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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To pay £4,000 for a tooth.

111 replies

Sinushelp · 10/05/2025 17:06

My first molar is missing and I'm a bit conscious of it plus it's the main tooth I would use to chew with. It's going to cost £4,000 to get an implant and sinus lift which is also needed.
I'm getting a loan out to cover it.
If I told anyone they would probably think I was mad for spending that on a tooth but my only other option is to have a gap or wear a denture which I really don't fancy.
If it was you,, would you leave it with the gap or would you pay the money to get it sorted permanently? Would the first molar being missing bother you?
Curious to see what the opinions are.

OP posts:
OttersAreMySpiritAnimal · 10/05/2025 17:08

If it affected my life/eating/how I feel about myself I'd definitely do it. No question. What else is so worth spending money on than your health?

Largestlegocollectionever · 10/05/2025 17:08

Id go abroad for it and tag it onto a holiday!

ThatBluntZebra · 10/05/2025 17:10

DH got an implant a few years ago (front tooth though so v noticeable) but it was well worth the money

Snapncrackle · 10/05/2025 17:21

I went abroad and got my implant and sinus lift for around 600 after I had it removed in the uk
it was an upper back tooth so not noticeable or urgent

had a lovely holiday as well

they wanted 4k plus in the uk

WithOnlyTheMemories · 10/05/2025 17:22

I need two implants next to each other and the quote is just under £10k. I'm going to get it done when I can.

Whammyyammy · 10/05/2025 17:24

I paid £26,000 for all on 4 implants in the UK. No more dentist bills, toothache....

Buffyj · 10/05/2025 17:24

I did, 12 years ago, best money I've ever spent.

PansyPottering · 10/05/2025 17:25

I paid £3800 for mine. It is the most expensive thing I’ve ever bought. The whole process took almost two years so I wasn’t paying it all at once.

There is an implant centre in Brighton that is cheaper, I was too far away but just in case you are interested.

BobnLen · 10/05/2025 17:34

If I was fairly young I would definitely pay but as I am quite old I have partial dentures, I would also need bone grafts if I had them.

WearyAuldWumman · 10/05/2025 17:35

Sinushelp · 10/05/2025 17:06

My first molar is missing and I'm a bit conscious of it plus it's the main tooth I would use to chew with. It's going to cost £4,000 to get an implant and sinus lift which is also needed.
I'm getting a loan out to cover it.
If I told anyone they would probably think I was mad for spending that on a tooth but my only other option is to have a gap or wear a denture which I really don't fancy.
If it was you,, would you leave it with the gap or would you pay the money to get it sorted permanently? Would the first molar being missing bother you?
Curious to see what the opinions are.

I paid that to have my front tooth replaced. (It was broken in childhood, crowned when I was 20. 35 yrs later, the crown failed.)

moose17 · 10/05/2025 17:36

I had an implant 2 years ago cost £3600 was worth every penny. Took about four months from start to finish

Snickersnack1 · 10/05/2025 17:36

£4k is half my savings but I’d pay it.

User46576 · 10/05/2025 17:36

Yes - I would pay. I have a dental implant and it was worth the money

Anewdawnanewname · 10/05/2025 18:10

100% I’d do it, although I probably would look and see if it could be done abroad first. But if it was the only option, I’d pay it.

LauritaEvita · 10/05/2025 18:50

This is one of those things it’s worth spending on without question. I paid about that for a brace and paid it off in instalments over a few years. Your teeth affect your speech, smile, overall face shape, eating etc. if you’re confident that what your dentist is suggesting is the best way to deal with it, I’d go for it.

Allseeingallknowing · 10/05/2025 18:55

Whammyyammy · 10/05/2025 17:24

I paid £26,000 for all on 4 implants in the UK. No more dentist bills, toothache....

They still need care and maintenance at the dentist.
No wonder people go abroad. Ican understand why it costs less abroad but the difference is enormous!

Zanatdy · 10/05/2025 18:55

Do it, I had a tooth removed from the middle / back and didn’t pay for an implant, now my teeth have moved and so wonky

Notgoingtohappen · 10/05/2025 18:56

Yes I paid similar a few years ago. Have never regretted it.

C8H10N4O2 · 10/05/2025 19:31

I paid £4k for two implants (smaller teeth at front) some years ago after aging crowns failed.

Worth every penny and if faced with the same problem again where the option was false tooth, bridge or implant I’d pay up for implants without hesitation. Its the nearest you will get to having “real” teeth where the dead teeth need to be replaced.

thenightsky · 10/05/2025 19:37

Do it. I'm missing the same. Both top. One each side. Its ruined all my photos from DD's wedding last year. Gutted I'd not sorted it years ago. 😩

ILoveMyCaravan · 10/05/2025 19:40

I’ve just had 4 dental implants because it was seriously affecting my ability to chew. However I’ve had them done in Spain, just over £4K for all of them…

roundtable · 10/05/2025 19:42

We've just paid similar for dh's tooth. It took a while as it's done in stages. How do they do it on a two week holiday? Well worth it and you wouldn't know it wasn't his tooth.

CleverMintHedgehog · 10/05/2025 20:01

I’m just about to spend £2k on a re-treatment of a failed root canal and crown. I was considering just having it out and paying for an implant. The initial root canal did last me 25 years though so I’m kind of hopeful it’s worth it. First molar, too. I’m missing both first molars on the bottom and left the gaps, but was considering implants.

Original poster
Sinushelp · 10/05/2025 20:05

It does seem ridiculously expensive for one tooth but it's either that or have a gap forever. Even my current boyfriend who I've only been with a few months , I don't know if he's noticed it but I always prefer him to be on the other side of me so that he doesn't notice so that in itself would show that I'm paranoid about it.
I do have an implant on my other side and it's just been amazing, it was £2000 at the time and I didn't need a sinus lift.
I would worry about going abroad as I just wonder how/why do they do things so much cheaper over there.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sinushelp · 10/05/2025 20:06

My parents are old school and I just know if I told them they would be flabbergasted at me paying that amount!

OP posts: