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Original poster

dental implants

23 replies

BlossomHill · 21/05/2004 18:39

Has anyone had a dental implant done? It's just that I am currently being assessed to have one done and would be interested to hear other peoples stories. Thanx

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Sunlounger · 21/05/2004 18:43

My Mum has her all her teeth in implants, it's been great, she had them done first about 10 years ago, but they did need to be re-done, she had false teeth before and it changed her life. She recently had to go to Milan to have a new revolutionary set of implants as there was some reason why she could not keep her old ones, it cost her £20,000!! but obviously it has to be worth it to have 'permanent' teeth.

suedonim · 21/05/2004 21:01

Not me, but a friend had some, after losing several back teeth to abcesses. She's been delighted with her new pearlies.

Lisa78 · 21/05/2004 21:06

If I were rich, I should be knocked out, have all my bloody teeth out and these implants in - no more sodding dentists!

phatcat · 21/05/2004 21:46

Hi BH - I have three titanium implants topped with ceramic crowns done in 2002 and have never looked back. Expensive (5.5K) but very worth it. I'd say it's changed my life. They replaced 3 dodgy NHS crowns on natural roots that I'd had done as a kid. Prior to the implants I had recurrent abscesses, an apersectomy and root canals done to shore it all up over the years. Things all came to a head when a month before going on an adventure holiday in Patagonia I got another abscess and couldn't find an NHS dentist who wasn't full in the vicinity (I live on Skye). In desperation I went to the private dental practice that we have here and was fortunate enough to hit upon one of the top implantologists in the country (he trains other dentists in how to do it). He shored me up enough to go on holiday but recommended implants as the once and for all solution and I got them done shortly after getting back. It was a long afternoon in the chair and very painful for about 24 hours afterwards. You look like you've been used as a punchbag, lots of soft tissue swelling, so definitely book a couple of days of work afterwards if you go for it. I've never had a problem with them, never even think about them in fact, they just feel like real teeth. Going private was a revelation. Far superior materials are used, customer centric and guaranteed if anything goes wrong. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend getting it done.

What's your story? Let me know if you've got any more specific queries.

HTH

SofiaAmes · 21/05/2004 23:17

A good friend of mine lost her two front teeth when she was 10. She had dodgy nhs teeth for most of her life and just recently at 40 got titanium implants and loves them (despite having paid £6k for them).

Original poster

BlossomHill · 22/05/2004 09:51

Phatcat - I am 30 now. At the age of 10 I knocked out my front tooth playing tennis. Anyway to save the root had nearly 4 years of canal root treat, with a dodgy temporary crown in (ruined my confidence in the vital teenage years) and then finally had a crown put in at 16. Anyway about 2 years ago I had an infection and they found an abcess. Saw someone at St Georges in Tooting who said that the tooth needed to come out. had this down and now have a bridge attached to my 2 other teeth. It is bloody awful, really horrible. I feel so self conscious. Have seen various people about implants and originally was told I wold need a bone graft (which I don't want) and recently was told that it could be done without for about 3k. I really want it done but feel selfish as we are hardly rolling in it but know that it would change my life. At the moment even talking to people makes me feel terrible So that is my story!!!!

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phatcat · 22/05/2004 10:14

BH - don't feel selfish - 3K for your self-confidence back is well worth it IMO. For what it's worth I took out a loan to pay for mine (having spent all my savings on the holiday!) My previous crowns were so loose I used to live in fear of them falling out (in fact one did when I was having dinner with a friend) and I was so self conscious about it. It definitely inhibited me socially. It's so good to be free of all that. Do go for it - you won't regret it.

Original poster

BlossomHill · 22/05/2004 10:56

PC - You are right, you only live once. My DH thinks that I am vain but I said to him this is a front tooth we are talking about that has caused me 20 years of upset. I would just love to be happy when I look in the mirror and smile, at the moment I try not to look.
Thanks PC for all of your advice. How long did your treatment take BTW?

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phatcat · 22/05/2004 14:48

BH - it took four months from implants to final crowns - a bit quicker than average I was told - it all depends on how quick the implant knits into your jaw bone. They check on progress every couple of months.

I hope your DH will come round - I take it he does appreciate the effect it's having on you and that it's not 'just' a tooth you would be buying. Not that you should have to justify it, but perhaps you could also reason with him that it's the cheaper option in the long run as it's a long term (possibly lifetime) solution, unlike your current set-up, especially when you factor in the cost of the time that you'll need to spend at the dentist getting bridges and roots maintained. Good luck anyway. You'll feel like a new woman!

shortcake · 22/05/2004 15:03

Really interesting thread - my DD (11) has been born without all her second teeth - so she will end up with gaps on each side of her front top teeth - the dentist has mentioned that she may need implants but it terrified me - this has been very reassuring.

cuppy · 22/05/2004 15:34

Hope you don't mind me interrupting your thread BH, but has anyone got any experience of having braces on their teeth?

As a child I had a brace - the removable type, but never wore it for the full amount of time. I would love to get another refitted and get my teeth finished.

Does anyone know if its very expensive? I'm lucky (!?) enough to have an nhs dentist ( and am exempt from charges at the moment) but I dont know wether they would do this or if I would have to go private. Any info would be great. TIA

Original poster

BlossomHill · 22/05/2004 16:49

PC - thanks again for your advice. 4 months sounds pretty good. I also have another predicament as to where to have it done. I have been seeing a bogstandard NHS dentist who does them for about £1200. He doesn't sem too confident and hasn't done many OR the guy I saw at St Georges who is an expert is restorative dentistry who seemed far more confident and has a lot more experience - hence the 2,500 - 3 grand price tag. I personally am thinking that I should go for the more expensive although still feel guilty. it would change my life and make me so more confident. I will def. have a chat with dh tonight. He wouldn't stop me it's just that I am a SAHM and don't actually earn anything. Thanks again

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katzguk · 22/05/2004 17:10

this is one of the areas that i work in, i can ask at work for advice if you would like, plus i can asked them to recommend someone if your not local to me, sheffield

Original poster

BlossomHill · 22/05/2004 18:07

Thanks KG! I live in Surrey so quite a way from you!!!

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Original poster

BlossomHill · 22/05/2004 21:06

Spoke to Dh tonight and as I thought he said do what you want, so I think I will. Will I be able to get a loan for an implant though? As the loan companies usually want to know what the money is for? I am def. going for it though and it's thanks to the advice giving by you friendly people. I just think it is so important to be confident when talking/smiling and I don't. I hate this bridge as it is also uncomfortable at times

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phatcat · 22/05/2004 21:31

That's great BH - I'm sure it will all go well and you'll never look back. I got my loan from Lombard and they didn't ask what it was for. I think it's only loans for specific products, e.g. car loan, home improvement loan that they ask and even then I doubt they would check up. Another option might be a 0% credit card? There seem to be lots of offers around at the mo. Deffo agree about going for the more experienced dentist, despite the cost. You need to have confidence that he has the confidence to do it. I had this chap : Skye Private Dental Practice (ignore the cheesiness of the website design!) Oh and make sure to ask what guarantees there are on the work and what they will do if the implant fails to 'take' (rare but can happen).

Original poster

blossomhill · 30/09/2004 22:58

Update - went to see the maxiofacial surgeon today and Iam having the implant done on 28th October. Feel really nervous but very excited. It is going to cost anything from £2500-£3000 but will be worth it in the end (I hope!)
Phatcat if you read this I do have a couple of questions to ask - please!!!!

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jasper · 30/09/2004 23:18

blossomhill I went to an implant lecture a couple of weeks ago. VERY impressive. The success rates of implants are very high nowadays.
Are you getting it done in a hospital?

Original poster

blossomhill · 01/10/2004 11:12

jasper - yes but I am funding it myself. iIhave visited private dentists and was referred to this surgeon who has done over 1200. I felt so comfortable with him. I also feel more comfortable being in hospital TBH

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meanmutha · 03/01/2007 20:28

Hello ,
Any updates Blossomhill? How did it go? Any other implant experience anyone?
I am really scared 'cos I think I will need 4 implants where my lower front teeth are basically rotting in the gum. My dentist said they will all have to come out. This is connected to my epilepsy, I was having seizures every few weeks for about 10 years.Jamming my teeth together so hard meant these teeth became weakened. 3 pregnancies have made them noticably worse and then last month my dentist did an xray to find that these 4 teeth are not even connected to the bone anymore. Yikes!!

HuwEdwards · 03/01/2007 20:35

BH, I had similar problems to you for years - and 2 years ago decided on an implant - it was def money well spent.

1coco · 10/01/2008 15:32

Hi meanmutha, have you decided to go ahead with the implants? cos i'm about to have some. how did it go?

meanmutha · 17/01/2008 23:30

Hi 1coco!
Haven't checked in for a few weeks so just seen your message.
At the moment I am facing the Horror of wearing a denture!! Aghh! Have no money for private treatment so having to go through N.H.S.. Have been told by the specialist dentist that he could put a case for me to have implants because of the epilepsy factor. Am still clinging onto 3 of the 4 'dead' teeth but he's just told me this week that I should have them all out! The worst one almost fell out on it's own. Was a relief to be rid of it as it was making eating difficult and starting to look obvious when I talked etc. Hmmm. Awful business isn't it. Other than this problem my teeth are really healthy. You don't realise how important these things are 'til they go wrong! What's happening with you? Implants sound like a great solution, just the idea of screws in my gum / bone I find a bit scary, but it sounds like it's worth it!? Dentures are no fun although am surprised how well I have adapted to them!! (Lucky I have no love-life at the moment and plans to find one are on hold!!)Good Luck, hope it's gone well so far?

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