Cosmetic dental work with multiple implants

[attheendoftheendofmytether]

this is probably the wrong place to post this but will give it a go.

I have an appointment this afternoon to discuss a pretty huge overhaul of my teeth which will require implants. I’ve always had terrible enamel and my teeth are currently a mix of horrible old veneers, bridges and fillings. I’ve totally neglected them for the last 10 years when they began to crumble after pregnancies. I have no infections or pain, it’s just crappy enamel. Id love to just smile And laugh without thinking about how to cover my teeth!

So I’ve pulled myself together and made an appointment but is there anything I need to ask? Any experiences of multiple implants, especially on front teeth?

Make sure you discuss if you will need a bone graft / gum graft and the timings of that - my dentist recommends if it’s needed doing a bone graft several months before putting the implant in so it has a chance to heal into your mouth and become strong before putting the actual implants into it.

Be aware it’s a much long process than you think it might be. Especially if you need bone or tissue grafts. I’m in the process of having two implants. Not front teeth.

Tooth 1 - had bone graft and pole inserted in January. I then had antibiotics for a week and was on liquid foods only for a week and then soft foods for a further ten days. That then was left to heal and settle for two months. Then the gum was opened up last week and the next bit of the implant was positioned. That will now heal for three weeks. Then I will most likely need a tissue graft. Which will then also be left to heal. Then the impression will be taken for the actual crown to be attached to the implant base.

So it can all take time.

My DH had similar to @Peridot1 last year, three back teeth implants. It took months (best part of a year IIRC), very long appointments (some over 2 hours), spells of having only soft food, fiddly cleaning and it was eye-wateringly expensive. He is very pleased with them now though.

Make sure you are not travelling abroad for such extensive treatment.

All dental treatment requires maintainance , replacement and special care.

with multiple implants you will need meticulous cleaning and regular hygiene visits.

Any other work will require you to change diet and cleaning regime and to work alongside the dentist to make sure your investment is worthwhile and lasts as long as possible.

Had one implant in a front tooth in 2023. it took 11 months from extraction to completion. It’s great. My dentist in amazing. It’s my regular NHS dentist who does implant also. I need 2 days off after extraction and bone graft (horrendous pain! I went back to work but for two days and the pain was so horrendous I needed the rest of the week off) and needed a denture to cover it so that was even more painful. Then a bone CT scans and multiple appointments implant surgery in June. Two days off. I had a Buried implant and may gum was stitched shut. The three months late I had the healing abutment fitted. Then finally my crown!
Take your time allow for healing in between each stage.

that is for a single implant so other restorative work with be invasive too.

I'm in a similar situation. I have decided against the implants partly due to cost and partly due to what sounds like a horrendous time having them fitted. And the length of time without teeth.

Presumably you paid the private dentist price for the work, @fatgirlswims?

Thanks everyone. I had the appointment yesterday. Definitely not going abroad!

@Tradersinsnow - I haven’t found it horrendous at all. I haven’t had much if any pain. Yes it’s hugely expensive and takes a long time but the end result will hopefully be worth it. I’m having two but they are both back teeth so it’s not noticeable that I don’t have teeth there to anyone but me.

@fatgirlswims - sorry you had so much pain. I haven’t had much at all.

@Peridot1 I'm glad to hear it wasn't such an ordeal for you. I was totally put off by a friend's experience and by my dentist. And the cost and the length of time it all takes.

@Wordlessyes i had to pay! Just I didn’t need a referral or go overseas. Very few implant dentist do any NHS work at all.

@Peridot1yes I was totally not expecting pain!

Extraction was the worst and wearing a denture was agony on top of the extraction and bone graft site. It was my front tooth. I think I was a an exception rather than the norm. Still would do it again!

I'm halfway into a massive dental rework.

One front implant that I'm putting off until last.

It's ok, and I think worth it.

I've had two back implants and am just about to have a lower lateral incisor done.

I'm not going for a denture during the process, I can cope with a gap for a while.

My smile does tend to the upper jaw though.

I do also think that if you were poorly served by dentistry in the 80s, it's so expensive now.

I absolutely push orthodonty on my children.

Sort those fuckers out, they're not going to get any better.

Would you mind sharing roughly how much that cost? I think I would need bone graft to be able to get implants but was afraid to even ask how much that might be!

@LifeInAHamsterWheel - I was quoted around £6.5k for that one tooth. It’s eye-watering for sure! I have been paying in stages as each procedure was done so not all in one.