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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to consider a dental implant? or should i just have a false one? any dentists around?

43 replies

GodGaveSausageRollsToYou · 20/06/2015 09:46

I have always been proud of my teeth, they are white and straight and I really look after them. they are prob my best feature.

last year I needed a filling, my first one ever at 35. it is quite near the front to the right of my pointy teeth (if that makes sense) .... last week at a check up was told it needed replacing with a root canal as the nerve had become infected. again no idea why as I am absolutely diligent about cleaning and flossing etc :( ...so the dentist removed the nerve and put a temp filling in. and I was due to go back in a couple of weeks for the root canal. then after 3 months I will need a crown on it. its going to cost almost 300 quid in total (and that's NHS!!)

but then yesterday the temp filling fell out and took some of my tooth with it. OMFG. I was mortified. so the dentist patched it up and I still have to go back for the root canal. but he has warned me that because the tooth is now such "poor quality" ( :( ) the root canal & crown probably will fail within a couple of years.

so he has recommended a dental implant as I don't want a false one. I have been quoted £2500. which is money I really don't have. but I have looked online and found prices around £1000 which is more do able. it would wipe out my (meagre) savings though.

I don't know whether to just have the tooth removed and get a false one (because there is NO WAY I am having a gap that near the front) or just go for an implant. so I want to know if any mners reading this have had an implant, how much did it cost, and did it work ok. and if anyone has had a false one just to replace one tooth did it look ok and did it feel ok.

and if anyone says it hurts, I really don't care about the pain . I just do not want a ruined smile :(((((((

OP posts:
Jellyrain · 20/06/2015 10:00

I'm not a dentist but have a mouth full of crowns and bridges following an accident- could they bridge the gap? Implants look great IMO but i haven't been brave enough- there is a small risk of facial nerve damage which I've put undue focus on!

bunchoffives · 20/06/2015 10:03

You need a (cheaper) sticky bridge - they stick a falsy to the good tooth next door.

Original poster
GodGaveSausageRollsToYou · 20/06/2015 10:04

aww I am sorry to hear about your accident :(

my dentist said I could have a bridge but that would cost around £700 I think he said. as am guessing that's not available on NHS

so tbh If I can get an implant for not much more then I would just go for that

OP posts:
alovelycuppatea · 20/06/2015 10:18

I got an implant about 7 years ago after suffering for a few years with never ending root canals and infections. It was extortionate I agree but (touch wood) I have never had any problems with it so far. It was quite a long process that took about 5 months from start to finish (extraction, time to heal, bone graft to make sure there was enough bone for the implant to embed into, time for that to heal and embed, input of the post, time to heal and finally the tooth set on top of the post). I was lucky to get about half of it paid on insurance but still had to pay about £1200 myself. Truthfully though, I would recommend it. The torture I had before was so awful and now it just looks and feels like my own tooth. I have no doubt that it will need some attention in the future but I think the cost was well worth it for the 7 years I have had so far!
Good luck

Mitzyme · 20/06/2015 10:23

Hi op. I am having 3 implants fitted. It's a new procedure, 3 together and trickier than normal according to my lovely Dentist.
Total cost £4200 paid in instalments. It will be worth it.
( I've convinced myself )
£2500 seems quite steep, might be better shopping around.

Osmiornica · 20/06/2015 10:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lucidlady · 20/06/2015 10:28

I've got an implant. It's brilliant.

WhereIsMYJonathanSmith · 20/06/2015 10:37

I had a bridge but over the years the wear and tear affects the teeth it is secured to so in your shoes I would most definitely go for the implant.

I left it for too many years so ended up with more extensive work which cost me a lot more in the long run. Good luck.

Original poster
GodGaveSausageRollsToYou · 20/06/2015 10:48

I had a bridge but over the years the wear and tear affects the teeth

yeah that's what worries me whereismy ...imagine losing them too, omg

lucid how much did you pay?

slightly concerning to hear they are not instant, does that mean you have to have a gap for ages :(

I am so mortified to even be having this conversation tbh, I feel like I have done something wrong and not looked after my teeth properly

OP posts:
RobinHumphries · 20/06/2015 10:55

£2500 seems reasonable to me. Beware of cheap deals - there may be hidden add ons. For example a dentist near me used to put a board outside his practice advertising implants for only £500. I though shit that's cheap so one day read all the small print. Extras were the initial consultation, all the x-Rays, the crown that goes on top of the implant, the surgery itself etc... It all added up to be very expensive

ExConstance · 20/06/2015 10:56

I had two implants last year after the failure of a very old bridge. I had it done as a specialist place that charges about ?1000 a tooth, the results were brilliant and I'll certainly go back if I have more problems in the future. My two remaining bridges are long ones covering two teeth gaps and hanging on crowns, those are the ones that weaken the supporting teeth. The modern ones might be a lot better. I have had all my bridgework done on the NHS. The one that eventualy failed was over 20 yers old and the other two ( one has been replaced) are about 30 and 20 years old now and absoutely fine. It might be your answer. I can pm you my implant place if you are interested.

Gilrack · 20/06/2015 11:06

It's not your fault. You're born with the teeth you're born with. Some lucky people can cheerfully neglect theirs and still die of old age with a full set of robust gnashers. At the other end of the scale, dentally unlucky people start needing dentures in their early twenties no matter how good their oral hygiene.

The rest of us fall somewhere along the middle - it sounds like you're much further along the 'lucky' scale than me! My (far from white or even) teeth had very thick enamel, but are pretty shabby underneath it. As the enamel wore down they started crumbling away, and I'm now resigned to my dentist's mass extraction programme. With crooked, multicoloured and gappy teeth I fear my prospects of a Hollywood career are well and truly over!

alovelycuppatea · 20/06/2015 11:27

OP in answer to your question, I did have a gap for about 5 months....it's not instant unfortunately as they need to prepare and ensure the jawbone is good enough to hold the implant securely. Once your tooth is fully extracted the hole it leaves behind in the bone us typically too big for the implant post so they need to fix that first. Mind you they may have some super fancy quick way to do it now...mine was 7 years ago. I'd still recommend it....I'd imagine the dentist would be able to provide you with a temporary false tooth in the interim perhaps while it is being prepped? Worth asking.

PoppyField · 20/06/2015 11:34

Hi OP,

You've done very well looking after your teeth so far, don't beat yourself up about it. You love your teeth - well then they are worth spending money on. To get to 35 and not need a filling is very unusual, so count your blessings, be proud of yourself and do the best for them!

I had an implant for around £2k a couple of years ago and it is brilliant. Don't worry about side effects. Go to a really good dentist and there won't be a problem. It is a long process, I am sure they can give you a temporary tooth while they perfect the permanent replacement. And yes, don't go for a cheap offer, go with someone who is good at doing it. I went to a local dentist who was a real expert and took great pride in his work and obviously enjoyed good results. Can't fault what he did.

Postchildrenpregranny · 20/06/2015 11:44

I considered an implant but my Dentist said the bone desnsity wasn't good enough and couldnt be 'improved' so I have a bridge . They strengthen the neighbouring tooth(behind) and attach . It's very convincing and much better than the little (1 tooth ) denture I had before .They won't leave you with a gap but wil give you a temporary denture whatever you do
It costs about £1200 (West Midlands) for reputable place here . I think the implant would have been about £700 (we have some insurance so paid under £500) Have you a Dental Hospital near you? I think you can get inplants done more cheaply there

Postchildrenpregranny · 20/06/2015 11:45

PS You dental hygeine has to be scrulous for an implant-but you sound OK on that front

Postchildrenpregranny · 20/06/2015 11:49

Sorry to drip feed .
Yes the little denture actually looked fine but I hated taking it out at night, soaking etc Had it about 5 years
And had vision of being toothless old lady in carehome..... its getting loser..... Have convinced DDs to come in and de- whisker me should that evil day dawn, me but not sure they'd be up for inserting dentures

Original poster
GodGaveSausageRollsToYou · 20/06/2015 12:32

thanks lovely ladies Flowers

hmm postchildren that's interesting re the little denture...if it looked good and was comfortable I would perhaps consider one for a few years in the vain hope I actually become financially solvent by then

although the price you mentioned is fairly affordable, would you mind PM'ing me the name of the place please? and also exconstance please can you PM me yours as well ? X

at 2500 being "reasonable" robin :D

OP posts:
sashh · 20/06/2015 12:51

Why don't you have the crown now with a view to getting an implant in a few years, the prices will probably come down and you will have time to save up.

I lost a crown recently and now have a gap that needs a denture or bridge or implant, but it is not visible so no rush, but my crown had been there for about 10 years.

Osmiornica · 20/06/2015 13:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Talismania · 20/06/2015 13:04

You shouldn't have a gap they should put a temporary in.

Milliways · 20/06/2015 13:08

TDC implants are done in one day, but cost a lot. They do offer interest free credit though. costs explained here, they were featured on one of those TV makeover programmes.

Original poster
GodGaveSausageRollsToYou · 20/06/2015 14:11

osmi that sounds horrid :o

tbh tempted just to whack it on dh credit card and pay it off 100 a month or something he doesn't know this yet

OP posts:
Osmiornica · 20/06/2015 20:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DieDeutschLehrerin · 20/06/2015 20:52

DH is just about to start this process as he is currently missing his front left tooth. He knocked them put when he was 13, they were put back in but poorly with crowns and about a month ago one just dropped out so he is currently sporting a gap (it's actually nowhere near as noticeable as you'd imagine weirdly). Due to the damage to his jaw bone due to the poor repair it's going to take 6-9 months altogether depending on how extensive a graft he might need. The other damaged incisor will be extracted and he will need a temp denture. It's going to cost the thick end of £4000 due to the length of time it will take and the extent of the damage so I would say do it now rather than risk further damage. I'm not a dentist but I think the risk of damage to the jaw and gum receding increases when there is a gap filled by a denture rather than an implant into the bone and that's more likely to cause issues with the other teeth. At 35 (DH is 34 so similar considerations) That would be my primary concern.

Rather than whack it on a credit card could DH get a more reasonable loan (if you can't) to pay for it? Also my DH's is being paud as it goes along so he doesn't have to stump up the £4k plus in one go. Hope you find a way round it.