<p>I had a tooth my dentist was keeping an eye. At the latest visit ti the dentist, I was told the tooth may not be salvaged and I may need an implant. Is it a big deal?</p>
<p>I had the same conversation with my dentist and then an endodontist on Monday! He said for those needing a straight forward implant that the process is quite slick. </p>
<p>In my situation, there is not enough jaw bone to accept the implant so I will need a bone graft, but only after a sinus lift to make room for the bone. (whatever the heck that means) This is all quite concerning to me and I am leaving on vaca so I will try not to think about it for 2 weeks. The dentist said that cadaver bones are used for the bone graft. But not just bones from one cadaver. There is some type of a composite graft that is created for dental bone grafts. Hmmmm… this doesn’t sound fun. </p>
<p>They can be very expensive from what I’ve heard. A patient of mine told me she needed 8 of them and the cost was $50,000. I had a hard time believing that, but that’s what she told me. Maybe she needed extensive bone grafts.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.realself.com/question/cost-dental-implants”>http://www.realself.com/question/cost-dental-implants</a></p>
<p>Does an insurance cover it by any chance? I am seeing a periodontist in a few days and will know what’s involved.</p>
<p>My insurance paid about 1000 of the cost, which was about $3500 in total seven or eight years ago. </p>
<p>This is one where I would shop around. </p>
<p>I can’t really shop around. Both my dentist and the periodontist are my neighbors. They are highly regarded.</p>
<p>My mom had a couple on her back molars.
They run about $3,000 to $4,500 apiece, generally, although her dentist charged more like $5,000 for each implant.</p>
<p>They should be able to estimate the cost, including what insurance will cover, in advance.</p>
<p>My sister and I had bone graft and implant. I didn’t have any problem but I think my sister did have some healing issue. Not a big deal, the worst part is the tooth pulled out. I also paid less than $1000-1500 because the insurance paid to the rest.</p>
<p>I am in the process of getting one. Real PIA, but I tried a partial (one pre-molar) and realized right away that I did not want to deal with that for the rest of my life. Ours is all out of pocket. What makes this a PIA is that it’s not a once and done procedure. First they remove the tooth and then that heals for a few months. You may or may not get a partial, depending on where the tooth is located. Then they put in a post thing, wait 4-6 months for your gum to glom onto that and I think (I hope!) the implant finally gets attached. I really, really dislike this but am clinging to the idea of never having to deal with this tooth again. You can’t chew at all in the area of the to-be-implanted tooth. </p>
<p>It’s not bad, it works great now.</p>
<p>Be sure to ask insurance if they will pay for the bone graft claim on its own or if you must wait for the implant claim to be made before they will consider paying for the earlier treatment in prep for it. Since the treatment is really a few components with healing time in between - would be nice if they pay for each treatment separately but I know that not all insurance will do that. </p>
<p>I got one more than 25 years ago, and three last year. The first one hurt like the dickens and was a long drawn-out process, but the tooth is still working fine. The 3 I did last year were mostly painless, the process (including bone grafts) was smooth, and all are doing fine. The techniques have progressed over the past quarter-century. </p>
<p>Insurance paid 10%, if that. Very pricey; so pricey that I didn’t dare add up the total.</p>
<p>Delta Dental now pays 50%, same as for a regular crown. I had one about 4 years ago and it’s the best tooth in my mouth now. It’s good that you trust your dentist, as many are now performing the lucrative procedure having just attended a short training course. The first dentist I visited said I needed bone grafts and sinus lifts (extra cost). I got a second opinion from a highly regarded oral surgeon who said it would be an uncomplicated procedure. I had the oral surgeon do the implant and a dentist (not the first guy) did the crown. The surgery was not as bad as a root canal. It was lots a waiting between stages, but well worth it.</p>
<p>interesting article about an alternative to sinus lifts: <a href=“StackPath”>StackPath;
<p>I’m curious if anyone has experience with this.</p>
<p>^^^
That’s a new product press release put out by the manufacturer not yet approved by the FDA. I wouldn’t want to be one of the first to try it.</p>
<p>DH has had 4. Not fun.</p>
<p>I had one two years ago and had the first step of two more last week. The first one went smoothly and I’ve been pleased with it. I’ve had a bit more trouble (pain, bleeding) with the latest ones but not really bad. All involved bone grafts and the worst part is waiting a few months in between.</p>
<p>I’m self-pay for dentist and mine (including crowns and now a bridge) were much more expensive than the others have noted.</p>
<p>DH was supposed to get one on one of his back molars about 10 years ago. However the cost was way too high. So since it was the last molar in the back he decided it wasn’t worth it. So far it hasn’t been an issue. If it had been a different tooth though he would have gone ahead and had it done.</p>
<p>I lost an upper back molar about 10 years ago and my dentist said since it was an upper tooth I really didn’t have to get an implant. I didn’t and have had no problems. </p>