Have you any experience of a dental implant?

My daughter who had a tooth at the front which didn’t develop. There was not enough room for an implant so the dentist glued a tooth in between the teeth each side. It looks perfect. Right colour. Apparently they use a specially tough glue.

I’m watching this thread as I had a broken tooth removed by a specialist dentist 7 weeks ago. It has healed well and my routine check up at my normal dentist is booked for January. I didn’t realise I would need an implant to prevent my existing teeth from shifting into the space. If I left it as it is what will happen? I guess my dentist will advise me. It’s the first tooth I’ve lost except for my wisdom teeth being taken out years ago.

My teeth were ruined by dentist butchers as a young child and in spite of loving care by a wonderful lady dentist in my middle years, they were in a parlous state. After my lovely lady died, my new dentist said that all my teeth must be removed, could not be saved. I could not tolerate any kind of denture in my mouth as they make it feel as though it's on fire, so he suggested implants. This was in the very,very early days of implants and he had never done any!! We learned together. He called in a colleague who was experienced and they worked together . The whole process took months of weekly visits to the surgery , a 5 hour operation, 6 weeks of stabilisation before the teeth could be attached and loads of follow up visits. All my teeth were replaced, they look natural and have given no trouble since. The whole process cost £22,000 and has been worth every penny. Before, I was in constant pain, couldn't eat properly and was so embarrassed by my awful teeth. Now,I forget that they aren't my natural teeth.

Why not just have a tooth or teeth on a plate? I hardly know mine is in my mouth.

I had dental implant two years ago, cost £2200. Had a bone scan first, £90.
Honestly, I felt no pain during any of the preparation work nor when it was fitted. I had tried a bridge before and couldn't tolerate the feel of it in my mouth. The gym wasa bit sore after the anaesthetic wore off following the prep, but not bad at all, soon fixed by two paracetamol.
It feels like my own tooth, I wouldn't hesitate to have another one. I let my DH have one first to test, and his was fine too!

Gum not gym!

I’ve had 3 dental implants by 2 different practices. The first two I had in 2015 and the dentist was just starting his private practice so offering reduced rates (by which I mean they were £1000 each) I did see he had very good reviews and I even search his credentials on the General Dental council and saw he’d won awards for his work. The third one I had in 2018 was actually the owner of my NHS dentist who also did private work.

I have to say each time took several visits/X-rays/photos and all in all probably about 3 or 4 visits over 6 months.

I am delighted with the work I’ve had done by both practitioners and even now, 7 years later, I’ve had not one iota of a problem with any of them.

If you can get away with a bridge go for it It’s cheaper than an implant.
I have an implant but had to get a bone graft so the whole process took months.

Not personally, but both my brother and mother-in-law have had implants. Quite significant work at the time, but no problems afterwards and they are both pleased they went ahead.

Catterygirl

I lost a tooth about six weeks ago whilst eating a steak and kidney pudding, so soft food. It’s the central bottom tooth, essential to bite on. After many bad experiences at the dentist starting with the s school dental caravan taking out a tooth with gas and filling every tooth in my head. Who allowed that aged 10? So I have to put on my big girl knickers and deal with it. I originally planned to go to a recommended dentist in Spain for an implant. I lived there for 20 years and saw good and bad dentists. Now back in the UK, today I saw a local dentist offering a good deal money wise and if I develop a problem, hopefully not, I can walk there or a short bus ride. I have done a lot of research amongst friends who had treatment in Poland and Turkey but when things go wrong, it becomes expensive as British dentists won’t entertain you when you chose a dentist abroad. After terrible dental treatment I won’t go into right now, have any of you had good experience of dental implants? I have posted on other peoples posts but this is my first. Please realise I am absolutely petrified of the dentist after bad experiences removing wisdom teeth etc.

Hi Carrery Girl. I have had 3 implants - one either side of my two front teeth on one additional one on the side. I had sedation for it which I would highly recommend although it puts the cost up a little. I had no problems whatsoever, no pain during or after. The worse thing for me is that I had to wear a false tooth / teeth until the implant healed (I understand, as its drilled into the bone, that the bone has to heal around the implant before the real tooth can be put in). Once this has happened - about 8 / 12 weeks, then its a simple case of taking a screw out and screwing in the new tooth. No problems whatsoever. I would highly recommend. Good luck although you wont need it.

My husband has had several and thinks they are great. He went to the Implant clinic in Brighton.

I had two at the same time. I had to have maxillofaxial surgeon to remove teeth and to do bone implant as not enough bone and that was very unpleasant long surgical procedure - bone implant is granules that eventually form synthetic bone - this took months so I had a gap though I was given a temporary plate
Then had the implants screwed in and they had to settle for more months then the crowns fitted by a cosmetic dentist and refitted as they didn’t fit and colour matched wrongly took about 18 months cost me nearly 7k
If you have sufficient bone it’s straightforward. If you can have a bridge then do that !

I’ve got one implant which was done about 8 years ago . The original tooth cracked on an olive stone . I went to a specialist who also teaches at a dental school . The procedure was fine , no pain or swelling afterwards. In fact the extraction was more painful .
I’ve had no problems with it . The most important thing is excellent oral hygiene, so see your hygienist regularly

After a similar experience as you with dreadful dentists when young I am not a fan. I go regularly because the worry of dentures is worse than the worry of the dentist. I had 2 implants 15 years ago, needed bone grafts and lots of appointments but have never had any issues with them. Needed two more last year. Different dentist as mine had retired. Needed another bone graft but fewer appointments and all went well again. I wouldn't hesitate if you can afford it. They are not cheap but for me they were worth missing a holiday or two to get them done.

I had one a few years ago and it's so much a part of me I forget it's not natural. No problems with it, but it took a few months - had to have a bone graft first (upper jaw, tooth between central incisor and eye tooth) then have the screw fitted and finally the crown fitted on that. I live in the US so it was private dental care and cost me about $5000 after my dental insurance had paid their share. US dentistry is excellent but hideously expensive.

I have 2 implants and they are excellent. That was about 6 years ago now. I also would highly recommend a water dental flosser. My dentist says that people who are using them have great dental hygiene.

I have two, done at the same time. The best time to do them is when the gap left by the extraction is six weeks (I think,) old. One post did not work and they did it again at no charge. The only painful.part is having the original.tooth out. Ask around friends for a recommendation. You get good and not so good dentists here and in Spain etc. Deffo have it done here. I never knew I had them from day one.

I agree with a couple of posters upstream. Do you really want to go through all the trouble, expense, time and risk involved in an implant? A plate will serve you better. When I lost a couple of bottom teeth, I was told, the gums get thinner as we get older and an implant wouldn’t be very successful. So I decided to leave it. I did nothing. I manage well without a couple of the molars - no problem. Just fyi, I am petrified of the dentist’s chair 😫

I take it that it's a small lower incisor you mean and not one further back. Are yoh sure yyou have no other option other than an implant. If the teeth either side are okay why has a bridge not been mentioned. You need to have a full discussion with your dentist and if there are no other options research what you can about professionals who are qualified and experienced in carrying out implants. Also, can your Dentist or GP perhaps give you meds to lessen your anxiety when/if you do decide to go ahead. Good luck with it all.

Almost all my lower jaw teeth are implants. After radiation treatment for a tongue cancer my upper teeth are going too and I will be having more implants. The Oral Surgeon doing the work is making me wait a bit longer after the bone grafts to be sure of a good base. I currently am missing three teeth right in front and will be happy to be done with that. I have had no problems with the existing ones. Like many others have said a specialist, patience and a deal of money are necessary!

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I had an implant over 25 years ago (in my 30’s) because the two teeth either side of it were perfect and I didn’t want anything done that would damage them. The implant has been absolutely fine and turned out to be great value for money as it will almost certainly last until I die.

I had an implant about three years ago and the pain during the procedure was off the scale (for me). It’s great now but a bridge would have done and been a lot cheaper (£3000 for one). I’m glad I’ve had it done but I couldn’t go through the pain again. The anaesthetic worked at first but as he drilled into the bone it just didn’t work that far up. Of course everyone is different and it might not have hurt in a different area (this was a tooth next to a front one) and I am really mard!

Hi. I have a chronic abscess in one tooth root. Dentist advised me to have root canal work done, then a new crown fitted. Had appointment today with the periodontal specialist who talked me through the procedure. I’ve had root canal done before. He also gave me alternatives: plate, bridge or implant. As the new crown is going to cost half as much as an implant, I’m thinking of going for the implant option straight away. Any thoughts?

I have a crown still going strong after about 12-14 years.
How long is a crown supposed to last?
I'd look at that first (though my implant is fantastic)!