Health & Wellness

Dental Implants

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Deal Addict
Dec 29, 2012
2647 posts
846 upvotes
GTA
toguy wrote: Wow, didn't know baby teeth have the potential to last that long!

I had an extraction of my wisdom teeth and an adjacent tooth (on one side only) 10+ years ago and ever since, there's been this huge gap there way at the back. So what ends up happening is anytime I am eating something very hard in texture (raw almonds, etc.), I tend to send it to the other side of my mouth where I still have all the molars back there for easier chewing. It's not that I can't chew these types of foods, but it's just easier that way.

Have thought about whether I could get an implant on the one side to make chewing a bit easier/more balanced (not sure if it would even be possible in my case) but given that it is *not* for cosmetic reasons, given the cost plus what I would have to go through, don't know that it's worth all the trouble.
I have a "failed root canal" on my back-most upper molar, and probably will need it pulled. How did you prepare for the tooth extraction, how painful was it, and how long to recover? Did you get local anaesthetic or sedation? I have to go back to work the day after, so want to be prepped for this. Thanks for any info as you know the dental websites never give us the full story.
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Jun 23, 2005
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Catnippy wrote: I have a "failed root canal" on my back-most upper molar, and probably will need it pulled. How did you prepare for the tooth extraction, how painful was it, and how long to recover? Did you get local anaesthetic or sedation? I have to go back to work the day after, so want to be prepped for this. Thanks for any info as you know the dental websites never give us the full story.
I had local anaesthetic, and I felt it was more than sufficient. There are definitely people who might get freaked out seeing their own teeth being pulled out (potentially with blood, etc.) and they may opt for the laughing gas. Took me about a week to recover, and I worked from home during this time. Not really because of extreme pain or anything, but I would definitely need to brush my teeth at work and didn't really want anyone seeing that (potentially with blood from sore gums). If I had any significant pain, it was only on the first day, apart from that, I never touched the Tylenol 3s I was prescribed. I was recommended a liquid diet (i.e. primarily soups/smoothies) for the week, to reduce the chances of food particles getting caught in the area and potentially leading to infection (plus you want to give those teeth a rest for a week). IIRC, the sutures in my mouth were the dissolving type, so there's no going back to have them removed after.
Deal Addict
Dec 29, 2012
2647 posts
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Thanks toguy for the info. Did you take antibiotics before the procedure and did they have to cut the bone or gum? Can you rinse with Listerine to prevent infection? I may ask for a dentist note so I can work from home. LOL, I hate the dentist - when I was a kid, my parents had to buy me a new toy before I would go!
Deal Addict
Dec 29, 2012
2647 posts
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So I went back to the same endodontist, and had a CT scan. Sad thing is the insurance will only pay for cost of normal x-ray ($76 out of $95) but not the full fee of $315. I called the Royal College of Dentists of Canada who told me he should not charge me for a repeat root canal, and he will not I confirmed. But if tooth is fractured, then I'll need it pulled.
Deal Fanatic
Jul 26, 2004
5450 posts
2433 upvotes
Catnippy wrote: Thanks toguy for the info. Did you take antibiotics before the procedure and did they have to cut the bone or gum? Can you rinse with Listerine to prevent infection? I may ask for a dentist note so I can work from home. LOL, I hate the dentist - when I was a kid, my parents had to buy me a new toy before I would go!
No need for antibiotic if there is no infection before. Cutting of bone/gum is only needed if one can't remove the tooth and need to expose more of the tooth in order to extract it. As for listerine, do not recommend listerine since most versions have alcohol in it, could desiccate the wound. Just good old lukewarm salt water to rinse a few times a day would work, or have your dentist write you a prescription for chlorhexidine rinse. For the most part if the tooth can be removed with out cutting bone/gum, you shouldn't be bed riddened or anything like that, may feel uncomfortable, but definitely won't need to stay home from work.
Deal Expert
Aug 2, 2004
38383 posts
12008 upvotes
East Gwillimbury
It's a lengthy process and mine took 2 years. The total cost was $5,600. Considered cosmetic and insurance didn't help

1) Tooth Extraction
2) Waited 6 months to heal
3) Sinus lift
4) Grafting (insertion of bone)
5) Wait 6 months for bone to fuse and gums to heal (stitches)
6) Insertion of screw
7) Waited 12 months for bone to fuse to screw
8) Crown

I had to buy my own meds and rinse every day with a prescription rinse.

The crown is not as good as your real tooth, but it is better than a bridge and if you need it done, I suggest you do it.
Banned
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Aug 28, 2018
28 posts
12 upvotes
Newmarket
I think it will cost more than $2k
No Similes, No Metaphors; Just Bullshit Reality.
Sr. Member
Jan 3, 2005
716 posts
159 upvotes
spider78 wrote: I still had a baby tooth that stuck with me for 35+years because the permanent tooth never formed. It finally gave way, and I decided that an implant was the best option instead a bridge which would affect two perfectly good neighboring teeth
This is exactly what happened to me, although my adult tooth tried to grow but sort of grew sideways and it's sitting there in my gums. It's been like that for years and I didn't even know until I saw the Xrays. The dentist says there's no reason to take it out if there's no pain, and there isn't.
Anyway, I have the screw in place for my implant and I will be getting the crown soon.
Deal Expert
Dec 4, 2010
19536 posts
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Quarantine Bubble
Gee wrote: It's a lengthy process and mine took 2 years. The total cost was $5,600. Considered cosmetic and insurance didn't help

1) Tooth Extraction
2) Waited 6 months to heal
3) Sinus lift
4) Grafting (insertion of bone)
5) Wait 6 months for bone to fuse and gums to heal (stitches)
6) Insertion of screw
7) Waited 12 months for bone to fuse to screw
8) Crown

I had to buy my own meds and rinse every day with a prescription rinse.

The crown is not as good as your real tooth, but it is better than a bridge and if you need it done, I suggest you do it.
What constitutes "if you need" it?

On one side of my mouth, I had an extraction as a kid and was given a bridge in place of the void. It lasted about 10 years and it came off and I haven't had a replacement since and I was cautioned that my teeth would sort of slant because of the void. Haven't noticed. About 3 months ago I went to extract the other side, had several root canals done on it and was giving me the strong suspicion the next infection was just around the corner. Fully intended on doing an implant or bridge but either way was determined to get rid of the bad tooth so I did. 1 month after the gum has kind of healed shut. I'm contemplating whether I want to do anything with it. Most of my teeth are still mine and the two missing molars doesnt' really impact my chewing abilities. Aesthetically you can't really see it but I'm not one of those who goes around smiling all the time. Do I need to do it? More concerned about the health implications more than anything else.
Deal Expert
Aug 2, 2004
38383 posts
12008 upvotes
East Gwillimbury
Supercooled wrote: What constitutes "if you need" it?
You should not leave a gap

1. Your teeth will slant
2. The top tooth doesn't have a bottom tooth to grind against and may fall out.
Deal Addict
Dec 4, 2016
2011 posts
1030 upvotes
I had two. 5k each. Insurance for that year was 2k maximum, so 8k out of pocket. It was on the high end for the city, but the outcome has been not bad. I did not need a bone graft or sinus lift, as it's on the bottom and I had tons of bone available. 5k/tooth without bone graft is definitely on the high end, and you should be able to find something less than this.
Newbie
Oct 4, 2018
38 posts
14 upvotes
I was quoted around $5000 - $6000, but by the time I had the first bone graft (insertion of cadaver bone sand), I was out of pocket $3,600. The x-ray alone at Orbit Imaging was around $600 after taxes. The 1st bone graft did not create the required height of bone, thus necessitating a 2nd and/or even a 3rd bone graft. That will bring the total cost to >$7,000 - <$9,000 per tooth.
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Jun 20, 2010
1621 posts
251 upvotes
Newmarket
toguy wrote: For people who have had this done, just curious what happened to the original tooth where it could not be saved (accident/loss due to periodontal disease)?
ha

i was about 10 years old, living in what was then yugoslavia, parents took me to the dentist for a regular check up
the woman that saw me that day decided my tooth had a dead nerve (no xrays done, just some poking around) and she just pulled it out without any anesthesia....just like that....old style butchering with some pliers.....i still remember the pain, and her tugging hard on the tooth and holding my head!

wtf!
and my parents just let her do it because she was the dentist and she should know

so years later the two teeth (one was the wisdom tooth) behind the empty space i had were leaning forward, so i had a choice of pulling those two out and living with a gap, or straightening them up, and then putting an implant in the space......

i wanted to keep my teeth so i went through the process of straightening my teeth for 8 months, and then getting the implant....also had my 3 wisdom teeth removed before getting the braces, the one where the implant was going was left as i had a lot of room for it

best things i could have ever done for my teeth
Sr. Member
May 13, 2010
776 posts
419 upvotes
Ottawa
For what is is worth, my brother and I had dental work in Mexico during the past year. I had gum surgery which was going to cost about $5000 in Ottawa and cost me $900 in Merida. My brother had full implants, $ 8,000 in Puerto Vallarta after being given an estimate of $30,000 in Calgary.
Banned
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Nov 23, 2018
29 posts
17 upvotes
qabloona wrote: For what is is worth, my brother and I had dental work in Mexico during the past year. I had gum surgery which was going to cost about $5000 in Ottawa and cost me $900 in Merida. My brother had full implants, $ 8,000 in Puerto Vallarta after being given an estimate of $30,000 in Calgary.
When you have issues with that dental work, are you expecting to be received well, should you decide to go back and complain? Or go local and be told it all has to come out? Curious...
Sr. Member
May 13, 2010
776 posts
419 upvotes
Ottawa
Great question and it has not come up yet but I do believe there is little difference in the professional training our dentists have received. Both were recommended by friends who live in those towns. Always a crap shoot and many of us are forced to make choices based on economics.
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Nov 23, 2018
29 posts
17 upvotes
qabloona wrote: Great question and it has not come up yet but I do believe there is little difference in the professional training our dentists have received. Both were recommended by friends who live in those towns. Always a crap shoot and many of us are forced to make choices based on economics.
That is partly true but I can tell you for instance that the "training" a dentist or dental specialist for that matter, receives in India (for example) is VERY different to the training they would receive here. I met a specialist once who graduated from India (she was a periodontist) who had NEVER (yes, never ever) treated a live patient while studying in India. It was all theoretical. Thankfully, Canada would never license someone like that here, as they are required to complete the 3 additional years of specialist training like everyone else, and go through a brutal exam process to become licensed. That is one example.

Plus, if you think that the oversight for sterilization procedures in these other countries is on par with Canada, you are sorely mistaken. Think about it. What does a dentist in one of these other countries risk if they don't test the autoclave equipment? You know what they risk here? Loss of license, civil and criminal law suits. And even here, mistakes are made and corners are cut, so I can only guess it's much worse outside of NA.

The quality of materials. If you were to say buy an implant from one of the top implant companies, they are not cheap. I spoke with this periodontist about that, and she said it runs as much as $500 for a single implant. But then she mentioned, there are all kinds out there (over 300 companies at last count) that make them for less than $100 a pop. So as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. In addition, if that crown or implant has issues later on, and an unknown cheap brand was used, good luck getting anyone in Canada to treat it. Brand specific equipment is often required to address issues, and the problem will be finding someone who has that same equipment.

And lastly, I would never get an implant done by a general dentist. Never. Why? Because taking a weekend course in implant placement and planning isn't nearly enough time. I don't care if they have 10 or 20 years of experience. If you never learned to do it correctly from day one, how could they be expected to learn that later on? Go see a specialist, and of them, I would only choose a periodontist. They know how to plan implants based on soft tissue as well. Oral surgeons, do not. They place implants where the bone allows.
Sr. Member
May 13, 2010
776 posts
419 upvotes
Ottawa
I can't speak to training in India. All I can do is share my experience in Mexico. The work was done by a trained periodontist and I am pleased with the end result. Tens of thousands of gringos get dental work done every year in Mexico. The guy that did my work has treated many people from Canada and the States and I did due diligence before travelling there.
Deal Addict
Oct 3, 2017
1294 posts
1241 upvotes
I had a root canal and post crown done in Puerto Vallarta at one of the best dental clinics there. The root canal was ok but the crown needed to be replaced in Canada within a year because it was not made properly. For those without any dental insurance Mexican dentistry is a lot cheaper for sure but if I ever needed to do it again there it certainly wouldn't be in a tourist place. Merida is not (tourist town) while Cancun and the Costa Riviera (hate that name) certainly are. Knowledge of some basic Spanish is important I feel since fluent english dentist does not mean good dentist in Mexico and I would not want to limit myself to english speaking only dentists. A lot of research is required. Probably could say the same about dentistry here too in terms of word of mouth/research.
Sr. Member
May 13, 2012
731 posts
332 upvotes
Toronto
Range is large for dental implants 2000-6500 from start to finish. I don’t place or treat implants but do NOT get it done overseas. Standard of treatment is very different in every other country. Canada in general have great standards and most treatments will last you 20+ years. Follow ups are needed so get it done locally. I’ve seen too many dental work done in south and fail in less than 5 years. The surgery gets too aggressive after to fix the situation.

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