Dental Implants
Discussion
Hi. I am looking at the possibility of have 4 dental implants fitted in my upper jaw, I have had a consultation and an x-ray done, next step is a CT scan to look at the bone density. The implants will cost £1200 each plus cost of any other work. (possible bone graft !! )
I would like to get some feedback from anyone who had similar work carried out regarding the pain/ discomfort and end results.
I would like to get some feedback from anyone who had similar work carried out regarding the pain/ discomfort and end results.
I can't comment with any personal experience on the discomfort levels (haven't had them myself!), but I work with dental implants day-in, day-out. Suffice to say having them fitted isn't a particularly nice procedure, but it has really come on in recent times and in most cases it is fairly tolerable. Obviously whilst it's being carried out you will be completely numbed and only feel pressure rather than pain, but once the anaesthetic wears off there can sometimes be discomfort in the form of slight pain and swelling. A good rule of thumb to use is that a simple implant placement is less traumatic than a surgical tooth extraction (incidentally this is a procedure I have had - just last week, in fact!). What I must stress, however, is that not every case is the same and some people will suffer more than others.
The most important question to ask your dentist is if they're the best option for you. Have they explained the benefits and downsides of implants to you and the same for any alternative treatments? Are they being fitted to support crowns and / or bridges or to retain a denture? Either way, the end results will usually (with a good surgeon and technician) be both extremely functional and aesthetic. £1200 all-in is a pretty decent price, to be honest, although it's one of those areas where I wouldn't recommend picking the cheapest quote by default.
Hope that's of some use to you!
David.
The most important question to ask your dentist is if they're the best option for you. Have they explained the benefits and downsides of implants to you and the same for any alternative treatments? Are they being fitted to support crowns and / or bridges or to retain a denture? Either way, the end results will usually (with a good surgeon and technician) be both extremely functional and aesthetic. £1200 all-in is a pretty decent price, to be honest, although it's one of those areas where I wouldn't recommend picking the cheapest quote by default.
Hope that's of some use to you!
David.
David thanks for the feed back
I don’t have much trust in dentists after several years of bad treatment but the dentist I have now is very good (and I travel an hour each way to see him) he recommended the partnership who teach other dentists in the implant treatments. I have seen others advertising lower prices but while the price is very important my trust with the surgeon and support service afterwards is greater. I have spoken with several other practices that don’t fill me with confidence. The implants I hope will replace a denture that iv had for several years and help with possible bone loss.
I don’t have much trust in dentists after several years of bad treatment but the dentist I have now is very good (and I travel an hour each way to see him) he recommended the partnership who teach other dentists in the implant treatments. I have seen others advertising lower prices but while the price is very important my trust with the surgeon and support service afterwards is greater. I have spoken with several other practices that don’t fill me with confidence. The implants I hope will replace a denture that iv had for several years and help with possible bone loss.
No problem! It's good that you seem to trust and have a good rapport with your dentist - that is one of the most important things before undergoing treatment, after all. They certainly should help prevent any further bone resorption as that's one of the great advantages of an implant.
The most discomfort I experienced during my dental implant procedure was the initial local anesthetic jabs 12 in all, The 6 that went into the roof of my mouth made my eyes water a bit. In my case money was saved by having a bridged implant, 2 implants holding four teeth in position. I also had a small bone graft made from cow bone
Edited by rolex on Friday 25th March 00:29
David87 said:
I can't comment with any personal experience on the discomfort levels (haven't had them myself!), but I work with dental implants day-in, day-out. Suffice to say having them fitted isn't a particularly nice procedure, but it has really come on in recent times and in most cases it is fairly tolerable. Obviously whilst it's being carried out you will be completely numbed and only feel pressure rather than pain, but once the anaesthetic wears off there can sometimes be discomfort in the form of slight pain and swelling. A good rule of thumb to use is that a simple implant placement is less traumatic than a surgical tooth extraction (incidentally this is a procedure I have had - just last week, in fact!). What I must stress, however, is that not every case is the same and some people will suffer more than others.
The most important question to ask your dentist is if they're the best option for you. Have they explained the benefits and downsides of implants to you and the same for any alternative treatments? Are they being fitted to support crowns and / or bridges or to retain a denture? Either way, the end results will usually (with a good surgeon and technician) be both extremely functional and aesthetic. £1200 all-in is a pretty decent price, to be honest, although it's one of those areas where I wouldn't recommend picking the cheapest quote by default.
Hope that's of some use to you!
David.
Out of interest David, what implant company do you work for? I use Straumann.The most important question to ask your dentist is if they're the best option for you. Have they explained the benefits and downsides of implants to you and the same for any alternative treatments? Are they being fitted to support crowns and / or bridges or to retain a denture? Either way, the end results will usually (with a good surgeon and technician) be both extremely functional and aesthetic. £1200 all-in is a pretty decent price, to be honest, although it's one of those areas where I wouldn't recommend picking the cheapest quote by default.
Hope that's of some use to you!
David.
43scotty said:
Hi Driller, the practice who I’m talking to also use “Straumann” ten year guarantee and I am told they are one of the best systems on the market
There are many, many implant systems on the market of which 3 or 4 (including Straumann and Nobel Biocare) have the majority share.To be honest as long as the implants are half decent (certainly any of the "big four but many others) and especially if they are placed in good conditions (dedicated surgical block that is properly disinfected before the procedure), with correct technique and respecting any patient contra-indications, then a ten year guarantee can easily be given.
I normally tell my patients that their implants are for life.
The Straumann system is fantastic, with lots of bit and pieces available meaning that all situations can be catered for. This is of course reflected in the price.
As far as pain goes, the local anaesthetic if done gently doesn't hurt (does sting a bit in the palate if you're having upper implants) but there after you're home free. I have only rarely have a patient with sensitivity problems and it's invariably the moment that the implant is placed-usually during a long procedure where the local has time to wear off. Adding an extra jot of local usually does the trick.
None of my patients have complained of post operative pain-not one. I prescrible a cocktail of antibiotics and steroids which the patient starts taking two days before the procedure. A cold compress for several hours afterwards helps enormously.
Edited by Driller on Friday 25th March 20:40
Driller said:
Out of interest David, what implant company do you work for? I use Straumann.
Hi Driller,I don't work for an implant company, I'm a technician. I mainly work with any of the 'Big Four' systems, but we do have clients who use other, less popular ones. As you've already said, lots of brands are very good, but for the benefit of the OP, if I were to have an implant myself I'd probably choose Straumann. They're an extremely well-known name in the field and, as Driller stated, the number of parts available is vast. It sounds like you're in good hands.
Legacywr said:
I'm quite interested in them too, but the thing that sticks in my mind is the woman from 10 Years Younger who had to have all of hers removed sometime after the programe! I can't remember the full storey though?
Legacywr said:
RichyBoy said:
I had to have a bone graft before the implant, there was no pain but I kept telling him to stop as he was hammering away because it didn't sound too nice. I'm hoping in a couple of months I'll be ready for the crown to be fitted on it.
Legacywr said:
Bone grafts? Tell me more about the reason for these? It's starting to sound like something one shouldn't get into!
With correct patient selection (mostly means avoiding moderate and heavy smokers) dental implants have an almost 100% success rate.
As far as bone grafts go there is absolutely no hammering involved. In fact I'm going to clear this up once and for all:
Dentists do not use hammers. Not ever. NEVER.
A bone graft in implant dentistry is far removed from the classic idea of harvesting some bone from the him and screwing it into place somewhere else. The bone material is a highly processed product either in powder or block form. In the block form it feels like a rather small, dense piece of polystyrene.
This material is placed around the head of the implant and gently pressed into placed with a finger and a round ended instrument. Again, no hammers involved, if you hammered it it would simply squish about everywhere and you'd have to start all over again
Yes i must agree with the above from our friendly PH dentist Driller, because ive had 8 implants and a bone graft done at his practice in France , and a very professional sevice it was too. no, no hammering involved, , I just left an hour later and travelled home to Bedfordshire sucking ice cream on route 
Edited by alfa phil on Saturday 26th March 16:47
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff