dental implants

[indigobarbie]

HI, wondering if anyone has any personal experience in this? My Aunt is fed up of having a plate that she does not get on with and is considering implants, but is worried re bone loss as this is why she lost her teeth?
Thanks

I have had something that is about one step down from implants and my dentist reinforced a section of my jaw with a substances called 'Biosculpt.'

I have to warn you though, it will most likely be very expensive, I can't even think what it would cost for a mouth full of them!

Also I get very heavily sedated {knocked out really) for any dental treatment as I am really phobic, but this costs me £320 (yes three hundred and twenty quid) alone for the sedation. I certainly wouldn't advise having implants done via local, not sure they would do that anyway, dental hospital for anaesthetic perhaps? It's a huge amount of word to have done.

ooh I nearly forgot, hi there indigobarbie!

I have been quoted £2,500 for dental implants. ONE implant, that is.

Hellllllooooo Nemo (been missing you lots) thanks for that, never heard of bio, will need to google on Auntie's behalf. I actually don't think that money is a problem as she is at her wit's end with the falsers. If it were me, I would probably have to be put under aswell, don't like all that toothie stuff. Did you have a long recovery after getting the work done?

Queeheeeheee I know, it is pricy, but I believe that the people who have had them in say it is life changing. I also checked and it seems that you can get one implant and this holds more than one tooth?

Ah yes, I have that, 1 implant is a 'cantilever' and supports 2 other fake teeth.

It is definitely life changing - I used to have the state of decay that you would expect after 5 years of serious drug addiction, plus a few teeth missing

It was not A Good Look.

Your auntie would have to find a good cosmetic dentist. My dentist is amazing, without him I would have had to have my remaining teeth pulled and be handed some dentures. He has done a fantastic job, even if the bill made Dh go visibly pale and then a bit dizzy...

Can't really remember about recovery time, it would take many appointments to get a mouthful done. Also I think they put the basic support structure in and then let it settle for 3/6months. They can only do so much work in each appointment, also there is a chance of infection. I have had a few infections in my time, but relatively few in comparison to how much I have had done, I've been lucky. It certainly isn't something you can get done quickly!

Yep sounds about right!

Fantastic results though. Toothy

I had 1 done after a car crash when I was small.

Loss of teeth leads to bone loss over time.

If she's had falsies for a long time she will most probably need a bone graft for the pin to attach to. Bone can be taken from tyhe chin or the back of the jaw. Done under local with sedation - takes approx 1.5 hrs.

After 4 months, the pin will be screwed in, and left to settle for another 4 months.

then the tooth can be attached.

Thanks so much everyone for the info, it is very interesting, and is sounding positive :)
Highlander How do they do the bone graft? Does the sedation take the edge off it? Thanks

Bone graft - you get some sedation. You remian fully concious, but are totally oblivious to what's going on. You should have no memory of what happened. Your head is shrouded in surgical drapes. You're on a normal dentist chair, prob in the Maxillo-facila surgical unit at your local hospital.

Local anaesthtic, cut into gum, bone chiseled out, stich up. Chiselling is not unpleasant.

Local into area needing graft, incision, bone screwed into place, stitched up.

Takles 1.5 hrs, but the sedation me4ans that time appears to pass really quickly..

You'll have to sit on a day ward for a bit. Your maxfax surgeon may offer you pain relief immed (usually paracetamol/codeine), but you'll also need a script for Volterol for a few days. Get this in advance!!

I had one implant done about 6 years ago for about £1500. It didn't 'take' the first time, so the base had to be re-done ie a new one screwed into the bone. It wasn't exactly pleasant but not painful - I just found it quite a big process as I hadn't had any ops before that. However end result was excellent and (touch wood) no probs since. I had local and didn't need any grafting.

HI thanks so much everyone, I will pass this info on. Sounds like a good alternative to a full plate :)