Wellness

[chessylady]

I just had a tooth pulled and a bone graft (ouch) in preparation for a dental implant. What is your experience with implants re: pain involved, effectiveness, cost. I have dental insurance but people have told me that most insurance companies will not pay for implants.

[manny2]

I had an implant done over a year ago. I did not need the bone graft, as I had the post put in right after the extraction. It was not painful at all, and I have not had any problems since. I would definitely do it again if I needed it. Good Luck!

[Desertdi]

I have been having implant dentistry for over a year now.........No pain, and no bad reactions. The worst part is not being able to chew while you are "in process"......and it takes quite a while from start to finish. Prices vary by locale........I live in AZ, and it was expensive, but not what my friends in Chicago and LA have paid..........

[sashamatthews]

Had three - zero insurance coverage. $7500 for them. The crowns were another $7500 due to construction. The pain after the procedure required Tylenol and was over in a couple of hours. The healing process for me included infection in one which delayed the crowns. I would recommend the procedure to anyone now.

[Krimpette]

I have had several implants done over the past many, many years. Each was done with novocaine. Some of them required bone grafting. Sadly, very little of the expenditure was covered by insurance. I could use more implants at this point and would love to get them, as my current ones have served me well with the exception of a single one. However, I have spent so much of my time in the dentist/oral surgeon chairs over so much of my life, that I just can't bear to think about more dental work. When an emergency arises, I'll face more implants at that time. It's remarkable surgery. I wish it was less time consuming and less expensive. However, I just can't bring myself to go to one of those places that claims to do everything in one or two visits. I just don't see how that can be serviceable in the long haul.

[Georgiagrama]

Oh my chessylady, I commend you and everyone who has this done. I'm not sure that I could go through that myself as I am deathly afraid of a dentist and to make matters worse, the nerves in my teeth are so close to the top until even with a cleaning I have to have my teeth deadened. I'd have to have IV sedation to have something like that done! My SIL has been having this done (she's 74) over the past two years. She has spent thousands of dollars and many hours having one tooth at a time done.

I'm sure you will be fine and happy with the results. I have heard that it is terribly expensive and that insurance doesn't pay. I hope that you will have good luck with this procedure.

[Desertdi]

On 1/15/2014 Krimpette said:

I have had several implants done over the past many, many years. Each was done with novocaine. Some of them required bone grafting. Sadly, very little of the expenditure was covered by insurance. I could use more implants at this point and would love to get them, as my current ones have served me well with the exception of a single one. However, I have spent so much of my time in the dentist/oral surgeon chairs over so much of my life, that I just can't bear to think about more dental work. When an emergency arises, I'll face more implants at that time. It's remarkable surgery. I wish it was less time consuming and less expensive. However, I just can't bring myself to go to one of those places that claims to do everything in one or two visits. I just don't see how that can be serviceable in the long haul.

The "one-day" places get terrible reviews. First.....they require you to do the entire mouth. They skimp on the number of posts........and the final tooth material is not porcelain......it's denture material, which is just not as sturdy.

[jlkz]

10 years ago I had 2 implants done. They were side by side in my lower right jaw and included bone grafting. At the time the dentist didn't know if it could be done with just 2 or would need 3. Thank goodness it took just 2 because it was not covered by insurance. I think the crowns were partially covered. The injections for numbing the area did not hurt. After the procedure , I was made to rest for half an hour and was given a painkiller ( ? Tylenol or something similar ). The nurse said to continue to take it afterwards so it would be ahead of any heightening of the pain. Really, it was very easy, pain-wise. I remember getting a prescription for a special mouthwash. Went back for a checkup a few days later and then onto my regular dentist for 2-tooth crown bridge. I have then been using a Waterpik to clean under the bridge with great results for entire mouth evidenced by my visits with the dental hygienist. HTH. And, yEas I would do it in a heartbeat if it were needed: worth the time, effort and cost!

[MargieRJ]

I had one implant done this past year. A had gone in to the dentist for a bad toothache and she found a lower molar with a deep cavity (from a loose filling) and it was cracked. Because of the crack I had it pulled a couple weeks later. I was then given a bone graft which healed well within a few months. Once that was solid the implant post was drilled in and allowed to heal again for a few months. An impression for a crown was then made and the crown installed a few weeks later. The whole process took me about 10 months.

I did have some pain and minimal swelling after both the tooth extraction and drilling for the implant post placement. That drilling was a bit uncomfortable since the location was so far back in the lower jaw. I was given ice packs and Tylenol 3 for the pain which did a great job.

My implant looks and feels natural. It was costly (insurance only covered a small portion) but well worth it IMO to preserve the surrounding teeth and jaw bone.

[ennui1]

Do some homework. Many people are not happy with the results.