topic Oral surgery in Community Chat

Oral surgery

smoochy — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 02:29:59 GMT

...tomorrow morning. One tooth to be extracted. My dentist said it's too complicated for her. So I'm headed to the oral surgeon. Upper premolar as they call it. Will have lovely IV sedation and remember nothing. What killed me was the options presented for after it heals: have the two molars next to it removed then get a three tooth bridge, or get an implant, or leave the gap and do nothing further.
Options 1 & 2 would cost me $3000-3800 out of pocket. I went home, smiled big into the mirror and decided to leave the gap empty. It won't be very noticeable unless someone is too dam close to me peering into my mouth. I am not about to spend over $3K on 73 year old teeth. C'mon man.
if it was a front tooth that would be a different story.

Re: Oral surgery

mormel20 — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 02:33:35 GMT

About two years ago I had a tooth pulled. The dentist really were pushing me to get an implant (I suppose so they could get more money). I just left a gap instead. The gap is in the back and can't be seen by others. I just did not want to spend the money and really the gap does not bother me at all. But if it was visible by others I guess I would get an implant.

Re: Oral surgery

Janey2 — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 02:33:52 GMT

I had the same thing. Left the gap. No problem. You'll be fine.

Re: Oral surgery

KKlim — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 02:35:38 GMT

Good luck w/ your oral surgery.

Re: Oral surgery

Desertdi — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 02:36:04 GMT

@smoochy

And, once you start getting implants, you will have to have them ALL replaced that way. Gets REALLY expensive!!!!

Re: Oral surgery

ellaphant — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 02:40:03 GMT

I have a three tooth gap in the very back.Cannot be seen at all. One dentist kept suggesting implants. Extraordinary expensive and a close friend had one implant

( by one of the finest dentists in the area) which took 5 years from beginning to end.

No thanks!

Re: Oral surgery

Trinity11 — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 02:51:23 GMT

@smoochy wrote:
...tomorrow morning. One tooth to be extracted. My dentist said it's too complicated for her. So I'm headed to the oral surgeon. Upper premolar as they call it. Will have lovely IV sedation and remember nothing. What killed me was the options presented for after it heals: have the two molars next to it removed then get a three tooth bridge, or get an implant, or leave the gap and do nothing further.
Options 1 & 2 would cost me $3000-3800 out of pocket. I went home, smiled big into the mirror and decided to leave the gap empty. It won't be very noticeable unless someone is too dam close to me peering into my mouth. I am not about to spend over $3K on 73 year old teeth. C'mon man.
if it was a front tooth that would be a different story.

Last Wednesday I had a bottom molar extracted by an oral surgeon. I was awake. You made a good decision to get sedation. It took one hour and thirty minutes. Today I had an emergency visit to check why the nerve is hurting but he claimed it takes two weeks for bottom molars to heal. Lost 5 pounds because all soft food.

I was referred to the oral surgeon by a new dentist as my old one retired. After googling I found out this dentist had his license revoked in another state for Medicaid fraud.🥺😳. I have no confidence in his $4,000.00 bridge but will see another dentist to find out alternative treatment.

Good luck and I will say a prayer for you @smoochy . I completely understand your reluctance to get the bridge. I really dislike that they told me the same about getting all these teeth removed. Dentistry can really be a money pit.😳

Re: Oral surgery

Puggywuggy — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 03:02:57 GMT

Wishing you good luck on your surgery tomorrow & a speedy recovery!

Re: Oral surgery

smoochy — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 03:33:31 GMT

because I sing in an elite 100 member award winning show chorus (womens barbershop) I was naturally concerned about a toothless gap showing. Which honestly would probably have disqualified me from performing. Judges see us up close. At international competition, the audience will see us up close on the Jumbotron when the cameras zoom in. We will be on that stage next October. My dentist said the implant option "might" be finished by then. I was shocked at what a ridiculous lengthy process it is. I had no idea.

Re: Oral surgery

Desertdi — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 03:35:26 GMT

I have 18 implants. I could be driving a Ferrari instead of a Ford, if I only had "better teeth". (It was mostly bone loss, tho.)

Re: Oral surgery

Sooner — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 03:40:05 GMT

@smoochy wrote:
because I sing in an elite 100 member award winning show chorus (womens barbershop) I was naturally concerned about a toothless gap showing. Which honestly would probably have disqualified me from performing. Judges see us up close. At international competition, the audience will see us up close on the Jumbotron when the cameras zoom in. We will be on that stage next October. My dentist said the implant option "might" be finished by then. I was shocked at what a ridiculous lengthy process it is. I had no idea.

@smoochy Can you get a "flipper?" I have no idea what that is, but a friend had one for temporary use.

Re: Oral surgery

smoochy — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 03:45:51 GMT

@Sooner I don't know what a flipper is either. Will google.

Re: Oral surgery

smoochy — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 03:54:21 GMT

@monicakm wrote:
@smoochy

I nearly fell out of my chair. When I read "I sing in an elite 100 member award winning show chorus", my mind instantly thought you were in the Broadway show "A Chorus Line". Love LOVED that show. I saw it on Broadway in 1977.

oh my gosh that's hilarious 😆 no I'm a member of Sweet Adelines International. The chapter chorus I perform in is Toast of Tampa Show Chorus. If you're so inclined, find us on YouTube. Look for our name followed by 2023 International Semi finals. You'll get a taste of why this is such a huge part of my life 😉 four part a cappella harmony, stage makeup and glitzy sparkly costumes 🤩✨

Re: Oral surgery

Desertdi — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 03:59:15 GMT

Dental "flipper"....probably would not work for a singer. I had one once during an implant. It caused me to lisp, and it kept falling out on my keyboard at work...

Re: Oral surgery

BlueFinch — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 06:42:59 GMT

I've recently entered the implant club. I had a perfectly healthy molar (top left tooth, second from the canine) that was fractured horizontally below the gum line. Don't know how it happened.

I left it for years but it finally began to shift apart and I was warned of possible infection setting in. So, out it came the first week of October, along with a bone graft and ten days of antibiotics. Oddly, as fractured as that tooth was, it never was painful.

I debated whether to leave the gap, but it's close enough to the front of my mouth that when I smile broadly, or laugh, it can be noticed. The implant process is estimated to take up to eight months to completion.

I have a follow up in two days to assess the graft situation. Usually after the graft, they wait for about three months before placing the abutment into the bone. Then another wait before attaching the implant, then another wait for placing the crown.

Then it's all over but the crying over how much this mess costs. I'm looking at 5k for one tooth, which is the average cost in my area.

BTW, I think they can almost always provide a flipper. I was offered one, but declined. I'm just choosing to make sure I guard my smile and laughter for a few months. No big deal.

Re: Oral surgery

San Antonio Gal — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 08:18:54 GMT

I agree with your choice @smoochy . It's not even noticeable. No reason to spend all the $$$ and inconvenience to do the alternative.

Re: Oral surgery

San Antonio Gal — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 08:29:04 GMT

@monicakm wrote:
I know this probably won't be of any use for anyone here, but maybe you can pass this tip down to younger ones.
I can't know for sure this has helped me but I've never had a cavity. I don't know if it's inheriting my dad's teeth and/or the tip my dentist gave me back in my 20s. He said not to rinse my mouth for 5 minutes after brushing. The fluoride has more time to do it's thing. I decided I didn't have 5 minutes to sit around or remember if I got busy doing something else so I made the executive decision to just not rinse at all.

I can't imagine not rinsing @monicakm . I have a script from my dentist for a more potent (fluoride wise) toothpaste that I get from the pharmacy. I'll use this toothpaste for the rest of my life.

Re: Oral surgery

LTT1 — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 11:54:05 GMT

@smoochy

Good luck on your oral surgery this morning!❤️

Re: Oral surgery

CalminHeart — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 12:00:30 GMT

Good luck!

I'm in my 70s and made the same decision you did. The gap is not visible when I laugh or talk and doesn't interfere with eating. It was the best financial and daily living decision for me too.

Re: Oral surgery

geezerette — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 12:02:57 GMT

I had the same situation with a lower molar about five years ago. My dentist and hygienist tried to talk me into an implant or at least a bridge, but I decided against both. For my age and lifestyle it wasn't worth it for me, for many reasons.

I haven't had any problems nor does the gap show unless I purposely pull my lips back. I was warned, however, there would be bone loss with an empty space and that has happened. So far that isn't a problem, but if it affects any surrounding teeth in the future I'll opt for a bridge. No implants for me at this point. Also, I wear a night guard so that has helped to prevent any shifting in my teeth.

Good luck, @smoochy !