Dentures or Implant ?

[DentistScardeycat]

Hope someone who has experienced the same, can advise. Or maybe a dentist can offer some insight.

I've lost a tooth (next to the front two, so leaving a gap isn't an option).

Dentist said I could have dentures or an implant.
I have to say his explanations were really poor, but I've done a bit of googling since, but was also wondering if someone can tell me what their experience was, rather than much of the google results which seem to be clinics telling me why I should let them do an implant.

I've been told denture would be under £500 but implant would be between £2500 and £4000 but that dentures need fiddling about with every day and, once done, implant is supposed to be for life, and can be forgotten about.

I'm early 60s if that makes a difference and don't like the sound of surgery but hate the sound of 'a plate in the roof of my mouth' every day.

Any insight?

Did he discuss a resin-retained bridge as an alternative? It might be worth you getting a second opinion

Had an implant this year for a front tooth as had the same option given to me after knocking the tooth out years ago. You cannot tell implant from real thing. It is expensive and feels different to a normal tooth when you bite on it but the process was fairly straightforward and not really painful at all. Literally just brush it and water floss it. Hygienist also cleans it alongside 'normal' teeth.
They put a titanium post in your jaw bone, let the bone grow around it and then put the new tooth on. There is a risk it won't take but there are risk factors for that, easily found online, smoking is the one I remember as they wanted to be very sure I didn't.
I think who does it is very important, choose carefully. The dentist who did mine was so lovely, frequently did extra work and was very keen for result to look natural.

I can't comment on the denture option, it just felt very 'old' to be doing that plus mine is a front tooth so would have to wear it all the time.
Was very expensive though!

I have a direct composite resin bridge, built to fit and done in one painless appointment, on a missing front tooth. Does not destroy the teeth on either side, no rejection issues. You have other options to explore and I'm 64, so avoid any damaging of any healthy tooth unnecessarily, so very happy.

Also 'surgery' was just like normal dental work if you have ever had an extraction/ root canal etc. Injection of anaesthetic and ibuprofen after for 48h. It was a little uncomfortable for maybe 3 days, was then just getting used to new sensation.
No idea how true this is but was told bridges can damage the teeth either side so wasn't a great solution for me.

Definitely go for the implant. No question. Any other option is madness and false economy.

Not me but my old boss lost a front tooth in a rugby accident. He got a denture in his thirties. Think he was fairly happy with it, ate normally etc. My stepdad also got a bridge in his thirties and thirty years later is still happy with it. Worth bearing in mind implants will likely mean you’ll run into problems if you ever need an MRI in the future, I had to take DS for an MRI at the weekend and the safety form specifically asked about dental implants.

I've had an implant for 20 year. No both at all

I'm now 66. I had one front tooth replaced by an implant. It was broken when it was coming in and when it was x-rayed when I was 55 - with a view to replacing the crown - it was discovered that the root had been partially absorbed by the jaw and it was only a matter of time before it fell out.

My understanding is that an implant helps to preserve some of the jaw bone and stop the recession that you get when a tooth is pulled out.

I agree with all of this.

I had 5 implants done as I didn’t want a plate. It was expensive but the best decision I ever made. My husband had two done and never regretted it.
I was told it can be expensive if it’s just one. I couldn’t bear the thought of a plate and knew it would after my confidence

My husband and I have both had MRI’s but never had a problem because of implants.

I’m 67 and had a single implant about 3 years ago. Not in UK, not sure if that matters, but a denture was not offered and I would not have gone for that. It was quite expensive probably around £2000.

The implant is a molar. I don’t remember which one it is,

I had an implant last year on a tooth that had been cracked, filled, crowned, all sorts until its ultimate failure and subsequent extraction. Sounds like the same tooth you are working with, side but still visibly a front tooth.
I agree with pp, it feels like ordinary dental work and recovery time for me was minimal.
For mine, I needed the tooth extracted then packed with a material which would form artificial bone. The extraction was by far the most uncomfortable part of the treatment. Then it had to be left alone to heal for about 2 months. I was given a denture for aesthetics.
This is where I would definitely advise the implant, I found the denture (a plate with a single tooth) uncomfortable, verging on painful after a days wear, I could only eat very soft foods with it in, think no chewing required! And I had a permanent lisp which only ever got marginally better. DH said it wasn’t noticeable to others but I sounded very different to my own ear.
Anyway, then I had the titanium post/implant fitted. I didn’t really find it painful at all, though they did prescribe antibiotics for 5 days to be sure no infection set in. Any pain I managed with ibuprofen. Then after another couple of months healing, they finally fitted the crown. It looks and feels like my own tooth, you care for it the same and it’s solid and secure.
If ever I had a failed tooth again I wouldn’t hesitate to have another implant. It was expensive and a long process, over 4 months start to finish but I’d never choose a denture after wearing one for the short period I did whilst waiting for my implant. At home I never wore it as it was so uncomfortable. I would hope if you were to opt for a denture, that the material they would use to create it would be nicer to wear than the hard plastic and metal clips i had!

Sorry, had to unexpectedly pop out. I wasn't expecting so many answers so soon. Thank you all

This is really helpful to me - I was knocked sideways a bit as was expecting them to "glue" the one that has started to wobble back in so was completely taken aback,

I appreciate you all taking your time to share your experiences. I will continue to read, and think.

It might be worth you getting a second opinion

How would I go about doing that?

This was the practice I've been with for years - 5 mins of rushed, poorly explained options, and an x-ray, which cost me £27, but left me completely unsure what to do.
Can I just call a random dental practice ?

For £27 that is a NHS check up. You will struggle to find , in most places , another NHS dentist for a second opinion , you will probably need to go private.

In general there are four things to do for a missing tooth

leave it might not look nice but probably won’t do harm

replace with a bridge. One type requires grinding down the teeth either side. Not recommended if they are in good condition as 20% will need root canal afterwards has a lifespan of 10 years ish but can last a lot longer . The other type is glued onto an untouched tooth. This depends on tooth being in good condition, the bite being amenable and , at best , is a mid term solution. Some last months, others last years but not forever.

replace with a denture, not ideal just for one tooth , will need replacing every 5 years or so , many people don’t get on with them.

gold standard , replace with implant. Expensive and process takes months to a year . Will need meticulous cleaning and care and budget to replace parts over the years. Not suitable if you smoke/vape, have diabetes or active gum disease.

I considered both options for a 2-molar gap last year. The gap was previously a 1 tooth gap with a Maryland Bridge, but the supporting tooth had recurrent infections, and after a few years we decided to pull it. The gap is just about out of sight when smile. I saw two cosmetic dentists - one recommended by a friend, one recommended by my own dentist (he is an NHS dentist (!!) and does not do implants, but works closely with a lab and private cosmetic dentist).

Both gave me similar advice, that my jaw bone is quite small and narrow, and I would require a bovine bone graft. This added significantly to the time and cost, and there was still no guarantee of the bone or implant “taking”. Both said the titanium post should last a lifetime, but the tooth would need replacing after about 15 years. The cost was around £5k-6k for the 2 teeth plus bone graft (this was about 4 years ago) and the work would take place over about a year (I think. I needed 6 months for the extraction site to heal).

I went for a partial denture. It clips in and out very easily, it’s a bit like the tooth version of a fake moustache!! It’s comfortable, easy to look after and unnoticeable when it’s in. Totally non intrusive and no additional work was needed - just 3 apps to make and fit the mould etc. Cost £350 ish (NHS) and all treatment was done and dusted in a month.

On the other have, DBro had 9 implants, after he had a bike accident and landed on his face. This was about 10 years ago. Work took a couple of years. Of the 9, not all of them have taken - maybe 2 have failed? Fortunately he was living overseas at the time, and had good health insurance which covered his teeth!

So, just a precautionary tale really. Don’t assume that you’re suitable for implants without extra work; implants don’t always take; dentures aren’t awful!

If its just one tooth and at the front, I'd definitely go for an implant if you can afford it. It's a no brainer imo

Following with interest

Implants do and can fail. Thats what you need to keep in mind here if you can afford ten years down the line to have another.

I have multiple implants and it’s not been an issue at all when getting MRIs done.

Yes this is why I would never go for an implant and it's a painful operation which requires antibiotics. Would rather have false teeth.

The false teeth nowadays don't fall out. Anyway I did investigate an implant on a gap near my front teeth and was told that to correspond with the other one it would need to be replaced within ten years. Have embraced the gap which is now very small. Hen's tooth. That could have been absolutely saved when I was in my twenties.

You cannot just forget about an implant. You need to ensure you clean and floss regularly, its only ever as good as the bone its screwed into. I have had mine about 15 years and have it specially cleaned twice a year by a Hygienist,

I have an implant and have regular MRI brain scans.

I have a denture..just the cheapest one the NHS offers
Never had a problem with it ..touch wood
It feels absolutely fine ..I was so glad to get it ,that I just never took it out ,apart from at night obviously.
I had buliima for most of my life ,so will probably loose more teeth at some point
I'm so greatful to have my denture..
I paid £300 for it about 5 years ago

I think with the right, recommended and experienced dentist, implants are a brilliant solution. I've recently had two implants and found the process overall very comfortable and I am a very nervous patient. I can recommend my dentist (who is a further qualified oral surgeon) for anyone in the home counties.