I am researching a dental implant and would really like to hear the problems people have experienced so I can determine the risks. I am reading old threads, but it does seem that the procedures are updated and improving all the time.
Sometimes there are no problems. My husband needed an implant and worried about it for months beforehand. He seemed to have read every scare story on the Internet. But the procedure went perfectly, there was little discomfort, and there were no complications.
I’m in the midst of it right now. Luckily I didn’t read any scary stories. I had root resorption in a front lower tooth. I had the tooth removed and the bone graph done, my original tooth has been bonded into place while I wait for the bone to grow. I go Thursday to get the stitch removed.
Our only problem was that dental insurance covered 0% of the cost.
Mom got one. From her accounts, the scariest part was the bill.
I have one. I stressed myself out sooo much! The worst part was after the post was put in and just waiting the few months for everything to heal before the next step. I had started out with a removable partial denture but that was horrible. I had to take it out at night and it never felt like it was really in, even though I was assured it was. The implant is awesome. I think of it as my bionic tooth.
I’ve have dental implants–no problems. The procedure was a somewhat lengthy (3-4 visits and waiting in between). I didn’t need a bone graft. It’s been 10 years.
I have 3. Love having front teeth I can eat and smile with again. But the process was miserable for me. I had had a lot of infections and had to have bone grafts and then the skin over the bone grafts took months to heal. I think with all the infections I was maybe not really a good candidate. Took 2 years from start till I actually had teeth and I was often in tears from The discomfort (& I have a pretty high pain tolerance). It also got more and more expensive as time went on. Have had sinus problems ever since. Just discovered I have an implant sticking into my sinuses on one side and a hole in the sinus floor on the other.
I wouldn’t do it again, but I think I am an unusual case. My hairdressers husband had them and had none of the above.
My procedure went perfectly as well. What I hadn’t known (until right before the first procedure) is that I would be without a tooth for almost five months! My implant was pretty far back in my mouth (and according to the dentist unnoticeable), but I had a “flipper” made for when I knew I was going to be having my picture taken. As it turns out, the flipper was worthless (I couldn’t eat with it in my mouth, for example, and it made me lisp when I spoke). I ended up losing it somewhere along the way (wasting about $300).
tl;dr - No issues, don’t waste your money on a flipper!
I’ve had two for baby teeth that had no adult teeth underneath.
I had them spaced over several years because insurance didn’t cover the cost. I’ve had them for 11-12 years, depending on which one…
The top one took longer to heal, but that is apparently standard. The only thing that took some adjusting to is learning how to bite with them. They felt odd for a few days once they were installed (as noted above it was a multi visit effort for each one.)
The surgeon that I used did the twilight sleep thing. It was wonderful. I don’t recall the procedure at all but I was still able to go right home after. Pain was minimal. Healing progressed normally.
My other options were removable partial dentures. I was in my mid 30s when I had them done. I felt that these were a better option.
If you need to have a sinus lift and bone graft be sure to find an oral surgeon or periodontist who uses the “direct” method, also call osteotome method. The procedure is much simpler and healing time a fraction of the old indirect sinus lift method. A hole is drilled in your jaw where the old tooth fell out using a specialized hollow tool. Water is shot through the tube to gently lift your sinus from the jaw. Bone graft material is then hammered into the tube to form a thicker layer under your sinus. The best part is that the implant itself is placed at the same time so you are done in one appointment. Mine took about 20 minutes to place. An older more traditional oral surgeon looked at it later and was skeptical of the technique, but so far I have no complications. Insurance paid half.
I have a dental implant. Everything went fine with the procedure itself. No infections, minimal pain. It was hard waiting for the post to heal and having a gap. This was an incisor so the gap wasn’t immediately visible and I was able to go without a partial.
The only problem I had is my oral surgeon didn’t analyze the upper jaw bone strength/density at all. So my post is just a smidge loose. It doesn’t cause ANY problems and my dentist maintains it has not loosened at all in the past 10 years. I just don’t open any bottle caps with that side of my mouth.
Good luck! It is hard to make the jump for sure.
Maybe it would be more helpful if posters identified tooth location and reason.
My D had was born without an upper next-to-front incisor. Insurance called it “cosmetic”. I guess she was just supposed to look like a hillbilly. She was 16. Fortunately no bone grafts were required.
Are complications with sinuses more common with back teeth or front?
I have read that the sinus complications are more common with back teeth, but I also read that as you age you sinus enlarges, like everything else (and just what do they mean by that? Should I be offended as an old person?)
The reason I needed an implant was because I had a tooth that didn’t have enough root left for a crown. The dentist gave me three choices - a bridge, a partial denture or an implant. The partial seemed like an easy choice - it was less expensive and the least invasive. The bridge would have meant filing down the two adjoining teeth (mine was a back molar) and with my history of fillings and crowns, I really didn’t want to mess with two other iffy teeth. It was only after dealing with the partial that I decided I wanted the implant. There was a short window after I had my tooth removed, and while I had the partial, that I could change my mind and go for the implant. I did the twilight sleep for the tooth removal, not for the pain so much as the anxiety. I’ve had no sinus problems.
Unfortunately, I have 2 for upper teeth that were filled when I was a kid and then broke as an adult. No problems at all with the implants (and hopefully none in the future!!). I, too, got a flipper for the first one which was worthless and a waste of money. I have a friend who lost a front tooth and then the flipper was essential (she had to take it out to eat).
I have two friends who had trouble in that the implant itself fell out. That happens sometimes. One had to have a second bone graft and will get the implant again soon. Hopefully, it will work this time.
I have two, for adjacent back lower molars. Procedure went very easily, with twilight sleep, ten years ago. I tend to collect material around my back teeth on both lower sides, so have had gum treatments including bone grafts recently, and have previously had minor cutdowns of the gums (on both sides). But the implants seem to be holding strong. The crown on one did partially break off, but my dentist and I agree it’s not visible and better left alone.
No implants, no fillings, no crowns, no root canals, all my own original straight teeth, no braces (oops, is this the bragging thread?) - but hubby has an implant. The worst part was the $3k cost not covered by insurance though we used pre-tax dollars from flex spending to pay for it.
I have 7 implants, no problem, nothing scary, except for the amount you pay for them! Split the process into 2 years - so that more of it is covered. I always do the actual implant in one year and the cap over it in another year, since dental insurance coverage starts anew on January 1. Another advice is - do not pull the tooth before your actual implant appointment. If the bad tooth is still there, then surgeon does not need to drill your bone, he just pulls the tooth and places the implant right there in an empty socket, which takes literally a moment, I wish I knew about it before! My preference also not to be put under. Despite of constant insistence of my surgeon, I never let him to use a laughing gas on me, I want to know what is going on. I never ever felt any pain / discomfort during procedure and was able to drive straight to work after the procedure and not bother my H. to be with me to take me home. I did not experience the pain after Novocain worn off either.
I have very old implants and much newer implants. Both my dentist and my dental surgeon keep saying that they look just fine on the x-rays. I am also very old if this makes any difference, but nothing in our bodies gets better with age.
Another scary part for me personally is that my surgeon retires soon. I am sure that I will need more implants in a future and I would hate to go to another surgeon, I call mine a virtuoso.
have an implant. procedure went well; took a long time though from start to finish.
unfortunately, several years later (this spring) i had a complication with it. you never know. It’s all good now though, and even through the pain, the time and the money, I’d do it again.