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 3 back molars on 2 implants. They are, without doubt, the best teeth in my head!

They were very expensive but I spent so much time in the dentist’s chair over a 6 month period, I think the price is entirely justified. The initial 3 hour surgery was quite an experience 😱

I didn’t have sedation, but the surgery bit took 3 hours and it was pretty gruelling. Not painful, just a long time to have your mouth open.

If you are struggling for the money get the longest interest free cc you can with a high limit. I got 30 months a few yrs ago with 10k limit. My bill was 4k. Pay off as much as you each month and destroy the card so you don't add anything else. If you still owe money at the end of the term transfer the balance to another interest free card.

I had an implant and a bridge put in to replace my front teeth and I love it. The process was expensive but in my mind so worth it. Everyone now comments on what nice teeth I have- before I used to try never smile on camera.

I had two done on the nhs, lower molars. I was very lucky to get this, it is because quite a few of my adult teeth didn’t grow so I was already lacking teeth. One failed after a year and I had to have it removed, the other is great 10 years on. I have the process very painful and quite traumatic tbh, but this could well be because it was done at the dental teaching hosptial with trainee surgeons doing some of the work. I imagine it took longer than it would do generally. I would still recommend.

I had conscious sedation - injection in my arm, stayed awake but as well as not feeling any pain, I was slightly out of it. It took a few hours but I had no awareness of time and it didn't feel that it was anywhere near as long as it was.

This is so useful.

I have an implant that replaced a tooth with a root canal and crown that failed twice. A long story, but when I was 19 a dentist tried to pin a shallow wide filling and ended up damaging the root so I had to have a root canal, which got infected a few years later so had to be redone. This second root canal eventually failed when I was in my mid thirties when it broke whilst I was eating.

My dentist said the failed tooth had to be extracted and my options were:

1. leave a gap
2. a bridge
3. an implant

I went with the implant and to be honest, I wish I had had it done that the first time the tooth failed. I have had it for 7 years now and it is great. It looks and acts just like a real tooth.

I had it done by my normal dentist and all in all it cost £1500. The work was great and took three months in total.

Things to consider:

1. You need healthy gums and decent bone density for it to work
2. All the work is private - including xrays etc.. - which is a bit painful cost wise.
3. You do need to pay extra attention to cleaning it to avoid subsequent infections. So I use inter dental brushes and go to the hygienist every six months without fail.

Just to say mine was done privately as the tooth I lost was a pre molar so the NHS deemed me to be dentally fit just by having the failed tooth removed. I think you may be able to get implants on the NHS if it is deemed necessary to make you dentally fit.

I’ve had 2. Both were done by implant specialists. Unbelievably expensive but the result is so good, it’s like having real teeth there. Implants stop the bone atrophy that you get when there’s a gap with no teeth. They are extremely strong. Apart from the cost, the downside is the length of the treatment and it’s pretty drastic stuff to go through.

What alternatives did he offer?

I am looking at implants but I don’t know if I need a bone graph as well

My son had one when he was 18, a couple of years ago.
He had extensive damage from an accident he was in when he was 13.
The bridge he had kept failing and there was no other option apart from an implant.
He had an implant front upper tooth. He had a bone graft carried out, followed the implant being carried out under CT guidance.
The result has been superb. It cost £4,000. The only negative was that he found the procedures hugely painful, which he wasn’t prepared for.

Best thing I ever did. I can't imagine why any dentist wouldn't recommend them. They're pretty mainstream now. Possibly because you need a dentist who specialises in them. I was very dentalphobic but vanity overcame phobia. I had local anaesthesia. It was fine because I trust my dentist. My implants changed my life. And that was more than ten years ago and they're just fine.

I didn't actually ask decided to stay with my gap.

I have 2 implants. I had them done in Budapest and they are fecking brilliant. Cost less than half what I was quoted in the UK, even including the flights etc. Aftercare has been ace.

For reference I had them done in 2019 and it cost £3.5k for two including a bone graft and flights.

I would advise anyone to ensure that the dentist talks them through ALL the options.

Implants are the current gold standard so dentists are very keen to use them but they may not be the best option for you and there are other good solutions available that you should be offered without being made to feel that it is the cheapskate option.

I have had dentures since I was 16, I was told I couldn't have implants at first (I would have to be 21) so I had a plate for a while followed by Maryland Bridges, which have been in place for over 20 years and apart from a couple of repairs due to accidental damage they have been trouble free.

I have looked into implants, when I got a new dentist he was very keen but I don't have space, though some cosmetic dentists tried to persuade me to have healthy teeth removed with a view to replacing them with implants too.

If you need additional treatment rather than just placement of the implants it can be very costly, time consuming and uncomfortable with uncertain results.

I've had one for nearly 20 years, it's never caused a problem.

I have one and it’s fabulous.