I’m in the middle of an implant right now on my front bottom tooth. Yes, I’m sporting a certain hillbilly look right now when my “flipper” is out…which honestly I only take out to sleep. The emotional turmoil was far greater to me than the reality.
I went for a normal cleaning and when they took the xrays even with my untrained eye I could see I had root resorption. First I saw someone about a root canal, but they admitted it couldn’t be saved long term by that.
I went to someone else for another consult for the implant. It was more freaky than painful, I say that for sure. He gave me something to take the night before so I slept and was relaxed, an hour and a half before I got there, and since I’m so special with my anxiety, another while I was there. I could feel the tooth being pulled out - and mine was in tight. Then he added in some bone grafting stuff and voila - that was it.
I chose a flipper - it’s got a plastic thing along the inside of my bottom tooth with one lone tooth in it that does actually match my other teeth. I can eat in it and everything. I take it out to brush and at night.
I go back in a few weeks for a scan to see if the bone has grown enough. He has already warned me he thinks I’ll need it done twice.
I went today for a cleaning and sure enough - 2 cracked molars that will probably need crowns - but the dentist agrees it’s just in wait and see mode.
I’m a tooth clencher, even though I wear invisalign it doesn’t seem to matter.
I had some horrible experiences with sadistic dentists when in my early 20s (“let’s use this device to make sure the nerve isn’t damaged” “oh good, the nerve is fine.” is just one example). As a result, I interview dentists about how they treat nervous patients with fear and pain “issues”. When I needed a root canal (as a result of a crown that went bad), I asked about pain prevention. After some discussion of options, I was given two Haldol pills to take half an hour before the appointment (I arrived early for my 8:30 AM appointment). By the time the dentist started working, I was so loopy and so out-of-it that I literally did not care a bit what he did to me. Certainly none of it hurt. And once I got home, I slept for five hours and woke up feeling amazingly good. I did exactly the same procedure for a cracked wisdom tooth about a year after that. Again, no stress at all. I did insist on keeping the tooth.
Do NOT keep silent about your worries. Your dentist will help you make a plan to deal with YOUR issues.
My D just finished the process of getting 3 implants to replace congenitally missing teeth. I would 2nd and 3rd the recommendations by others to have an oral surgeon do the work. My D had a wonderful oral surgeon and it was well worth the time spent to find someone with a combination of an impeccable reputation and a great bedside manner. Find someone who will spend time answering your questions.
My D’s dentist also recommended that we have a prosthodontist perform the last step of placing the teeth, he and the oral surgeon coordinated throughout the entire process to ensure the best outcome. I would recommend having a consult with a prosthodontist and getting some recommendations for a really good oral surgeon. Best of luck!
I made an appointment yesterday with a board certified oral surgeon to have a tooth extracted on Nov. 1st. I got the courage to call in large part because of what you guys said. I’ve opted to have only the shots, as of now. I was assured I could change my mind up to and including the day of my extraction.
I was told they wait 4 months before I can go back to consider an implant.
Again, thanks for your input. I am still very nervous because if things can go wrong, they usually do with me. Haha. But I have had good teeth. So I feel thankful.
@morrismm, if you want to leave open the possibility of having IV sedation, it’s likely that you need to abstain from eating or drinking after midnight. You also would need someone to drive you home, I believe. You might want to ask about both things.
Marian-- I was told what you said. I was told if i decided I wanted sedation on my appointment day I would have to reschedule to assure I had not eaten or drank after midnight and had someone to drive me home.
@morrismm My mom is in the process. She threw out a figure of $6K. Not sure if that included some rounding up or down. She collects artwork and would much rather put that money into a painting or two. (no dental insurance)
$6k for one tooth??! I could buy three ounces plus of gold for that and have a gold tooth made for a cheaper amount and still have 2 or so ounces left!! Haha Or a good amount of Apple stock or even a CD. Really need to think the need for an implant.
2or 3k, with some reimbursement from my dental care might make it worth it. I’ll have to see how difficult it is to live with a blank space in my mouth. It is not my front teeth.
I just had a root canal. In my neck of the woods (perhaps things are expensive here) the rate is $1,100-$1,500 with a good endodontist, depending on the tooth and the number of roots. Then, to get a crown is an additional $1,000-1,500. Both require less time and commitment than an implant.
The problem of having an empty space instead of a tooth, implant or SOMETHING is that your teeth will likely shift. You should be able to get a cost estimate as well as hear about alternatives to choose what you’d prefer. If you tell them what insurance you have, you can get an estimate about coverage.
We have only medical insurance but it DOES provide SOME dental coverage as well (including wisdom tooth extractions and crowns)–perhaps yours does too.
Has anyone tried Dental Tourism? A guy at one of my clients went to Costa Rico a couple of years ago for dental work. It was done by English speaking US trained and certified dental team, much cheaper and he was thrilled. I am facing a lot of expensive work and wondering about that. I lost track of him, however, to find out more.
To me, a big risk of dental or medical tourism is what to do about follow up care or if you have later problems or complications. It’s challenging enough for me that I travel to see medical specialists–from HI to CA and CO. I would prefer to be able to get all my care in HI, but have been forced to travel to get the care I need, which exceeds the care I have been able to obtain in HI.
i’ve had an implant from a cracked root too.
as most have said, it’s not super painful. Just take along some podcasts or music and earphones.
And - work with your dentist office regarding costs and insurance and timing; and if you have a flex-choice medical plan perhaps sock some $$ in that for next year.
my implant took well, but it did get infected this last april. My whole face ballooned up from the infection, and i had to have another bone grafting done. Expensive! but it’s all good now and i’m thankful i did it.
I had my extraction yesterday. I thank all of you for the input that gave me the courage to get it done. I want to especially thank one of you that I had PM’s with. Happy to share the name if I had permission? Haha. I didn’t ask, but will if she gives permission. But she was so helpful.
It turns out my tooth was infected. So it was extracted at the right time. I had seriously considered putting it off until January. Thanks to you all for telling me it was not so difficult, I got it done.