To ask whether you would advise dental implants

[Butteredtoast55]

I am thinking I may need to have dental implants (probably 2 teeth) to replace 3 missing teeth. The implants would be at the back of my mouth so it isn't for cosmetic reasons.
Has anyone done this and what are the fors and againsts? Are they better than a bridge? Do dentists even do bridges now as it wasn't put forward to me as an option.
Teeth are absolute bastards.

I have one and it is way better than the plate i had while it was being prepared, a bridge was not an option for me because the teeth next to the missing one wouldn't have coped. Apart from the price it was a good option for me and dentist said it would last longer than my own teeth will 😁 if you can afford it have them.

There’s some pp on here who have had implants. I’m still trying to fathom out what to do/how to pay for it but there I some good info here.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4577900-dental-implant?reply=119115747

Everyone I've met who needed them and had them has really liked them — but they're SO FUCKING PRICEY. However I'd be really wary about going abroad, because when you go to a British dentist (who presumably is doing things the safest way) it's several appointments quite far apart, you might need work doing beforehand to sort out the bone, and things might go wrong afterwards. If you get something done abroad because it's temptingly affordable, I'd be terrified of it going wrong and a British dentist saying "I'm not touching that, you need to go back". It's surgery to implant a prosthesis into your face, and if it goes wrong it's eating, speech and looks at stake, before you even go into all the important structures nearby in you head.

I'm sorry, that turned into a thing on foreign dentistry and I didn't intend it to. There's some great dentists everywhere in the world but really for something like this is better to be close to home in case of unanticipated problems.

In short, if you can afford them and the dentist recommends them, yes they're good, and not just for visible teeth. Bridges aren't pleasant TBH.

I recently spoke to my Dentist about them. His opinion was not good and he wouldn't recommend them.

I was surprised at this but as I trust him,I'll take his advice.

That's interesting cat, was that for your case specifically or did he say he'd seen issues more broadly?

Really interesting views. Thank you.
The cost is staggering, but I am assuming that, at nearly 60, it will be for life or until I am so decrepit that no teeth will be the least of my worries!

To be fair you'll get a lot more mileage out of them than your average car, assuming all goes well. It always feels weird to me how I (and I suspect a lot of other people) wince at the idea of spending sums of money on teeth that would feel quite frugal if I was spending that on a car (buying, insuring, servicing, fixing, fuelling), even though I need my teeth several times a day and am quite partial to not being in pain.

I've had 2 to replace a big gap. Lower jaw towards the back. Cost over £4000, but never had a problem and had them a few years.

I've had one. It was my first molar, lower jaw and cost 3k.

It just feels like a tooth. It's been great. I'm in no pain and no longer struggle to eat. I paid the money over about 10 months, was about 1k every 3 months that way.

It has been worth it for me.

Good luck!

I have some and they're brilliant. My dentist says it's especially important to have them at the back as it protects your front teeth from overwork. The only disadvantage l can see is the price. I definitely would not go abroad and look for a good recommendation for a dentist with lots of experience doing them. I paid over the period of a year so took some of the sting out f it. I, too, am in my 60s and very happy with mine.

Hi, I am in the process of having 6 new implants at the moment, and had 4 last year. I have had a lot of fillings, crowns, root canals and a bridge etc done in my 20s and now late 40s they were failing and it was a case of necessity, rather than for cosmetic purposes.
It's a lot of appointments, long processes as I needed 7 extractions first and had been painful at times, although mostly the pain was getting 7 molars extracted, rather than the actual implant surgery which was actually OK surprisingly. More discomfort and swelling, not really any pain.
I am very grateful to be able to get this work done, as the alternative of dentures was really something I was not at all keen on, at my age.
The cost is staggering, for my 10 I will be paying around £10k, 2 sets are like a bridge in that there are 2 implant screws supporting 3 teeth, if you see what I mean, which has saved money.
I can only hope they last longer than the 10 years I read about, but considering I still have a crown for a front tooth going back 30 years, I can only keep the fingers crossed!
I am very happy with mine, they allow me to eat without pain, and I a great to be able to chew properly again. Felt a bit wierd to start with, like alien bricks in my mouth, but given I had gaps for years, that's probably expected. Now, I can't really feel a difference, maybe slightly different but overall I say go for it!

I had one for a front tooth and I am very pleased with it. It did cost thick end of £3k though

As PP said I would be wary of going abroad because there are several stages over a number of months. It isn't a one shot procedure.

I was nervous beforehand but actually it was very straightforward and I didn't have any discomfort at all, either during or after the treatment

I'd like to add to my earlier post, but I'm a very nervous patient but the work was done slowly and painlessly.

Mine were done in the UK

I am not a dentist but my understanding is that they help to prevent your jaw bones from disintegrating over time.

This is a good explanation of the science behind bone deterioration
www.melbourneperio.com.au/dental-implants/bone-grafting/jawbone-loss-and-deterioration/

I've got some. I went to a dentist (in the UK) who works at a specialist implant clinic. He was lovely (I was very nervous and hadn't been to the dentist for years) and I'm very happy with the result.

As others have said, they are extremely expensive. But that is the only downside.

I have several in my lower jaw. I’m so happy with them I plan on getting the partial denture on my upper jaw replaced with implants

Can I just derail this thread slightly with a question for those who’ve had implants - were you sedated when they were put in? I am getting two, and my dentist is recommending sedation, but that adds ~£500 to the cost, and I am wondering how necessary it is.

I've had three! But I couldn't tell you where as they all just feel like my teeth now. No sedation needed. Expensive and a long process but definitely worth it for me.

I have one and I’m about to have another. In fact I may even have a third for cosmetic reasons rather than a dental need due to problems with the teeth.

I found the hole process painless and I like the feeling of sturdiness the implant gives rather than the crown I had which I doubt would have happened if I’d been starting a treatment plan nowadays.

I had the implant done when I was 62 but it was done abroad where I live.

I've got two at the front. Have had them for 20 years. I was sedated when I had them in and that suited me best as I'm not sure I could have coped being awake at the time, I was only a teenager and quite anxious. What is your tolerance level like? Never had any problems with them.

I was a dentalphobe and didn’t need sedation. I’d had some other work done at the dental college I attend and they worked on my phobia as well as my teeth. Come the day I started the implant treatment I was confident and no one ever mentioned sedation. Not that it would have been needed anyway. The whole procedure was painless though I have to admit I still don’t like the sensation of that local anesthetic they do.

Honestly, I’d really be wary of them suggesting sedation but I’m not a dentist so perhaps it’s your dentist you need to ask.

I had one about 5 years ago. Basically if you are missing bottom teeth the problem is that the top teeth will gradually come down onto the gap.

Personally it was pretty painful for 3 days. There are quite a few steps in the process so it's not one in and done. And I really didn't mind the gap and I had it for 30 years. But overall I think it's a good thing.

Well my dad had four teeth removed that were functional but didn't look great and some others missing and had the implants. Bloody expensive and the net result is his teeth for vanity purposes look simply amazing

However, he said to me recently he regretted having the four removed, when he runs his tongue on his teeth he could feel the old ones, ie he had sensation in his teeth. So now when he eats its not the same he says, they function great but he knows they are not real. Something to consider perhaps?

Good Luck

My mum is about to lose her last four teeth and has been advised to have them replaced with implants for two reasons: 1. So there's something to anchor her dentures rather than having to glue them in; 2. To prevent further loss of bone in her maxilla and mandible. Implants are expensive and it's quite a procedure so I think you need your dentist to give you clear pros and cons for against them. I had four premolars removed as a child and, as a result, I've already lost a lot of bone in my mouth on top of normal bone loss from aging so if I was in your position I would absolutely go for dental implants to maintain what I have left.