Tooth Implant Help

TheCatsBlanket · 2024-12-04T23:22:38+00:00

Has anyone had a dental implant and been pleased? I have a tooth that is on the verge of falling out and my dentist says the only option for it now is either an implant or a false tooth on a plate. If it was a back tooth I wouldn’t be concerned, but it’s right behind my canine tooth and would be visible if it came out. It’s already a crown that was done ages ago and apparently the bone structure isn’t good enough to re-crown, so options are limited. The cost is an eye watering £3,000+ (a denture would be much cheaper) so before I throw money at it, which is the main reason I’ve held off for so long, is there anyone on MN who’s had it done and would recommend it? Im not scared of having it done, the cost is making me baulk along with the timeline too, which I think is maybe a year from start to finish. I’m no spring chicken by the way, but don’t want to have a smile with a big gaping hole in my mouth

Vinorosso74 · 04/12/2024 23:32

Is a bridge not an option? It's less invasive.
I have one at the top front incisor which has just broken (after 35+ years) and I am getting a replacement at a cost of £650, a denture on a plate was £300 and something (I will have one temporarily). I'm a NHS patient so was given the option of bridge, denture or implants (which are only available privately).
I would definitely ask about a bridge. Mine is a fake tooth with metal wings attached to the neighbouring teeth.

GildedRage · 04/12/2024 23:36

i have an implant a bit further back than you describe.
it was not in a visible location, and had been missing a decade or more.
it was recommended to improve my overall dental health.
i'm very pleased i followed through with this, my chewing is much more balanced (vs only chewing on the side without the missing tooth) and i'm sleeping peacefully at night knowing i'm not damaging the teeth on either side (which bridges often do).

Original poster

TheCatsBlanket · 05/12/2024 09:02

Vinorosso74 · 04/12/2024 23:32

Is a bridge not an option? It's less invasive.
I have one at the top front incisor which has just broken (after 35+ years) and I am getting a replacement at a cost of £650, a denture on a plate was £300 and something (I will have one temporarily). I'm a NHS patient so was given the option of bridge, denture or implants (which are only available privately).
I would definitely ask about a bridge. Mine is a fake tooth with metal wings attached to the neighbouring teeth.

Unfortunately not, no. My teeth are so heavily restored and the offending tooth sits rights between two bridges of 3 teeth each.

OP posts:

MagpiePi · 05/12/2024 09:23

I have an implant just behind the canine. It cost about £2500, which I had to think long and hard about, but I think it has been worth it. You could look at it being something that is going to last for the rest of your life so the cost is spread. People spend that much on a 10 day holiday every year, or on Christmas celebrations, so it is all relative.

I can't remember the exact timeline but I am pretty sure it took less than 2 months from taking the old tooth out to having the new tooth fitted. The wait was because you have to allow time for the bone to grow around the titanium post that is screwed in. You can have a temporary tooth to cover the gap while you wait - on a plate maybe? - but obviously this costs more. There was also the possibility that they might have had to put an extra bit of bone in the hole left by the old tooth if it was more of an oval shape, as your own bone won't be able to fill the gap to the round post. This would have been another £450 but fortunately I didn't need it.

It felt very odd to start with, a bit like when you get a dead arm, but I got used to it eventually.

I have a gap one tooth further back on the other side which is less visible and am now starting to get problems with the tooth immediately behind the gap, as it has no support on that side. I can see that there are going to be some expensive options coming down the line there!

There is also the benefit that if you have an implant then they can change the single implant tooth for a bridge type arrangement if needed.

fortifiedwithtea · 05/12/2024 09:33

My husband is on this journey too. He is 60. He has lost a lot of back teeth. Will need a bone graft. In addition he has wisdom teeth that have never broken through properly and x ray has shown decay even though they are under the surface. He is having them out under a general in January. He’s opted for 2 teeth to be implanted at a cost of £8000 plus the dental surgery for wisdom . The wisdom teeth will be covered by insurance the implants will not. Its a lot of money . The work is to support his remaining teeth. He could do with 4 implants but we can’t afford that many.

JoanOgden · 05/12/2024 09:38

I have 3 implants (two of which I've had for 18 years) and they're amazing. No trouble at all, just like normal teeth but without the risk of damage or fillings! They've been totally worth the cost for me.

Original poster

TheCatsBlanket · 05/12/2024 21:49

MagpiePi · 05/12/2024 09:23

I have an implant just behind the canine. It cost about £2500, which I had to think long and hard about, but I think it has been worth it. You could look at it being something that is going to last for the rest of your life so the cost is spread. People spend that much on a 10 day holiday every year, or on Christmas celebrations, so it is all relative.

I can't remember the exact timeline but I am pretty sure it took less than 2 months from taking the old tooth out to having the new tooth fitted. The wait was because you have to allow time for the bone to grow around the titanium post that is screwed in. You can have a temporary tooth to cover the gap while you wait - on a plate maybe? - but obviously this costs more. There was also the possibility that they might have had to put an extra bit of bone in the hole left by the old tooth if it was more of an oval shape, as your own bone won't be able to fill the gap to the round post. This would have been another £450 but fortunately I didn't need it.

It felt very odd to start with, a bit like when you get a dead arm, but I got used to it eventually.

I have a gap one tooth further back on the other side which is less visible and am now starting to get problems with the tooth immediately behind the gap, as it has no support on that side. I can see that there are going to be some expensive options coming down the line there!

There is also the benefit that if you have an implant then they can change the single implant tooth for a bridge type arrangement if needed.

Very informative thank you. It’s just the cost I have to get my head around more than anything….if the procedure was free, I would already have my implanted gnasher in place

OP posts:

Original poster

TheCatsBlanket · 05/12/2024 21:59

fortifiedwithtea · 05/12/2024 09:33

My husband is on this journey too. He is 60. He has lost a lot of back teeth. Will need a bone graft. In addition he has wisdom teeth that have never broken through properly and x ray has shown decay even though they are under the surface. He is having them out under a general in January. He’s opted for 2 teeth to be implanted at a cost of £8000 plus the dental surgery for wisdom . The wisdom teeth will be covered by insurance the implants will not. Its a lot of money . The work is to support his remaining teeth. He could do with 4 implants but we can’t afford that many.

Your poor husband, and what a huge expense too My teeth have been the bane of my life since my early teens, from abscesses to decay, to jaw pain caused by grinding my teeth while asleep (I now wear a mouth guard at night which helps enormously)

I have just 5 of my own teeth, all on the bottom row in the front, the rest of them have been crowned or bridged during the time we had a stint of living in USA…I’d be horrified if I added up how much money I’ve spent on it all, but seems like I’m still going to have to fork out even more for this buggering implant.

OP posts:

Original poster

TheCatsBlanket · 05/12/2024 22:02

Thank you to all who answered, I’ll take the plunge and book the appointment when I go for my regular 6 month check up next Thursday; I’ll just have to suck it up when it comes to paying out the ££££££’s

OP posts:

stripeyshutters · 05/12/2024 22:05

Many of the dental places let you pay up now as who has the free money for all of this in one go . My redoing of a root canal and a new crown cost me almost that last year.

CulturalNomad · 05/12/2024 22:11

An implant is as close to a natural tooth as you can get. I actually have three (due to an injury) and they look and feel completely natural. I couldn't be more pleased.

A bridge or denture won't even come close (though I do understand that that's the only viable option for some people). If you can make it happen...go for it!

CulturalNomad · 05/12/2024 22:15

I’ll just have to suck it up when it comes to paying out the ££££££’s

Not going to lie, that part was painful. The cost of three implants....ouch!😅

Theoscargoesto · 05/12/2024 22:18

I have 2. Had them 12 or so years apart.
I have no qualms in recommending implants. They are great. The process isn’t pleasant but it’s not really painful and the results are absolutely worth the money. I really don’t want to take my teeth out at night!

Cestfoutu · 05/12/2024 22:22

I had one a few years ago and need a couple more soon (saving up!). In my opinion, it was totally worth it and in fact painless because I had a real expert do it (was a bit terrified at the prospect of it). That's the one bit of advice I would give you that my dentist gave me; find an expert who is very experienced and has done lots. My husband had a lot less pleasant experience because his guy wasn't nearly so specialized in it.

LuLuRN · 05/12/2024 22:25

I got two dental implants this year, best thing I've ever done & worth every penny.
I needed extractions & bone grafting so it was a bit of a longer time frame but was really easy & not painful or difficult at all.
Go for it!

schoolmum11 · 05/12/2024 22:32

@Cestfoutu are you able to share the details of your implantologist please? Than you!!

WalterdelaMare · 05/12/2024 22:35

I have molar implants and they are fantastic. Yes, expensive and yes, a long process with many appointments - but so worth it.

WearyAuldWumman · 05/12/2024 22:37

I had my front teeth broken when I was 7 - just as they were coming in. Crowned when I was 20. At the age of 55, went to see about replacement crowns and was told that the root of one was being absorbed by my jaw. (Apparently, this is very rare.)

Had an implant fitted. I'm glad I had it done. I've now had it 9 years.

RunnerDown · 05/12/2024 22:51

I have had an implant for 3 years now . My canine . It was a crown previously but kept failing. The implant is much better and I have total faith in it. Wouldn’t hesitate if I needed 1 again.
i had to wear a denture for a while during the process and i hated it .

Cestfoutu · 07/12/2024 22:34

schoolmum11 · 05/12/2024 22:32

@Cestfoutu are you able to share the details of your implantologist please? Than you!!

Sorry, been ill and didn't notice your message. It was a few years ago; I saw Tim at Elmsleigh in Farnham. He flies all over the world training people and running clinics so I'm not sure how much practical work he does. I would probably recommend any of the implantologists there though. They seem experienced,well-trained and professional.

Formby · 07/12/2024 23:06

I had two implants 18 months ago. The process took about 5 months as I needed a bone graft. I paid on a monthly plan. No regrets, I’m really happy with them. Have to have 6 monthly hygienist appointments too now.

Raindropskeepfallinonmyhead · 08/12/2024 08:19

Had one 3 years ago, so glad l did.

Tooth Implant Help

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