Dentists? What do I need to know about implants?

[TooLateForAName]

I'm getting a tooth removed this week and my dentist has said that she'll talk to me about bridges and implants later. I'd just like to get a few pointers up front if possible.

Tooth in question is a lower molar (No. 6?) has a vertical crack right through the tooth. I had it repaired 10 years ago and then after further problems last year had root canal work which has now failed and the tooth is not going to be able to be repaired.

As I understand it, a bridge means damaging the teeth on either side and building a structure across the gap. That doesn't sound great in terms of deliberate damage to the two good teeth.

I understand that there are a couple of different implant systems - is any one better than another? What questions should I be asking? (I should say that my dentist doesn't do implants although others in the practice do and that she will refer me to one of them or a.n.other as I prefer).

Would implants be done under general? in a hospital? Success/failure rates? complications?

Basically, I don't know enough to know what I should be asking about and what the issues are. I've done a bit of googling but of course everyone selling the treatments says that its great....

Oh, and final question, what sort of costs? Is my mx5 fund going to be snatched away just when I was about to buy?


Any good links/comments/etc welcome.
Thanks.

[Pothole]

Get a quote then call my friend in Malta. I'll bet you can do it for less with him, including flights and hotels and have a few days in the sun as well.

[Rollin]

One tooth including crown will be between £1800-2500.
With regards to having it done abroad, what happens if you have a problem?
I would ask what training the dentist doing the treatment has. How many have they placed and what their success rate is with lower molar teeth.
Nobel Biocare, Straumann, Astra are amongst the established manufacturers.

The Nobel Biocare website has lots of information for patients. http://www.nobelsmile.co.uk/en_gb/

ETA Implants are usually placed in practice under local anaesthetic. Sometimes sedation is used if the patient is anxious, but in my (limited but no failures! ) experience, patients don't require it.

Edited by Rollin on Saturday 12th June 11:41

[pauldavies85]

If you want a piece of titanium screwed into your jaw, I think saving money shouldn't be your first concern. success is directly linked to technique and operator skill/attention to detail, you get what you pay for

[Driller]

Whether you have an implant or not afterwards, you are absolutely right to refuse a bridge (if ever it was suggested) if the adjacent teeth are in good nick.

[TooLateForAName]

Thanks,

Bridges were mentioned, but I got the impression that the dentist wasn't keen. It was more a 'these are the possible options'

I'm not looking to get it done at the cheapest possible cost, I am a nervous patient and would much much rather have it done properly than cheaply.

What questions should I ask before agreeing to treatment? Are there different techniques? I see there are different crowns from that link.

[RRS_Staffs]

I also 'need' an implant although Im waiting for the time being

The process was rather a shock to me coming from a different and much more transparent profession

My experience was as follows:

Tooth fails - go see dentist
Told can be bodged but will need implant or bridge

So far so good

Can do implant next week - errr OK then mate.....

No mention of cost, operator experience, complication rate and life expectancy of implant

All a bit of a shock to me

A quick google and a calling in of some favours revealed implants to be a great restorative technology as well as a cash cow for some individuals

I would advise seeing an expert in restorative dentistry probably allied to a dental hospital if I were you principally because these are the guys and gals with the experience and numbers

As far as I can tell there are a whole heap of high street dentists with the 'implant course' but quite what this means in reality is harder to quantify

Good luck

Mini rant over

[Driller]

TooLateForAName said:

Thanks,

Bridges were mentioned, but I got the impression that the dentist wasn't keen. It was more a 'these are the possible options'

I'm not looking to get it done at the cheapest possible cost, I am a nervous patient and would much much rather have it done properly than cheaply.

What questions should I ask before agreeing to treatment? Are there different techniques? I see there are different crowns from that link.

I think it's rather a case of you deciding if you have confidence in him and him asking you the right questions (eg medical history) to ensure success

As has been previously mentioned there are a few leading brands of implant and there is no difference as far as the patient is concerned between these.

Ideally the surgery should be done in a dedicated room but not all dentists have access to this.

The main worry for a tooth in the bottom jaw is having enough bone height (bone resorbs after a tooth is lost) to accommodate the length of the implant without the drill or the end of the implant going near the nerve which runs through the jaw. A panoramique radiograph will give you an idea but you won't know for sure until you have a scan of the jaws done.

As the link above says there are basically two types of crown, one with a metal interior covered in tooth coloured ceramic and the other (more expensive) solid ceramic with no metal. Since this is a tooth at the back you would be fine with the cheaper sort although depending on the price difference you may decide to go for the solid ceramic one.

Inspite of what it says, a well executed PFM can look quite accepatable.

[TooLateForAName]

Thanks.

The broken tooth gets pulled tomorrow so I'll see what else they say.

I've just clicked on your profile, I take it from your profile pic that you do this sort of thing for a living then?

[Driller]

Yes