What can you tell me about an implant to replace a tooth - Dental Health Message Board

cyndi627 · 08-15-2006, 03:16 PM

I need a bridge replaced but one of the posts from the old bridge was decayed and i had to have it pulled so now i have two teeth gone and the dentist really doesn't want to give me a bridge - too big of a gap plus the two anchor teeth aren't that great to begin with - both have old crowns and root canals. Besides the cost - what can you tell me about personal experiences? Painful? cost? anything please - thank you

anitak1982 · 08-16-2006, 03:42 AM

Implants are not painful. You cannot feel the implant in your jaw once it is healed and bonded well. I have 8 on top and 6 on the bottom that holds a whole piece bridge unit. Kinda like a denture but the only sameness is the teeth are in one piece. They are made of different material and stronger than a denture. Implant permit you to have the comfort and strength you enjoyed with your natural teeth. They require the same sort of cleaning and flossing as did natural teeth. If they are not cleaned and flossed the same as natural teeth a person runs the risk of the implant becoming compromised due to gum infection etc. The tooth's natural roots keep the bone in the jaw strong and once they are pulled the bone has nothing to keep it solid therefore it begins to deteriorate. Implants act like the roots of natural teeth. One doesn't need individual implants for every tooth lost. So if you might get by with two implants and a one piece unit.

Yes they are expensive but if you can afford them they are a lifetime investment. I am not talking about mini implants but regular implants.

cyndi627 · 08-16-2006, 04:12 AM

Thanks so much for the information - I am going to go for a consultation to find out more. By the way, what is a mini implant?

Thanks again