tooth Implant

[Paul B]

Anyone ever get any tooth implants?
I just had my 8th one. Great invention but expensive.
Of course I am older than most of you people on here with baby teeth but I had a tooth pulled in Viet Nam and they pulled the wrong tooth so I had to get another one pulled. They didn't have X rays there or the capacity to fix a cavity so they just pulled teeth. I know, like the dark ages.
Anyway when I got out the Army paid to replace those 2 teeth with a bridge.
They last about 20 years then kind of ruin the teeth they are connected to so you eventually need to fix them.
This is all from a tooth ache 40 years ago.
But implants are great. You can frag corals with your teeth. You just need to hold your breath while you stick your head in the tank :badgrin:

 

[Scooterman]

I had one done two years ago, long process & cost me over $3,500 when it was all said & done, dental insurance doesn't cover a tooth once it is removed LOL!

 

[roscoe]

I'm getting one pulled this weekend. I have to get a tooth implant and they reccomend the platnum encased implant because it is the strongest material and will cost around $3500. I think my insurance covers half that though.

 

[Paul B]

This last one is my front tooth that I broke by accident.
It is no where near as painful as getting the tooth pulled and it doesn't hurt much at all after they place the implant or during the process.
I didn't even have to take an aspirin.

It is very over priced because the implant is a piece of titanium twice as large as this

----> I <----

Titanium is one step above stainless steel and a piece of stainless steel this big costs about 2 cents. They call it dental work and add about $2,500.00 to it so it comes to $2,500.04. Without the crown which brings it to about $3,000.00. Or more depending on if your dentist is a boater or not.

The entire implant process takes about 8 minutes after they numb you. They just cut a little slice in the gum and drill a hole in your bone. You don't feel anything at all.
Then they put in the implant and sew it up. You come back in 3 months and they put in a healing post for a week then you get the finished tooth which looks bettter and is stronger than your real tooth which is good so you can go out and get a job to pay for it.

Sometimes as usually in my case you need a bone graft. If you need that it is the same process but they can't put the implant in because the bone is not thick enough so they inject some liquid bone which is a fancy word for cow bone and some type of stuff that allows your bone to grow to this stuff, that heals for 3 months then they put in the implant.
If the tooth was missing for years, the bone under it shrinks so they may have to put in a bone graft.
All of the work, putting in the implant, bone graft, healing post and crown takes about an hour and a half spread out over 6 months.
I have 8 of them and if I could afford it I would have put all implants in years ago. After that, you are finished with dental work forever. And yout teeth are straight and strong

 

[roscoe]

I'm terrified to be honest LOL. I hate needles. You ever see that huge freaking needle they use to numb you?

 

[akunochi]

It'll only hurt a bit....you'll be fine.

 

[Paul B]

You ever see that huge freaking needle they use to numb you?

Roscoe every tooth in my head was either root canaled or it is an implant. I go to the dentist so many times I bought my own needle.

My dentist keeps me numb all the time, even when I am home, just in case I have to come in right away

 

[mal1099]

Roscoe double check your insurance i know mine would cover the extraction of my old tooth but when i asked about these implants they told me its not covered. I have united healthcare. Crappy insurance for cosmetic stuff but decent for everythign else.

 

[estoniangirl]

needles!!!!

I'm terrified to be honest LOL. I hate needles. You ever see that huge freaking needle they use to numb you?

dude, those needles are nothing you should see the needles for a breast biopsy i work for a breast cancer doctor and had to assist her a couple of times first needle is about this long to numb the skin areal
_________
second one is about this long to numb more into the tissue
________________________
and then the third one to numb the area where she is going to take the sample out of is not kidding you this long
_______________________________________________

i thought i was going to pass out

yeah so you will definitely be fine with the needle that your dentist is going to use on you.....
i am terrified of needles my self but the little once dont bother me anymore
good luck!!!

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

I think I'd rather die than go back to the dentist. I think I'd even rather have limbs amputated. Not sure what it is but it just friggin' terrifies me!

 

[roscoe]

yeah the dentist terrifies me LOL. I postponed my appt. LOL.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

yeah the dentist terrifies me LOL. I postponed my appt. LOL.

Wuss!
Just think of the downside to NOT fixing these problems? Now THAT is scary!

 

[roscoe]

Wuss!
Just think of the downside to NOT fixing these problems? Now THAT is scary!

I know I know LOL. I get that from my fiance all the time. I'm gonna get it done. I just wussed out LOL.

 

[Scooterman]

yeah the dentist terrifies me LOL. I postponed my appt. LOL.

I hate to just get them cleaned but If I miss it, I'll end up paying extra for it later, ie, money & Pain! LOL

MY Insurance paid for the pulling but not the implant, called it gone & not covered once you have it removed. Cosmetic surgery they claim & will not cover any part of it.

 

[krisfal]

I will be getting one after the first of the year. Just had a tooth pulled last month, was an expensive tooth to pull-it has a root canal and crown, but the base cracked and I got an abscess and they had to pull it.

All these issues arose from not going to the dentist for a couple years even though I had lost a filling-what would have been a simple filling replacement ended up being a root canal and crown after waiting until it hurt. I now go to the dentist regularly. I don't like it but the alternative is painful and expensive!

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Anyone ever check out independent dental insurance plans?

 

[Hersey]

Independent dental insurance is just like any other insurance plan. There are good ones and bad ones – you have to read the fine print….

For kids, prevention is the key…

I tell the older kids that they are going to have to spend time taking care of their teeth. How they spend their time is up to them. They have a choice of spending time in front of the mirror at home brushing AND flossing, OR they can spend time in my chair getting their teeth fixed. It’s up to them – they get to decide where they spend their time taking care of their teeth. I tell them I prefer they take the time at home (prevention), than spend time in my chair. That’s because my favorite thing to say is “no cavities”. Some kids think I want to find cavities – I don’t. Because that means I need to fix them. I would prefer that the cavities not be there.

Having said this, I realize that it is a gross oversimplification saying that brushing and flossing your teeth will keep all the cavities away. That is like someone telling me that all I need to do is change 10% of my saltwater every month and I will not have any tank problems and I will never lose any fish or corals. In real life – it’s way more complicated than that.

Roscoe – have them leave the topical (jelly stuff) an extra minute or two. This way the typical anesthetic soaks in a little more and you feel the needle less. Also, it’s the diameter of the needle, not the length that matters. The skinner it is, the less you feel.

 

[roscoe]

Roscoe – have them leave the topical (jelly stuff) an extra minute or two. This way the typical anesthetic soaks in a little more and you feel the needle less. Also, it’s the diameter of the needle, not the length that matters. The skinner it is, the less you feel.

Thank you for the tip Dr. Hersy!!! Yeah I know it is the diameter of the needle but just the sight of it makes me cringe LOL. I hate needles!! The funny thing is though I don't mind being poked thousands of time geting a tattoo. See you this weekend?

 

[Hersey]

Good "point". Just imagine anesthetic as a micro tatto inside your lip. I've heard of fish (namely Koi) getting an indentifying tatto inside their mouth for insurance purposes...

Yes, Saturday looks good schedule wise. Looking forward to stratigizing tank height, size, and placement. Build Thread will be starting sometime in the near future.