Information on Implants.....the dental type

[Macator2003]

I fractured a tooth about a week ago. It’s one of my front incisors and was still partially attached. Sat in my Dentist chair for a couple of hours while he probed around, took an x-ray and finally removed it. After the picture was developed, he gave me the bad news. The tooth could not be saved or even crowned. He told me I had three choices:

1) Wear a partial denture
2) Go for a bridge
3) Opt for an Implant

He was able to glue it back together for a temporary fix. For a more permanent fix, Doc Holiday recommended an implant even though most dental plans don't cover them. The cost woud be around $3200. He also told me that I could go for a bridge but that means drilling and connecting into the neighbouring healthy teeth at a cost of $2500. He also said that it puts strain on those two teeth that would then be taking the weight and stress of this floater when you bit into something like an apple or a hard candy, etc. It also only good for 10-15 years, at which point, you got to go for another bridge. Dental plans usually cover 50% of the cost. I belong to Manulife BTW.

Question…….what do you think I should do. Even though I hate to part with $3200, I like my teeth and my smile. I'm not interested in becoming a poster boy for Polygrip. I don’t want dentures, even though its only a partial. I enjoy biting into an apple or sinking my teeth into fresh corn on the cob in July, August and September.

Anybody out there had dental implants installed. Was there much pain during the procedure or afterwards. What did it cost. Did your dental plan cover the bill or at lease part of it. Are you happy with how things worked out.

All I want for Christmas is one front tooth.....

 

[hunter001]

SO had implant. Nothing covered because it is considered cosmetic. There has been no problems since.

 

[pool]

Ultimately, an implant is the best "investment" if you can afford it.

I have a three tooth bridging crown which includes "my two front teeth" and has lasted 17 years so far with no signs of needing replacement as of yet. It seems in the near future I'm going to have to get a 5 tooth ( with two "floaters") bridging crown elsewhere, so I'd surmise that if that's possible the pressure wouldn't be too much to worry about, if you do consider the three tooth crown. With crowns the teeth still can decay beneath.

 

[james t kirk]

I am the fucking expert at Dental Implants.

Like you, my teeth cracked and there was no way to save them. Only, it's my lower molars that crack. I have no cavities, but teeth prone to cracking it would seem.

I have had 3 crack and have had 3 pulled.

The first was no biggie. Just felt a little wierd at first, but then you get used to it. When the second one cracked, again, a lower molar, but on the other side, I decided to get an implant.

I never even considered a bridge or a partial plate for even 1 second.

An implant behaves like a normal tooth, looks like a normal tooth, is maintained like a normal tooth. There was no decision to be made. Sometimes, a little food gets stuck under it and you have to pick it out. But that's rare.

I had the same oral surgeon install the actual implant (the titanium bolt) that pulled the tooth. PM me if you want his name. It was $1,800.00 just for the implant.

You need to wait a while from the time they pull the tooth until they do the implant becaue the bone needs to grow to fill the sockets where the root was pulled out. The actual proceedure takes maybe 30 minutes. They have to freeze the hell out of your mouth. The proceedure itself I would describe as disconcerting, but not painful. Though once the freezing wears off, it feels like someone slugged you in the jaw with a bat. That lasts about a day, then you are good to go. They have to drill a series of increasing diametre holes in your jaw, then they use a self tapping bolt and sew you up. What follows is a series of follow up checks (all included in the $1,800 bucks)

He has done 2 implants for me now with NO GRIEF. That's worth it in my opinion. My oral surgeon is a very good guy and I would recommend him in a second flat.

My dental insurance covered 0 of the cost of the actual implant.

Then, after about 6 months or so of the bone growing around the implant, you are ready for the crown. The crown is relatively easy. Perhaps 3 or 4 visits for making impressions, sending it to the lab, etc.

Now this is the interesting part. Crown No. 1 was installed last year by Dentist No. 1 at a cost of $1,900 which at the time surprised the shit out of me. But being a rookie, I didn't know any better. I paid it.

My dental plan covered about 40% of that cost. Better than nothing.

This year, I made an appointment with the same Dentist No. 1 (not the oral surgeon who installed the implant by the way) and his price had risen to $2,300 IN THE SPACE OF 1 YEAR.

Fuck that. I called the oral surgeon who did the bolt and asked him for the other names that he had recommended. I called up Dentist No. 2 and asked him how much for the crown. Answer - $1,200.

That's quite a difference.

Dentist No. 1 is a bit of a rip off artist. He's got a 2 story office on Bloor West all high end. Consultation rooms, LCD TV on the ceiling, LCD beside you where the X ray pops up, free bottled water. He never talks money either. He has an office manager for the disgusting money thing.

Needless to say, I went with Dentist No. 2 for the 2'nd crown. (I am actually waiting for it to come back from the lab right now.) He quoted me himself on the phone. Perfect.

So, in summary, I am very happy with the implants I have had done by the oral surgeon at $1,800 a pop.

Crowns vary wildly in price, so get a few names and call around, or PM me for the names.

Dental Plan may cover the cost of part of the crown, but not the bolt.

What my day to day dentist said was that I made the right decision, however, the ADA still doesn't recognize implants as the way to replace a missing tooth and until that happens, the insurance companies will use it as an excuse not to pay.

Calling it cosmetic is ABSURD. At the very least they should compensate me as much as they would if I were getting a bridge. But no. Any excuse not to pay. Fucking scumbags. I'd never want to trust these assholes with my primary health care. You'd end up dead in the street for sure.

All in all, the implant is the way to go.

 

[lickrolaine]

had one done in 2005 for 2005 dollars,go figure,plus a couple of grand for the crown.Front tooth,would never consider anything else.Have had no problems,plus you cannot tell it is not my factory tooth,lol.No coverage,although the insurance company would have covered a 3 tooth bridge,dam they need to get into the 21 century,lol.

 

[antlerman]

I have a bridge in my front teeth......I have had it for years...no problem for me.......Hell....I knocked the senter tooth out and half of the tooth on each side...then had the bridge installed......looks great and works fine

 

[stinkynuts]

I'd "bite" the bullet and go with the implant for sure. In the long run, it's the much better choice. The difference in cost is nothing, given the benefits.

 

[great bear]

Yep, go with the implant. Had one about 3 years ago. It was a pain free process. The only problem back then was a three month wait for the bone to heal so they could put the plug into the jaw bone. Since then absolutely no problems.

 

[Macator2003]

Thanks for the info.

Hey Captain Kirk (It just doesn't feel right addressing you by James)

Are you saying that you had to pay a set amount for the titanium post or the bolt ($1800) and then fork out another $1200-$1900 for the "crown" (new tooth) and that your dental plan covered 40% of the crown.

That makes the price I was quoted for both the post and the new tooth a little more palitable.

 

[thighspy]

pearly ones.....

Macator 2003.
That my friend is a lot of loot.Here is my two cents worth.
Take a Vacation in the Dominican Republic---Santo Domingo.Have a nice Vacation,and get your teeth done.
I just payed 299.44 $ U.S for two Crownes, (ceramic)i would.nt even think of getting any Medical procedure done in Canada.I was put on a waiting list for a Dermetologist----two years.Went to Santo Domingo,got it done ,as soon as i had all the Test´s needed--Blood Test Etc. (HIV-or Drugs you are out)
Four Operations and 600.00$ U.S. Later ,my frozen Nose looks pretty good.
The Brew is good,the Chicks lovely,and the sun shines all the time.
Go for the Implant,Oral is a bitch if the Bridge comes out,you either bite off the ¨Pepita¨or your Tongue---------

 

[Deviant]

Hey Mac
I'm currently waiting for an extraction to heal and I'll have to decide the same question. For me, its on top so an implant might be out because its too close to my sinuses.

I have heard second hand, that the bone around the implanted rod sometimes doesn't heal and I doubt its guaranteed or your money back.

 

[james t kirk]

Thanks for the info.

Hey Captain Kirk (It just doesn't feel right addressing you by James)

Are you saying that you had to pay a set amount for the titanium post or the bolt ($1800) and then fork out another $1200-$1900 for the "crown" (new tooth) and that your dental plan covered 40% of the crown.

That makes the price I was quoted for both the post and the new tooth a little more palitable.

That's what I am saying.

Just got my 2'nd crown in today.

Bottom line was $1,600 for the crown. ($1,800 was for the post.)