Dental Implant Questions (1 Viewer)

[Marvelous]

Mrs. Marvelous just got back from the dentist. She recommended that a troublesome tooth be pulled and replaced with a dental implant. Estimated cost is $6000 and insurance does not cover it.

My questions are:

1. Are there alternatives to a dental implant?

2. If so, what are the pros and cons?

3. Are there less expensive ways to get a dental implant?

Thanks.

 

[Sweet J]

From what I understand you can get a bridge.

As for the implant: You should get the implant from a guy that ONLY does implants. Your general dentist, if you trust him, should be able to give you some recommendations. If your dentist is offering to do the implant, that would probably be a red flag.

6,000 seems a bit high. I think mine will run a couple grand when all is said and done. The implant itself will be around 1g, and the cap around 1g. But your wife's may be more complicated.

 

[EasyMorningRebel]

Go with double Ds. Bigger is always better. Great big nipples too (I mean if that's a possibility).

 

[downanddistance]

Mrs. Marvelous just got back from the dentist. She recommended that a troublesome tooth be pulled and replaced with a dental implant. Estimated cost is $6000 and insurance does not cover it.My questions are:1. Are there alternatives to a dental implant? 2. If so, what are the pros and cons?3. Are there less expensive ways to get a dental implant?Thanks.

1.) Yes....a) do nothing b) Fixed bridge c) Partial Denture are the main options.2.) Implant doesn't rely on other teeth for support, preserves bone, and you don't have to cut on teeth that may not otherwise need it (ie--it is more conservative)3.) Maybe...other dentists may do it for less....but costs really can range depending on how much bone is present, where the implant is going to be placed etc.

 

[Sweet J]

From what I understand you can get a bridge.

As for the implant: You should get the implant from a guy that ONLY does implants. Your general dentist, if you trust him, should be able to give you some recommendations. If your dentist is offering to do the implant, that would probably be a red flag.

6,000 seems a bit high. I think mine will run a couple grand when all is said and done. The implant itself will be around 1g, and the cap around 1g. But your wife's may be more complicated.

 

[downanddistance]

From what I understand you can get a bridge.

As for the implant: You should get the implant from a guy that ONLY does implants. Your general dentist, if you trust him, should be able to give you some recommendations. If your dentist is offering to do the implant, that would probably be a red flag.

6,000 seems a bit high. I think mine will run a couple grand when all is said and done. The implant itself will be around 1g, and the cap around 1g. But your wife's may be more complicated.

6000 does seem on the high side but may not be unreasonable especially if there is bone or soft tissue grafting to be done.

Generally on a really straight forward case your implant+crown should be around the cost of a threee unit fixed bridge.

That being said many, if not most are not super straight forward. Often there is some form of bone grafting/socket preservation involved, or other factors that can make the case more complex.

If you can get a implant for a grand, by all means get it. Thats a steal. And there is also the cost of the abutment which you have not listed. That can vary in cost but $500 may not be unreasonalble depending what type of abutment is needed.

I am a general dentist who places implants. What you really want is someone who is highly trained. Almost no one...not even specialists .....do only implants. Often there are many advantages to a general dentist placing the implant since she/he is the one that has to build the crown on it. An implant in a less than ideal position can be difficult to make look "right".

Presuming you are dealing with someone that has sufficient training, you will be fine either way.

You might consider a second opinion. That may help you make a decision you feel good about.

 

[NutterButter]

From what I understand you can get a bridge.As for the implant: You should get the implant from a guy that ONLY does implants. Your general dentist, if you trust him, should be able to give you some recommendations. If your dentist is offering to do the implant, that would probably be a red flag.6,000 seems a bit high. I think mine will run a couple grand when all is said and done. The implant itself will be around 1g, and the cap around 1g. But your wife's may be more complicated.

6000 does seem extremely high. Mine was close to 4 for everything and it was on the front upper which might or might not affect price. Definitely go a specialist. Your general dentist can do the crown though. Whole process was an enormous PITA. Took like 3 months from the pulling of the initial tooth up until the placement of the crown. You have to go a few months with no tooth as the area needs to heal before setting the post and then needs time after setting the post. You get a temporary denture thingy, but its so f-ing uncomfortable that i went without it. Good luck.Btw, part of the crown should be covered. If your spouse gets dental, you might be able to get those whole thing covered if your insurance covers 50% and hers covers 50%.

 

[Dr. No]

Generalists can absolutely do implants.. i've been doing them for years now. Unless it's a complicated case you don't need a specialist.

6K is incredibly high.

It should be between 3 and 4 for a single tooth at the absolute most unless you are actually getting 2 implants.

 

[Dr. No]

From what I understand you can get a bridge.

As for the implant: You should get the implant from a guy that ONLY does implants. Your general dentist, if you trust him, should be able to give you some recommendations. If your dentist is offering to do the implant, that would probably be a red flag.

6,000 seems a bit high. I think mine will run a couple grand when all is said and done. The implant itself will be around 1g, and the cap around 1g. But your wife's may be more complicated.

6000 does seem on the high side but may not be unreasonable especially if there is bone or soft tissue grafting to be done.

Generally on a really straight forward case your implant+crown should be around the cost of a threee unit fixed bridge.

That being said many, if not most are not super straight forward. Often there is some form of bone grafting/socket preservation involved, or other factors that can make the case more complex.

If you can get a implant for a grand, by all means get it. Thats a steal. And there is also the cost of the abutment which you have not listed. That can vary in cost but $500 may not be unreasonalble depending what type of abutment is needed.

I am a general dentist who places implants. What you really want is someone who is highly trained. Almost no one...not even specialists .....do only implants. Often there are many advantages to a general dentist placing the implant since she/he is the one that has to build the crown on it. An implant in a less than ideal position can be difficult to make look "right".

Presuming you are dealing with someone that has sufficient training, you will be fine either way.

You might consider a second opinion. That may help you make a decision you feel good about.

Wait, where did you come from... i'm one of a kind around here.Don't you know who i am!!!

 

[guest 54788]

From what I understand you can get a bridge.

As for the implant: You should get the implant from a guy that ONLY does implants. Your general dentist, if you trust him, should be able to give you some recommendations. If your dentist is offering to do the implant, that would probably be a red flag.

6,000 seems a bit high. I think mine will run a couple grand when all is said and done. The implant itself will be around 1g, and the cap around 1g. But your wife's may be more complicated.

6000 does seem on the high side but may not be unreasonable especially if there is bone or soft tissue grafting to be done.

Generally on a really straight forward case your implant+crown should be around the cost of a threee unit fixed bridge.

That being said many, if not most are not super straight forward. Often there is some form of bone grafting/socket preservation involved, or other factors that can make the case more complex.

If you can get a implant for a grand, by all means get it. Thats a steal. And there is also the cost of the abutment which you have not listed. That can vary in cost but $500 may not be unreasonalble depending what type of abutment is needed.

I am a general dentist who places implants. What you really want is someone who is highly trained. Almost no one...not even specialists .....do only implants. Often there are many advantages to a general dentist placing the implant since she/he is the one that has to build the crown on it. An implant in a less than ideal position can be difficult to make look "right".

Presuming you are dealing with someone that has sufficient training, you will be fine either way.

You might consider a second opinion. That may help you make a decision you feel good about.

Wait, where did you come from... i'm one of a kind around here.Don't you know who i am!!!

we needed a dentist who wouldn't lie to us....or want to poop on our chests.

 

[Dr. No]

we needed a dentist who wouldn't lie to us....or want to poop on our chests.

touche

 

[gmbacm]

implant vs bridge. cost is about the same. I assume implant is the way to go? What kind of recovery time can be expected from the initial surgery? I see some info that says up to 2 weeks of pain and headaches, is that accurate?

 

[5Rings]

Bridge requires prepping (cutting) of adjacent teeth to created abutments to support the pontic (replacement tooth).

Implants don't require any modifications of your healthy dentition. They are 99% successful, esthetic, and simple to restore.

My own mouth--not a question. Implant.

eta--for your question on recovery time, lots of factors, including: your own health (diabetic, smoke), parafunctional habits (brux, grind, clench), dental issues (periodontal issues, quality and quantity of bone surrounding missing tooth), etc etc.

 

[Thunderlips]

Broke a tooth playing football.....Doc reccommended implant versus bridge because one of the teeth that would the bridge was a virgin tooth and he reccommended not doing anything to teeth that didn't need it. I was quoted at about 3K.....with a time frame of 6 - 12 months. Pull the tooth/wait a few months/get the implant wait a few months and then finish it up. He said you could get what they call a flapper; some sort of fake tooth.

 

[shadyridr]

implant vs bridge. cost is about the same. I assume implant is the way to go? What kind of recovery time can be expected from the initial surgery? I see some info that says up to 2 weeks of pain and headaches, is that accurate?

1 day of pain for me