Implants for missing laterals

[exm]

So this forum has been very helpful, and I've even found some people with the same issue as myself. Got braces when I was 23, I'm turning 25 before the end of the month. I'm slightly over 12 months into treatment, so it's going to be a good 8-12+ months before I need surgery for implants. The costs I've seen range from $6000-$15000 for two implants.

I came up with two options. The first (and best) is a dental school, and I'm going to call and see if there are any openings at a few nearby ones (I've seen a couple listing $1500/implant, which is much more affordable).

Option 2 is implants in Mexico - Juarez, or a few other border cities that do implants. I've got a list of dentists that have been around for years, and some of the better ones guarantee their work. The costs are similar to the dental schools.

Does anyone have experience with either of these? Also, how was the experience in the waiting period after getting the implant, but waiting for the abutment? Did you have a bridge or other device and was it at an additional cost? While you had braces, did you have pontics?

I've had a good experience with braces so far, it's more the vague/expensive post-braces period I'm worried about

Thanks :)

[Christina28]

I'm interested in information/feedback about implants also. Maybe someone has another website/forum they can suggest? Don't know if this is OK to post here.

[freakyteeth]

I have implants. It really depends on the range of cost. You do NOT want a dentist that has just a weekend and advanced work in "Implantology". You want an experienced oral surgeon. My surgery for four implants in July at a Major University was $4500 for four implants + $400 for the surgical stent + $300 for the anesthesia. My first surgery was around $20,000. It was a genioplasty, with bone graft and thankfully was covered by insurance.

I am missing laterals too.

[freakyteeth]

Oh yes, I forgot. The jury is still out on how soon to "load" the implants. There is immediate loading where the denture/tooth is placed on the implant immediately after placement. There is delayed loading - something like 2-4 weeks after placement and then those that wait for the bone/implant to integrate - 4-6 months. I am in the 4-6 month wait now.

Oh - the denture for the lower implant costs $5000. Sigh.

[exm]

Thanks for the info, FT.

So I had an ortho visit yesterday, and it was good news, bad news time. BIG TIME.

Good news:

I might be getting my braces off sometime this summer, which could be like 4 months earlier than I expected



Bad news:

My Dr's all like: "we can have your dentist make a retainer once you get your braces off"

I was like "Ohh.. until I get implants?"

"We'll have to see what your dentist wants to do about the spaces. I'm not sure there's enough space for implants, we'll have to refer you to the implant dr so-and-so. There might be enough room, there's a lot of new technology"

WHAT??? I hemmed and hawed over space closure vs implants for TWO YEARS and finally decided to go with implants b/c THIS ORTHO told me it would look better and probably be the way to go.

So he told the assistant to send my xrays over to Dr So-and-so and disappeared. My dentist is supposed to tell me what to do about the spaces??? My dentist hasn't said one friekin' word about my braces the last two times I've been there. Kind of seems like my ortho's ducking out of the whole treatment picture. I am so scared right now. Scared that I paid thousands of dollars to have gaping holes in my smile and/or hideously small/ridiculous looking implants.

I feel sick just thinking about it. I could have went with space closure, got a couple teeth reshaped and a couple pulled from the bottom and saved all the cost of implants... but I went this route because he told me it would be best. I'm really upset. Any advice/knowledge would be greatly appreciated Oh I linked to another post that has pictures of my spaces, at least as they were a couple months ago. They really have only gotten a bit bigger.

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=10070

[ashesgap]

It's absolutely ridiculous that he would say the spaces might not be big enough. You really should have spoken up and told him "then make them bigger!" I would be mad also if your treatment plan was to make room for implants and then he said something like that. Wait for the oral surgeon to get back to you, or your dentist...then go back to the ortho. Do you have it written anywhere that the treatment was to make room for implants? Its very specific in my paperwork that i'll need implants or a bridge to fill the spaces we're making. This was to protect my ortho, for making the spaces and to protect me, so we make enough space.
I hope you can get the results you were expecting.
After reading it again, i just want to ask, what the hell did he think those spaces in front of your mouth were for? geez, what a jerk. I'm mad for you.

[exm]

Thanks so much Ashe for the quick reply

Yeah I think he could spend a little more time talking to me about my treatment since I'm an adult paying out of my own pocket, not a kid whose parents made them get braces, and maybe doesn't really care so much.

Yep from day one he gave me the options, and said that implants was the best. I'd have to dig up my paperwork but I'm pretty sure it's in there. So then like 6 months ago he said vaguely, "oh we might just have to do one implant" and I'm like sweet, half the price... then that never came up again. Yah, I'm definitely going to wait for the implant dude to call me... I was super upset, then went and looked online, and found a lot of pictures with implants where the spaces didn't look any bigger than mine...

The other reason I was kind of was because my midline doesn't line up yet, and there's definitely a slant in my front teeth while my braces are pushing everything around... and that's like... 2 more adjustments to fix that?? One thing's for sure, these braces aren't coming off until I'm totally happy




lol

[ashesgap]

How can you need just one implant, when you're missing two laterals? Isnt' he opening two spaces, one on either side of your centrals?

[exm]

That's what I didn't get. When he said that (this was months ago) I was just like ? what are you talking about? Then he never brought that up again, and it was back to two spaces...

I've been looking on the internet a lot though, and I think I really do have enough space for implants for sure... actually I see much smaller gaps than mine with implants... Dude is old, maybe he should be keeping up on implant technology, even if he doesn't do them himself

I'm really nervous this last stretch is gonna be pricey (as if braces weren't pricey enough) and I just really, really hope I have a smile I really like before this year is over

Oh - next visit is beginning of april, hopefully should be discussing whatever the implant people had to say about my xrays

[exm]

So now, a year and half later, I'm left wondering if I made the right choice to do implants & make space vs. space closure and removal of two lower teeth

Aside from the cost factor, when I brought up some issues when I was at the ortho last he said:

1) don't worry if your midline doesn't line up
2) don't worry about that space between your upper teeth and your lower teeth (like they don't touch)
3) in cases like yours we have to make some sacrifices

If I'd known ANY Of these things, I probably would have went space closure from day one. Supposedly they took all those stinking molds and xrays on DAY 1 so they'd know if there was enough room. So I've got an appointment in a week with the implant surgeon ($500) to determine if there's enough room for two implants. I just hate it that my stinking midline might not line up and there might be space between my uppper and lower teeth/they won't touch (that's how they are now - they weren't even like that when I started treatment)

Yes my smile looks so much better than it used to, but I'm feeling a little depressed about my $5000 and some commitment... knowing there's probably going to be another $10,000 on top of that... when I could have done space closure and prob got away with $5000, a matching midline, and no space between my top and bottom teeth

Does anyone have any advice/comments for me? Not super happy right now.

[Jethro]

Hey exm,

I can certainly understand your frustration as it seems your ortho did not fully disclose the potential outcomes for each option. I have recently dealt with some similar issues and perhaps my experiences can be of help to you. My original treatment estimate was 18 months, I am now at 29 months with a month or two remaining. I am missing a premolar and knew I would be getting an implant at some point. I consulted with an oral surgeon/implant specialist initially last year. The consultation/exam with xrays cost $150 (USD). $500 for a consultation seems very high (perhaps you could request a reduced rate). I had the implant procedure a few weeks back at a cost of $1600; the crown (abutment/tooth) will cost about the same, but I have to wait about 3 months for the implant to integrate. I will not have a temporary tooth in that space.

My ortho treatment has been a bit more complicated than originally anticipated. While correcting my crossbite and a host of other issues, I developed a slightly open bite (where my front teeth didn't touch). I have been wearing heavy elastics for the past year or so and this has now been corrected. I have also been told that my midline won't be perfect either, it's off by about half a tooth. Since I'll probably get debraced before the abutment is installed, I anticipated having to pay for a new bottom retainer.

FWIW, I think you made a good choice. Sometimes the extraction route can have unintended (negative) consequences on your profile and/or appearance. Hope this helps and I wish you the best.

[exm]

Thanks so much for your reply Jethro. It's very reassuring to hear your story. I also now have an open bite in the process of making enough room for the implants. I'm hoping the implant doctor says there's enough extra room that I can get rid of that overbite because it would drive me nuts.

The receptionist said she was "aiming high" so I wouldn't be surprised by what was charged. It's good to hear some prices, because that's very hard to find... I imagine your molar isn't very visible with nothing there at the moment, but I really hope they have something to cover my spaces because I would be seriously embarrassed to walk around with huge gaps for 3+ months

Also, It's good to hear the comment about issues with change to your appearance if space closure/extraction is done... I'd read that before but forgotten, and it was a good reminder why I had went with implants even though it's been so long I'd forgotten Will be back with more info on Thursday after my appointment!!

[exm]

Sooo good news, bad news.

Bad news: not enough space and bone for standard implants.

Good news: enough space and bone for minis! The implant doctor said there wasn't a ton of research on minis yet, but he'd placed quite a few successfully, and had a patient recently come back in who'd had them for years and they looked great and had had no problems.

Switched dentists from crazy old dude who gave me silver fillings when I asked for white to shiny Dr. "Tim Robbins" who I had a couple of times before, and who the implant specialists said made some very nice crowns (?yes?) for mini-implants for him before.

Also good news: Minis will cost around $1000 TOTAL, plus the cost of the crown...

I hope everything works out... My ortho still has to get some stuff moved back...

[ashesgap]

YAY!!!
I know how waiting for good news can take forever, and then when you finally get it you feel like crying cause it's so great. I'm really happy for you. Was dreading you coming back saying something about only being able to get one or something crazy.
How much longer and are you getting your braces off before the implants or after? I know i'm going to get mine off, then fake teeth on the retainer while we do the implant process...all i keep thinking is what happens if they move? I will be totally relieved when it's all done.

[exm]

So just an update (haven't been on here for like a year!!)

Got my implants this January 2012. The same day I got temporary crowns placed. Now I'm finally hoping to get the final crowns on next month (!!! at last! I turn 27, so this is the 4 year saga of my mouth! )

The final crowns are $1400 a piece (almost $3000 for both) This really sucks... but I'm hoping, after this, I am done, DONE, done spending money on my teeth. Could have bought a new car by now... But I care about my smile more than replacing my trusty, rusty grand am. I can't wait for the final crowns... the temporaries, I've had more than one rude/drunk/curious person ask "why are your two teeth grey?" Why are you so nosey? ... I'm kind of shy and don't like explaining so it makes for an awkward moment.

Anyway, I'm pretty happy with everything, even the temps look better than my shifted teeth and gaps. Buuut looking back... still not sure I made the right decision to open the spaces rather than closing the spaces and reshaping the teeth. There's something about always having something in your mouth, always worrying that biting down could wreck the several thousand dollars of work you've had. Really... I guess I'll never know. But maybe I'll be a little more sure about my decision when I get the final crowns on.