Dental implant

[captain queeg]

I didn’t see a forum for dental work. If there is one point me to it. I got a tooth pulled about a year ago and am getting ready for the next step. They put some kind of one graft in at the beginning. Recently I had a full mouth MRI or X-ray or something. That last visit we talked about a sinus lift. Reading on the web it sounds like that has to get done before the actual implant takes place. I just discovered that, I thought my next appt would be it. I’ve already spent about $2500 and the next procedure is supposed to be about $3000 even with dental insurance. It’s a lot of money and I considered not having it done but the location of that tooth, about middle of molars, seems to get a lot of action.

They gave me some scrips for “anesthesia” (sort of) but said I could do without if I wanted. It would save me a couple hundred bucks. He told me it would be about an hour and a half, and reading about the procedure online, it sounds real unpleasant, so I’m thinking I ought to take the drugs. Anyone been thru this before?

[TygrBright]

1. Take the drugs, if you can.

Implants are very expensive, but they are a good option for a number of reasons. They can preserve the morphology of your jaw and mouth better than partial dentures and they are less prone to infection and failure than bridgework.

Long-term health in aging is strongly affected by oral health or lack thereof, so it's a good investment in a healthier old age.

But damn, yes, they are expensive, and they SHOULD be covered by Medicare and/or health insurance...

encouragingly,
Bright

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Last year I had a dental implant done.

They are expensive, and as TygrBright said, they are worth it.

I wasn't given any options about anesthesia; the doctor/dentist said I would be asleep but not so deeply as to need a ventilator.

It was really easy with the medications on board. Even though I wasn't deeply asleep, I didn't hear or feel anything.

I would highly recommend you take the drugs. Do they have you take them after you arrive at the office? I hope so!

Hope it all goes well.

[captain queeg]

5. Looks like I'll take a pill at home, then have nitrous during time procedure.

I’m sure there’ll be novocaine too and he gave me a scrip for some Vicodin. My son said he’d come and take me to the appt. I generally do pretty well at the dentist, but 1 1/2 hrs is going to be rough.

I had something else I forgot to mention. I’ve had sinus problems for the last year. When he told me about needing a sinus lift I started thinking. The problem probably started around the time I had that tooth pulled and it’s always on the same side nostril. Maybe getting this done will fix my sinus (constant dripping).

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. That all sounds good. And do let us know how it went afterwards. All the best to you...

and your sinus too!

[MLAA]

3. Sending you best wishes and hope thinks work out whichever way you go.

I had a serious piece of work that I had to have done twice. First time without the drugs that made me unaware of what was going on but I did have Novocain. I felt really weird pulls and tugs and scraping. Second time I asked for drugs. It was a pill when I arrived. Next thing I knew it was over and I didn’t remember a single thing! No ill effects of being out of it either. Apparently I spoke a bit during the procedure but had zero memory of it.

[Skittles]

4. get it done and opt for the drugs

it will be worth it

dentists do some really gross stuff, you know?

I'm about ready to get another implant so I hear you about the price

[CountMyVote4Reality]

6. In my experience, implants also take several steps that require recovery time before the next step.

First, I agree with the above posts.

This is a very simplistic timeline, but it is the basic through-line:
1 Rotten tooth needs extraction and the jawbone needs several months to heal before the implant core (female receiver) can be implanted in the jawbone.
2 Your jawbone or associated sinus areas may need additional tweaks before that can happen.
3 Once the implant receiver is in place, you can begin the process of creating the porcelain tooth that will be inserted into the implant receiver by a small metal spine protruding from the top of the replacement tooth.

All of this takes time to heal, evaluate and calibrate the next steps. Bone pain is intense. Dental pain might as well be bone pain in this case. Get any and all anesthesia available for your procedure.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

8. How far are you from the AZ/Mexico border?

Los Algodones is just over the border and it's very famous for dental work at considerably less than what it costs in the US, and implants are a specialty there.

Just throwing it out ... I may be going there myself pretty soon.

[captain queeg]

10. I've heard of that. "Dental-medical tourism". If I was closer I might think about it.

Several countries have good reputations for that kind of thing, but pretty much unwilling to travel the last couple years.

[in2herbs]

9. What happens when you mix new dentures/implants with the moisture created by wearing

a COVID mask? Oral thrush. Not saying don't have the procedure, just saying to watch for any development of oral thrush as a result of the procedure.

[phylny]

11. I am about to complete the process of having a dental implant for one of my molars.

The dentist used a ton of novacaine. It was fine.

It takes a long time (months) to have the procedure done the way my dentist does. First, he removed the tooth (fractured root, which cannot be fixed), then at the same time, grafted the socket with cadaver bone (powder), closed it and waited. Then, months later, he checked and I had good enough bone in the area, and he placed the dental implant into the bone, covered it, and we waited. Last week, I had the abutment placed and he scanned my teeth and gums. Tomorrow, I'll receive my "new" molar.

For the first two steps, he used novacaine in what I'd guess was the nerve. Last week, he just used novocaine around my gums. At no point did I think I needed to be sedated.

Good luck!