to use denture fix stuff?

OP posts:

Original poster

fixmymouth · 19/11/2024 14:34

Has anyone had sinus lift surgery? What was it like afterwards?

OP posts:

ihaterain2024 · 19/11/2024 14:59

I had a partial denture for 2 teeth and hated every minute of it. Because of bone loss i wasn't a good candidate for implants so opted for bridge ,it just feels like my natural teeth.

ViciousCurrentBun · 19/11/2024 16:15

I had to have a temp denture after an accident and now have a six unit bridge, its my second and the first lasted a decade this has lasted 25 years but is now a bit dodgy. I would need a bone graft for implants and it would be probably be about 35k as an approx figure. The bridge cannot be replaced, I have seen two different dentists for their opinions. I am very prone to sinusitis and didn’t know about the risk with implants so must admit reading that has really put me off.

It will take a while for the mouth to heal so I think a temp denture may be needed with implants anyway. I’m probably going to pay for a denture on a chrome base when the time comes that clips round the teeth, your palate is not covered then.

My friend had a graft of bovine bone and an implant, she is very pleased. One tooth was 6k.

Hedjwitch · 19/11/2024 16:36

I broke my two front teeth as a youngster and have had 50 years of dentures and bridges. Am now considering implants as fed up with denture being a food trap.
However,it's not a plastic one but a metal clip in so no mouth full of plastic like the old style ones. Good luck with getting it done on the NHS though. Pics below

grannycake · 19/11/2024 16:55

I have had full dentures for 8 years. It was difficult at first but I couldn't afford implants and I had bone loss which meant that they may not have lasted.

Now I have a routine and have got used to using fixative effectively I have no problems. I did use a private dentist and he took a lot of time in ensuring the fit was as good as it could be

It's not ideal but it looks miles better than my own terrible teeth

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