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Original poster

It's D (dental implant) Day tomorrow

31 replies

BrokenCrown · 21/03/2022 23:09

I'm 40, lost my front tooth in my 20s and had a crown then a bridge and various types of plates before getting a flexi denture 7 years ago.

Always recommend by dentist to get an implant, saved up, and now tomorrow is the day and I'm excited but terrified.

I am stocked up on painkillers and soft food. Told work even WFH I may not be upto much.
Dentist told me to eat a good breakfast and the pain will be manageable with otc pain killers but it's just dawned on me it's really happening tomorrow and I'm starting to freak out.

After some encouragement and reassurance.

Debating whether to post this in case someone shares a horror story.

I had an apicectomy (sp) on the same tooth in my 20s in local hospital under GA, whereas tomorrow is "just local anaesthetic"

Please help me stop panicking.

Ive always been a nervous patient but got better since going to this dentist as they are great, and with my plate discoloured I'm self conscious of smiling so I know this is for the best..... But I'm scared Blush

OP posts:
user9513574682 · 21/03/2022 23:22

I've had a bridge, which was great, then a denture, which I couldn't stand. So I've now had 4 implants and a bridge fitted to them. Not cheap, but so much better than the denture.
I found the worst part was the injections for the anaesthetic, but that's over pretty quickly, then I just take myself off to a relaxing place mentally, and let them get on with it !

5foot5 · 21/03/2022 23:26

Don't panic!

I had an implant for one of my front teeth in August 2020. Like you I was terribly nervous beforehand but, let me reassure you, mine wasn't a horror story at all.

First the procedure itself. Really and truly never felt a thing while it was being done.

For after the treatment I was given all the advice on painkillers and how it might swell and so on. I can honestly say it didn't hurt at all. Like you I had taken the day off, even though we were still WFH the. As the local anaesthetic wore off I was bracing myself for the pain to kick in, but it really never did. The next morning I think I had a very, very slight swelling but I only knew because my top lip felt a bit tight.

You will be advised to have a soft diet for a few days and will probably be told to have regular mouth washes in salt water for several days followed by several more days of antiseptic mouthwash. I was also prescribed antibiotics.

I was glad I was working from home for the first two weeks because the dentist recommended keeping the temporary denture out as much as possible while the gum healed. Obviously had to wait 3 to 4 months for the bone to knit around the implant before the crown was fitted.

Mine was all completed in December 2020 and I am very pleased I plucked up the courage to have it done. It was definitely worth it and nowhere near the ordeal I feared.

Good luck for tomorrow and virtual hand holds from me.

Original poster
BrokenCrown · 21/03/2022 23:27

@user9513574682

I've had a bridge, which was great, then a denture, which I couldn't stand. So I've now had 4 implants and a bridge fitted to them. Not cheap, but so much better than the denture. I found the worst part was the injections for the anaesthetic, but that's over pretty quickly, then I just take myself off to a relaxing place mentally, and let them get on with it !
Thank you

Yes I've had injections a lot and they sting and make me go all twitchy but once those are done I plan to listen to some music and pretend I am somewhere else Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
BrokenCrown · 21/03/2022 23:30

@5foot5

Don't panic!

I had an implant for one of my front teeth in August 2020. Like you I was terribly nervous beforehand but, let me reassure you, mine wasn't a horror story at all.

First the procedure itself. Really and truly never felt a thing while it was being done.

For after the treatment I was given all the advice on painkillers and how it might swell and so on. I can honestly say it didn't hurt at all. Like you I had taken the day off, even though we were still WFH the. As the local anaesthetic wore off I was bracing myself for the pain to kick in, but it really never did. The next morning I think I had a very, very slight swelling but I only knew because my top lip felt a bit tight.

You will be advised to have a soft diet for a few days and will probably be told to have regular mouth washes in salt water for several days followed by several more days of antiseptic mouthwash. I was also prescribed antibiotics.

I was glad I was working from home for the first two weeks because the dentist recommended keeping the temporary denture out as much as possible while the gum healed. Obviously had to wait 3 to 4 months for the bone to knit around the implant before the crown was fitted.

Mine was all completed in December 2020 and I am very pleased I plucked up the courage to have it done. It was definitely worth it and nowhere near the ordeal I feared.

Good luck for tomorrow and virtual hand holds from me.

Thank you, yes he did say the swelling might mean my denture might not fit right away/might need adjusting.... I'm hoping i am able to wear it at the weekend, even just limited time, as have a show booked which was rescheduled due to covid and taking my mum out for mother's Day. Oh no, now I'm worried I'll have to be toothless at the weekend
OP posts:
dottycat123 · 21/03/2022 23:35

I had an implant 3 weeks ago. There was a few hours of pain when the anaesthetic wore off which I took cocodamol for. I go back this week for a check up, I think it's ok but I can still feel it is sore at the moment. The implant process was not too bad.

5foot5 · 21/03/2022 23:43

Thank you, yes he did say the swelling might mean my denture might not fit right away/might need adjusting.... I'm hoping i am able to wear it at the weekend, even just limited time, as have a show booked which was rescheduled due to covid and taking my mum out for mother's Day. Oh no, now I'm worried I'll have to be toothless at the weekend

I suppose one upside of having this done during Covid was I could WFH, turning off the webcam for Skype calls, and when I was out I had a mask over my mouth.

I'd you find you can't wear the denture at the weekend you can always keep a mask on. People will surely just think you are being careless.

Once mine healed enough to keep the denture in it didn't fit as well as it had but I just used dental adhesive. It's a bit bleugh but it was only for a few weeks until the crown was fitted

5foot5 · 21/03/2022 23:44

Sorry "careful" not "careless"

Original poster
BrokenCrown · 22/03/2022 12:00

Ok it's done, I'm home, and currently still numb.
Had ibuprofen before I went, co-codamol when I got home, and crossing my fingers it's not too bad once anathestic wears off!

OP posts:
PunishmentRoundupWithJoon · 22/03/2022 12:20

Well done, OP! Glad it's done. Regarding future treatment - have you asked to have numbing gel on your gum before the injections? I always have this and consequently there's no pain at all from the injection.

5foot5 · 22/03/2022 12:44

Well done you. Yes, fingers crossed you are as lucky as I was with no pain and virtually no swelling.

PearlclutchersInc · 22/03/2022 12:50

Reading with interest - hope you recover well (and quickly).

Original poster
BrokenCrown · 22/03/2022 21:09

Thank you all for the encouragement, so far alternating ibuprofen and co-codamol have kept the pain at bay. Eaten (v soft) food, and had slight swelling which has started to subside now, just hoping to sleep ok tonight before work tomorrow and maybe reduce the co-codamol dose as I was a bit woozy earlier but have lots on at work tomorrow Smile

OP posts:
Notanotherwindow · 22/03/2022 21:37

Not the same thing but I had a post and crown done when I was 16 where they embed a screw into your tooth socket (tooth still in situ, just hollowed out.) and fit a crown onto it a few weeks later. It really scared me at the time but the procedure didn't hurt at all. Pain after was manageable too.

Original poster
BrokenCrown · 22/03/2022 21:39

@Notanotherwindow

Not the same thing but I had a post and crown done when I was 16 where they embed a screw into your tooth socket (tooth still in situ, just hollowed out.) and fit a crown onto it a few weeks later. It really scared me at the time but the procedure didn't hurt at all. Pain after was manageable too.
Yes, I had that done too, probably at a similar age, but over the years the health of that deteriorated too so I ended up with a plate
OP posts:
PixieLaLa · 22/03/2022 22:09

Sorry but you are being very OTT, it’s a very simple procedure. Some people have major/traumatic surgery and just get on with it.

ronjobbins · 22/03/2022 22:17

@PixieLaLa

Sorry but you are being very OTT, it’s a very simple procedure. Some people have major/traumatic surgery and just get on with it.
Oh behave Hmm
Mindtheears · 22/03/2022 22:21

Hi, I had slight swelling but nothing major, didn’t need any painkillers after the day it was done. I had to done in the morning and worked (from home) in the afternoon so next day definitely wasn’t a problem. Am sure you’ll be fine.

LolaButt · 22/03/2022 22:24

@PixieLaLa

Sorry but you are being very OTT, it’s a very simple procedure. Some people have major/traumatic surgery and just get on with it.
Did you wake up this morning and think hmmm, today is the day I’m going to try and make random strangers feel shit about themselves?!

Well done OP. I bet the implant will do your confidence wonders!

Weeteeny · 22/03/2022 22:31

I had an implant in 2019 for a front tooth. It was a lengthy procedure , approx 4 months I think. Waiting on the bone to grow around the implant etc. Gums ro heal etc. I remember when they drilled into the bone the dramatically different sound from drilling into a tooth. That was the worst of it! I don't remember any pain at all even whilst healing though obviously my mouth was a wee bit tender . I'm very pleased with the end result and would recommend it to anyone .

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 22/03/2022 22:33

@PixieLaLa

Sorry but you are being very OTT, it’s a very simple procedure. Some people have major/traumatic surgery and just get on with it.
Some people see a perfectly harmless thread they don’t relate to and simply move on, without taking the opportunity to sneer at anyone.
PixieLaLa · 22/03/2022 22:37

Yes, and some people wouldn’t opt for an expensive procedure if they didn’t actually want it for an aesthetic reason. Much like someone having a boob job then complaining about how nervous and unsure they are. Well simple, you don’t HAVE to have it.

Mobilewidow · 23/03/2022 00:08

I'm 30. Had 2 implants due to covid. Dentist where only removing not treating and I couldn't cope with the pain. I can assure you it didn't hurt one bit. A bit sore for the first day after but nothing unbearable. Child pain is worse if that helps! It's not like the pain you get when you have a cavity or access. It's just a bit achey

Notanotherwindow · 25/03/2022 07:55

How did it go OP? Are you healing up OK?

TPMG · 09/08/2022 19:49

How's it all now?. Happy with it?

Original poster
BrokenCrown · 09/08/2022 21:10

Thank you all for your encouragement (except @PixieLaLa - I appreciate I chose to have this procedure, I wasn't aware that negated my right to be nervous)

So the placing of the implant is totally settled now, and have been wearing my plate as normal apart from the first 2 weeks (the weekend away I left my plate at home and just wore a mask and took painkillers regularly so was still able to enjoy the events!)

As I had a bone graft I had to wait for everything to settle before proceeding with the placing of the "post" and impressions, but my next appointment is on Monday so should know then if it's as expected and if so the whole thing will be finished by next month 🤞

OP posts: