Implants

[lonewolf07]

After having some of my back upper teeth and one front tooth extracted, my other teeth began to "shift".  It has effected my speech.  I sound like I'm drunk and I'm so tired of being labelled drunk when I don't even drink.  Does anyone know anything about dental implants for my front teeth.  I'll probably have to have the other one removed if I do get them.  All this is the result of gum disease and I couldn't afford to go to a periodontists.  The dentist did what she could but I would prefer implants or something similar to having dentures.

Any advice?

[SixStringer]

Recently, I had an implant put in.  My dentist (DDS) referred me to an Oral Surgeon.  First,  my dentist took a panoramic x-ray of my teeth which shows all the teeth in one x-ray ($90.00), sent over to the Oral Surgeon.  Then I had to go in for a consultation with the Oral Surgeon for him to check the area out ($95.00).  At this point, I have gone in and the Oral Surgeon has placed the rod into my jaw ($1650.00), and in 3 months or so, my dentist will put the final tooth on the rod.  The jaw was drilled and the rod placed under local anesthetic.  I felt no pain except for the initial anesthetic needle.  I did feel the vibration of being drilled which is a little unnerving, but the whole thing doesn't go much longer than 15 minutes or so.  Later that day, I took 1 Vicodin for some jaw pain, but haven't taken any since.  I've had more of a reaction to the antibiotics than any jaw problems.  In the end, it will add up to over $3,000.00 for the implant and tooth.  

[lonewolf07]

I guess I'll have to get a referral to an Oral Surgeon.  Was under the impression they didn't use that title anymore.  Maybe that's just in Canada.  In any case, I'll ask for a referral and see what happens.  It sounds expensive  = (

Thank you so much for your help with this.

[mcclos10]

A dentist is a DDS Doctor of Dental Surgery which is a degree that a dentist gets in school in order to be a dentist.  It does not however as the name implies mean that they should do surgery.  An Oral Surgeon specializing in implants does implant work.  By no means would you want this procedure done while just numb.  It is a major and invasive surgery in your mouth.  Trust me it really hurts if you are not fully sedated.  They numb you too.  The surgery is done in 2 parts weeks apart.  So sorry I would say you won't likely find any good oral surgeon to do it with only a local and trust me you would not want them too.  As I said for my first part they were unable to sedate me enough so I felt the enitre thing.  I have had 33 surgeries but nothing comapred to having to feel that.  The second part went fine because they put me under.  I am not saying this happens to most people I am just hard to sedate because of all the Anesthesia I have had in the past.  The outcome has been great though even with my bad experience.

[lonewolf07]

Thank you for the information.  I know they are expensive but I look like Jethro the hillbilly (no offence) with the big gap in my teeth.  It makes talking difficult too and I'm tired of hearing people say I'm a drunk.

Can implants be done using a local anesthetic like freezing?  I don't like being "knocked out".  All my dental work has been done using a local.  Did your dentist do it or did you need a DDS?

Should have been a dentist - I'd be rich by now.

[mcclos10]

I have an implant in a front bottom tooth.  I have had a ton of dental work done in fact I am currently going through a lot in that area.  Implants are great but they are expensive.  I got mine a few years ago and I am thinking it came out around 4k.  They are just like having real teeth as they make a root and everything.  The procedure is surgery and done in 2 parts normally.  The first part I was sedated for but because I didn't sedate well enough so they had to put me under at the hospital for the second part.  None of that was very fun but it turned out great in the end.  It seems like a lot of money but if you add up a few 100 dollars here and there over many years that you may pay for other solutions that don’t work as well or last as long it would probably add up to the implant cost any way.