dental implants

I'm being horrendously nosey, Whoputthecatout but you had five implants - at £2000 each???!! I am so impressed! I'm finding it very difficult to justify my two plus denture probably at that price!

I'm contemplating this as well. Having two roots out next week which will be tricky as there's infection there already, dreading it! Then I can either wait six months and have two implants here or been told I can have two in Portugal in July at a much cheaper cost. I will need extra bone for one of them. Someone has said they left it too long after an extraction so the bone wasn't there. It's not easy, being told such varying opinions. So six months might be too long but that's my dentist, a highly thought of private man here, or a Portuguese dentist who poo poohed such an idea, said they could put an implant in immediately after extraction if I wanted.

I'm terrified, can't contemplate the extractions to begin with as last time I had an infected wisdom tooth out I was so ill, I thought I would lose my jaw, the infection was deep in the bone and it took weeks of antibiotics to get over it. I am interested in the OP being in such pain and others with no pain! I wonder why such differing experiences?

Think you are all very brave.

I had an implant 11 months ago and am very pleased with it. It's to replace a front top tooth which I lost when I was 10 yrs old, so have had a denture for 50+ years - apart from a brief time when I had a Maryland bridge fitted but it was an awful match, didn't fit well, the dentist was rubbish (NHS) and it fell out the next day! The implant was done by an implant specialist and I had no pain whatsoever, just some swelling for a couple of days. I also needed a bone graft due to my age but it has all settled well with no problems whatsoever, and after all these years I still can't quite believe I finally have a 'proper' tooth again!

I think you're all terribly brave about implants. I couldn't contemplate them and -fortunately???- my gums weren't suitable so I've got dentures which are a-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y fantastic. I can forget all about them and my visits to the dentist are now stress free

Oh you poor thing GrannyLyn, dental pain is so awful and to have two black eyes as well. Really hope your dentist can sort out your problems for you and give you some strong pain relief.

As I am trying not very well to explain, have a full upper denture which after 3 goes was still loose and had to use loads of adhesive, screwd into my jaw these implants are to lock denture into place, its all to do with my funny jaws
Going to dentist am to check why they still loose !!!! Have 2 black eyes!!

You can still have an implant when there is not enough bone, Atqui, you can have a bone graft at the time of the implant. Does make it a bit more expensive though. I don't think all dentists are trained to do this , so just tell people they haven't enough bone. My dentist is an implant specialist and will do bone grafts if people don't have enough bone.

I had to have an implant removed after an infection behind it. The specialist tried to save it during 2 x two hour sessions. He did warn me that it may not work, so now I have a yawning gap and not sure what to do. It cost £1,000 to fit and another £1,000 trying to save it. Living with the gap atm, although it forces me to chew on the other side, so not ideal.

Granny: sounds like you may not have had the most careful dentist. I've just had five done - all the implants put in at the same time, and have not needed even a single ibuprofen. Honestly, no pain at all. The dentist, who is a specialist in implants, was amazing.

I would never hesitate to have more if it becomes necessary.

Thats what I am worried about Atqui, but I keep putting my head in the sand!

GillT 57 Don't leave it too long to decide as the longer you wait the greater possibility of bone loss . Imhave two implants at the front which are very successfull, but left it too late after an extraction to have one at the back ( bad advice from my dentist) , and there was not enough bone to support an implant .

I have one and a space prepared on the other side (lower) jaw for another.
But I remember the pain ( great discomfort) for a day or two after, and it's still putting me off.
I would however say that I LOVE the implant, and the solidity of a decent tooth!
Very happy to have it.

I've just googled it. Sounds like dentures, but they are not removable. Does anyone have longer experience of this procedure? The US site I was reading makes it sound very expensive.

So if I needed my bridge replaced, I could for example, have two implants and the denture/new bridge suspended/fixed permanently between the two implants? As opposed to having single implants at around £1500+ per tooth? I just wish I could go to sleep and wake up when it is all done, I am putting this off, and the longer I leave it the worse it will be.

Ah! The light dawns!!

I've just been to see about new dentures and they said do you want ordinary dentures or implant supported ones. I wondered what that meant, now I know!

Yes that's confusing me too. Mine are all separate implants with nothing attached to the actual implanted teeth.

grannylyn I'm probably being a bit thick here, but do you mean you have four implants on the upper mouth as well as a partial denture? Or did you already have some implants and now have four more? I'm genuinely interested as may need to go thst way too.

Implant is a screw in the gum onto which denture is fitted

Supports full upper denture. Rattling with painkillers!!!
Private Dentist been trying 2 years to get one to fit
My jaws are awkward ,wot a surprise!!!

I experienced quite a bit of pain when mine were initially done as it was quite a big op taking out a bridge, a crown, several teeth, inserting the implants and also inserting one in a gum where a tooth had previously been removed which didn't have enough bone. My face was very swollen and I was on painkillers for a couple of days however after that there was no pain - it did take 9 months from start to finish with a palate in between times but definitely worth the pain, cost and discomfort.

As an aside, anyone getting dental implants, make sure you take out a specific insurance cover for them. Luckily I did. I had a nasty mountain biking accident some weeks ago with various fractures and smashed implants as I landed face down. If you think that sounds a bit outside of your possible risk factors, the same could happen if you tripped on a kerb or anything. Be prepared!!

Also I don't understand the question about supporting upper dentures. Surely if you have implants you do not need a denture.

granylin65 I sure hope you feel a bit more comfortable soon.

How many teeth does this support Grannylyn65? I have been toying with investing in them as I too have a a bridge at the front which I have been warned will not last forever. I also have a couple of gaps at the side on upper row. I have a history of dental abscesses and cannot bear the thought of dental pain.

I guess 4 at once is a bit traumatic, it will be fine in a couple of days and will be worth it in the end.