Tooth implant- worth it or not?

[HereWeGoAHen]

2.5k is a lorra lorra money for one tooth. But if I don't shell out, I'll have a gap at the top (just far enough back to not be super noticeable but can still glimpse in photos and when I smile). I'm also worried that with the space, my other front teeth will go crooked.

Would like to hear from others who have weighed up whether or not to get an implant. I just keep thinking that's a family holiday I'm spending on my mouth!!

There are usually other options like bridge work which are much cheaper than an implant

Couldn't you go for a bridge? I was quoted £759 for a bridge for a 2 teeth gap

Mine cost about £1,000 in total and that was with a Harley Street dentist - £2,500 sounds loads unless prices have risen that much for some reason in the last 2 years. Or do you need to have a bone graft in order for your implant to be viable?

I’m torn on mine to be honest - it looks great but the gum above it has turned black. Luckily it’s fairly far back in my mouth so not particularly noticeable but it’s a pretty common side effect. I couldn’t have a bridge as the tooth it would need to hold onto had a root canal so wasn’t strong enough. If you can do a bridge and you are unlikely to lose the teeth supporting it I’d go for that instead- much cheaper, looks just as good and no drilling into your bones or risks of really nasty infections. Plus I’m still a bit wary about some of the long term effects of implants which still aren’t fully known.

I'd try a bridge first - if the two teeth either side are suitable. It will be much cheaper and less invasive.

My two front teeth are crowned (childhood accident) and 40 years later I am still in dread of the day when I can no longer have the crowns replaced and have to go for either a bridge or implant.

The implants sound fabulous but as said above, no one really knows how long they last or what other side effects there are.

What does your dentist suggest ?

I was also quoted 2.5k for one implant by my dentist. I opted not to because of the price and being a bit of a coward about the process too! I went for a flexidenture for £260. It's a single tooth denture that fits into the two neighbouring teeth. I have to admit though, that after a while I stopped using it as I felt it prevented me from tasting food in that area which I found annoying. Have just got used to the gap now.

He did say I could maybe consider a bridge but the two teeth either side both have large fillings so they arent the strongest. And one of those supporting teeth would be really very noticeable if it came out as it's further to the front so I'm quite wary of making a bad situation even worse.

He isn't actually a dentist, he's an oral surgeon because my dentist doesn't do implants so I was referred. I was charged £60 today for literally a 10 min consultation to be told to come back for the extraction and then 3 months later to start the implant. I'm thinking maybe I should get the extraction and say I want that time to see if I can live with the gap before deciding if I really need the implant.

@ZaZathecat the flexidenture sounds interesting, how does that work? I think I'd sacrifice taste in that area!

For those who have just kept a gap, have you found any of your other teeth have twisted over time? Thats what worries me more than the gap really. Although the gap does make me feel a bit sad and old :(

£2.5k for one tooth is a bit steep. I have four and they weren't £2.5k each. I have a congenital problem that causes hyopdontia and have quite a bit of assorted dental work. A bridge is a good option for a single tooth is the surrounding ones are stable enough, I'm really pleased with my implants and definitely worth the money but alternative for me would have been dentures due to the size of gaps

@HereWeGoAHen I tried to post a picture of it but it doesn't seem to have worked. It's a one-tooth denture with a plastic 'gum' that fits around the two neighbouring teeth. Comfortable and easy to take on and off, but as I said, I felt better without it in the end. It looks good on, quite undetectable, but my gap is not particularly visible anyway.

I really fancy that flexi option. DH has just told me in no uncertain terms does he want me removing my tooth each night :( He'd rather I have the implant.

@HereWeGoAHen

I really fancy that flexi option. DH has just told me in no uncertain terms does he want me removing my tooth each night :( He'd rather I have the implant.

Wtf, tell him to sod off!

Ha ha it's not as if you'd have no teeth in your head after removing it!