Radiance Dentistry, situated in Irving, TX, stands as a leading dental implant center renowned for its outstanding patient care and cutting-edge dental implant techniques. Featuring a skilled team of dentists and state-of-the-art technology, they provide individualized treatment strategies to revive smiles and promote oral well-being. Radiance Dentistry's dedication to excellence and patient comfort positions it as the trusted choice for premier dental implant services in the Irving area.
I traveled from North Carolina to have my procedure done by the Radiance Dentistry and..... they are exactly who people say there are. Dr Iskandar, Dr Hieu, Mayra, Laura are the four that I worked with and they are awesome. There procedure took a lot out of me. (no cycling or weight lifting for two weeks) I feel really good about my procedure. Its time to recover. I will update you later Updated on 9 Feb 2019: I traveled from North Carolina to Irving Texas to have all on four surgery, so far so good, everyone there was really nice, except for maybe one person (the jury is still out on him) it was not the doctors or the nice ladies that assisted, they were awesome people. My surgery went well, the surgery is a little ruff on you the first few days but you start feeling better rather quickly. I removed my braces that I had worn for three years grab plane and the rest is history. I think it was a good decision, I go for a follow in June and to get my perms. I will leave a very in depth review at that time. Thanks to everyone here for providing great information and insight. Updated on 31 Jul 2019: Hello to everyone, I am reaching out for your thoughts and input. I have not posted in quite our and I do not post that much. I all on fours where doing great until April, that when noticed the gum around my lower front was swollen. I flew to have my permanents installed, but I was unable to do so and there wasn't a lot of focus placed on my swollen Gum and I did not receive my permanent set, I feel like it was a unproductive trip, along my main doctor did not see, I am really concerned about my lower Implant and hope it will be fine, has anyone had any experience with swollen gums well after surgery, I did some research and found that my might be failing. I fly to be seen again in early August and I will have make sure I see the dentist that did my surgery, and I stated if anyone has any thoughts or experiences with swollen gums please let me know.
After much agonizing research, I decided on Radiance (Dr Iskandar) for my full mouth restoration. I visited a few places and selected Dr Iskandar because of his sincere nature and the clear investment he has made in his business. He is in it for the long haul and will hopefully be around for many years after my process is completed. It is important to me that I can use this dentist for many years. I also wanted a practice that could manage my husbands care as well. Radiance also offers general dentistry. The office is beautiful and brand new. The location is ideal for me as it is on a major highway that runs close to my house. It is actually in an area where many highways meet, near DFW. It’s adjacent to one of my favorite stores (Daiso) which is kinda nice. I currently have 19 teeth. 6 are natural the rest are crowns. All my uppers are aging crowns. One by one, my teeth are failing and will crack. The only option is to remove the tooth. This is how it’s been for a while. I have good bones, gums and my mouth is currently healthy. It’s really hard to see that I have no molars but my teeth are starting to shift and buck in the front. I can pay thousands here and thousands there for a temporary solution, get individual implants as needed and deal with every tooth as the crown fails or I can do the most radical option, full arch restoration. Every option is expensive. Full arch restoration will end my problems (I hope) and give me a nice smile, to boot. So Tuesday (12/19) I go in for impressions and I plan to have extractions, implants and temps in January. Crystal Ultra arches will finish my restoration somewhere around June. I’m scared and excited. I plan to keep track of it all here, RealSelf really helped me with my research. I will also do a YouTube channel to track my progress. Updated on 19 Dec 2017: I hope I am adding to this correctly... I’m thinking I am not because it’s not asking me pre/post date info. I may have to move this elsewhere at some point. Anyhoo, I went in to get my impressions. Lots of activity going on around me during the visit. Frank first. He’s such a nice guy. I keep waiting for hard sell, pressure, slick sales-y stuff. Nope. It is what it is, no smoke and mirrors. Sorted out some last questions and off I went for facial orientation pics, I may have that name wrong. They scan my face and use it for various things during this process. I was taken into the procedure room and Dr Iskandar spent a long time with me about the shape of my temps. He’s just such a nice, sincere man. He is never in a rush and it’s not just for show. I talked to another very nice employee and then the dental assistant (I must remember her name, such a sweet girl) started the impressions. I was a bit concerned as my past impressions have been handled roughly with huge metal trays that hurt and made me gag. She is a dainty woman so I knew she would not be rough. It was a breeze. The impression stuff has no taste to me, but a bit of a strange smell that I kind of liked. It was familiar. In any event all that was over in 5 minutes and I didn’t lose a crown, which was a huge fear. I hear back out to Frank to schedule the procedure. Jan 19, 2018. The countdown begins. I KNOW I picked the right doctor. All of the doctors I looked at were within 5k of each other. I knew I didn’t want to go to a chain and I really didn’t like the demeanor of another one I visited, he did not project the warmth and compassion I was looking for. Dr Iskandar literally oozes compassion and warmth. He is a nice man and I feel he is a good man. His staff is warm and compassionate. They all seem to enjoy their jobs. All these details matter. I know I am in good hands and I can’t wait!!! Updated on 20 Dec 2017: Updated on 28 Dec 2017: I’ve been telling people about my approaching surgery and getting some assurance that it is a good decision. I still worry about the long term (10+ years) performance of implants and true lifespan of the bridge appliance. I’ve been researching methods to keep my jaws iced. I wonder how cold is cold enough. I hate frozen, I can deal with nearly frozen. I’m researching dental cleaning products and trying to find homemade mouthwash recipes. I have a culinary background, so I am looking at foods that lend themselves to a soft food diet as I plan to be very strict for the entire healing process. My temps will be for looks only, all my food will require no chewing at all. I cook lots of TexMex, so I’m looking to make no chew enchiladas. Thankfully beans and guacamole are already perfect. I love beans. A few comments about RealSelf, hopefully someone here can give me tips. I seem to see the same posts over and over. Is there any way to see NEW posts for all on 4? For some reason there is a planner (Or whatever) pinned to the top tool bar for something I didn’t ask for and no way to remove it. It also seems to add new topics that I follow even though I don’t care for those topics and didn’t add them. Why? I find the whole app not very user friendly. I appreciate the resource, truly, but it could be so much better with a few tweaks. Updated on 30 Dec 2017: Still watching for items that will be helpful post-op. Ran across these at Daiso today and they seem to be perfect for icing! I bought 2. On another note, I have another dentist asking to speak to me. I told him I was already financially committed to Dr Iskandar but he still wants to talk/visit with me. Unsure if I will... what would be the point? Updated on 13 Jan 2018: Less than a week to go! Buying more stuff I may or may not need. 2 more ice wraps, a waterpik water flosser Aquarius, some cool silicone cups (I travel extensively), manual irrigation syringes, smoothie and soup ingredients, liquid vitamin C, etc... I have a culinary background and have all sorts of thoughts about what to make. Since I travel a lot for work, I have to think of easy foods when I travel. Luckily, I work in the Hotel industry, so I have unlimited access to great restaurants. It’s why I’m fat, but will help as I adapt to soft foods. I’m taking that very serious. I have no intention of trying a ‘chew’ food until Dr Iskandar tells me that I can. I have a vitamix, which helps! Getting excited!!! Updated on 18 Jan 2018: Very scared. Very worried that this is a BAD decision. Very concerned about being out of control during sedation. Scouring YouTube and RealSelf to get 1 year updates and so many people have issues. Once my teeth are pulled, there is no turning back. It has taken 10 years to save the money for this procedure... I have to trust Dr Iskandar is doing something he feels will be the best option for me. Hoping this all on 4 procedure doesn’t prove to be a very bad dental practice only to be discovered a few years down the line. Oh well... here I go. Updated on 20 Jan 2018: Still swollen, nauseous and tired. I’ll add pics later. Not sure how I feel about the temp. There is a spot that looks like food that I hope he can remove. I also want to see if they can be smoothed a bit Are temps rougher in texture than the perms. I’ll go back to the office his week to chat about the appearance of the temps. My swelling needs to go down first. I’m achy and was nauseous. I’ve been drinking a lot. The nausea seems to be medication related. No Vicodin yet, just ibuprofen. Updated on 26 Jan 2018: It’s hard to believe that I was in surgery this time last week. I am feeling better every day at this point. Really the only area that is still sore is the area at the bottom of my bottom lip. Like the very bottom crease on the inside of my bottom lip. It’s swollen still and very tender. I’ll have him check it on my visit Monday. Eating is a hassle. I have to clean constantly. No surprise after 18 extractions, 12 implants and stitches. I am sure that will improve as I heal. Monday I will go try on some new temps, maybe wax. If I like them, I will go back Friday to get them put in. It IS unusual for a prosthodontist to work so hard to make temps perfect. I guess that’s one of the benefits of selecting someone like Dr Iskandar. He wants my temps to look good because I have to live my life in them. He’s very skilled... not a dentist that is doing this once in a while. He teaches implant dentistry and owns his practice. He has his own lab and all his own equipment. He is not taking unnecessary risks. He knows what he is doing. To be honest, I wish there were some alternative to immediate teeth. I think temps would be better fitted if you have a week or two of healing behind you. In any event, I am happy to get better temps next week. My first business trip and public speaking engagement is Feb 5/6/7. That was cutting it close but I have found people are very forgiving if I simply say I go 12 implants last week. They are usually mortified! I am still overdoing it with food. It would be much better if I just ate very soft/bland foods but I am constantly eating firmer foods that make my mouth sore. The prescription mouthwash is making my tongue brown... ugh! I am almost finished with it, so I hope that will be the end of it. Today is also the last day of antibiotics and 800mg ibuprofen. To summarize, I think it’s going well. I don’t have a lot of pain. My speech is affected, sometimes more than others. I can’t wait to have new temps that are a better shape for my face. I am a little nervous about an 8 hour lecture on Feb 6. Back on Monday with an update!!!! Updated on 1 Feb 2018: Super excited to get a new temp tomorrow! My initial temp was not quite what I wanted and Dr Iskandar remade it... in time for a trip next week! He’s such a nice man. I’m healing really quickly and don’t have any real pain 2 weeks in. I have some aches from the healing tissue. No implant pain, no nerve issues, no jaw issues. My speech is getting better and he new temp is much smaller, less bulky. I’m still not eating solid food. Soft food is such a hassle, I waterpik 5x a day because I hate the feel of food under the temps. Very happy with everything so far and know I selected the right dentist! Updated on 4 Mar 2018: It’s been along time since I’ve written an update. I have posted more on YouTube than here because it’s easier to just videotape something and post it. Everything has been textbook with me. I’m healing great and the teeth feel fine. I had to stop drinking tea because the acrylic temporaries stain really bad, that’s the worst thing, so far. Eating is not too hard, though I still cannot eat things like freshly made pizza or harder chips. All in all I have only missed two days of work and I’m conducting full client consulting. My work partner says he cannot tell that I have a lisp on the phone and I have pretty much stopped explaining why my speech is impaired while on calls. I still tell people what I did if I’m meeting with them in person. I hope to get through a very important meeting a week from Tuesday (8 weeks) without having to make the explanation. I love the shape of my new temps even though they are not perfect. I may go with the same shape and color for my permanents. I have 60 more days before I do the impressions for my wax try ins. He feels I will be completely done by June 1. I haven’t had really much pain. After a particularly busy day of eating and talking I do find that I need a couple of ibuprofen at 4-6 hour intervals. I WaterPik at least two times a day, brush my teeth at least two times a day and gargle a lot during the day. I’m using Fresh and Bright with a dry, rough washcloth to keep the acrylic nice and white. I don’t let that touch my tissues, I’m pretty sure it has oxlic acid, which makes it very effective against stains. Not much more to add other than I am still super happy with Dr Iskandar and staff. Full recommendation will come at the completion of my permanents, but I have no reason to think Radiance will not come through with flying colors! Updated on 10 Mar 2018: The problem with the first temps was actually the way they set in my mouth and they pitched a little too far forward. The new temps are technically the same size/color. The new temps simply fit better. Updated on 10 Apr 2018: Before my trip I decided to schedule an appointment to get my temps checked for any fractures or problems and I wanted to clean them really good. I’ve gone back to drinking tons of tea... hot, with milk. No stains! The full fat milk does something to the tannins and it doesn’t stain the temp. That has really helped as I was drinking only water and really missing my tea. Anyway, I wanted to clean the temps while they were out for inspection. As usual, Dr Iskandar was helpful and accommodating. They sonic cleaned them then let me clean them again myself with a paste. My at home cleaning routine has been very successful... they were very clean when removed. I obsess about cleaning them and they can tell, lol. Once I got through with my extra cleaning, they relined them to remove the space created from the healing and popped them back in and I was good to go. They are feeling more and more natural now! No problems here... I’m 11 weeks post op and it’s all good. My healing is textbook and my gums are super healthy. The only hassle is the constant cleaning I feel compelled to do. Totally worth the trade off for a good smile. I look so much better with these temps. Updated on 15 May 2018: I haven’t posted in a while... so busy! During April I had a long trip to Asia which stressed me out during preparation. Dr Iskandar religned (sp) my teeth before I left and it made a HUGE difference. The gaps are gone and I don’t have to waterpik 50 times a day! So before I left, I had to plan out my dental hygiene program. The flight out would be around 20 hours (door to door) and the return would be 26 hours. I bought a rechargeable waterpik and took my nano for the Hotel. It all worked out fine. I do not like the rechargeable unit much. It’s bulky and awkward. I wish waterpik would make a rechargeable nano. It would be much better! Anyhoo, everything went perfectly and during the travel I actually ate less which helped the healing process. No ibuprofen during the trip at all! I think I will start fitting for finals next month but I am in no hurry. The longer I wait, the better! I would prefer for my finals to not need much adjusting. The longer I wait, the better they will fit from the start. Good luck to everyone out there! This pic was a few weeks back in Glen Rose Texas. The sun made the teeth look a bit different than they do in real life, but I like it. I’m still not sure of the final shape I’ll go with :) Updated on 3 Jun 2018: I have always been obsessed with brushing and flossing. Since getting my All-on-6, I am even more diligent. With the teeth being bolted on and so snug against my gums, I worry I am not cleaning thoroughly enough. I waterpik 4x a day, use mouthwash 2x a day and brush with 2 different brushes 2x a day. I found a brush with log, wispy bristles that can get under the bridge (a little) and I also use a soft bristle brush to make sure I am getting any plaque off the teeth. I am a bit torn at using mouthwash because people say it’s bad, killing good bacteria along with the bad. I use an antibacterial, non-alcohol mouthwash in the morning and a plaque mouthwash at night. I’m tempted to add some to my waterpik but it is not recommended. As far as my waterpik arsenal, I have a full size, as well as a nano and rechargeable, both for travel. I don’t have much luck with floss or the little brush pics. I ride a bike everyday for exercise and become a little dehydrated afterwards. It’s super hot right now. After a ride, I take the opportunity to get deeper under the bridge as the dehydration makes my gums shrink a bit. I have had no mouth or tongue sores or any soreness or bleeding. I was lucky that I never had an issue with biting my cheek or tongue. I do carry prepasted brushes and a little silicone folding cup with me everywhere. If I am out on business, I always have a waterpik ready, too. What are your favorite tools? Updated on 11 Jun 2018: Excited to hear how my healing is going. I have been very lucky to have a completely uneventful procedure (knock on wood). Very text book. I have had virtually no problems since the procedure. I had virtually no bruising and only the swelling that occurred the first day. I iced the first 1.5 days and then switched to warm. I think maybe this helped. I have had no sores, no ulcers, no cheek biting or TMJ other than a single morning when I had slight jaw ache. My acrylic teeth have been great and look good. They are small and fit snug to my gums. My speech returned to normal after about 8 weeks. My coworkers and customers said it was fine after the first week but I could still see the difference. Suddenly I just noticed it was normal... or maybe a new normal. I smile a lot and it’s great to not think about my teeth. For the first time in my life I have no temperature sensitivity. I look completely different in pics and mind you, I had no visible missing teeth prior to surgery. My prosthodontist designed my mouth to protect the fullness of my lips. As you work with a doctor, remember that some of this can replace the need for lip fillers and such. It’s worth looking for a prosthodontist that can understand any cosmetic needs or desires you might have beyond “the teeth”. My doctor played nice acrylic teeth at the time of surgery. They are loaded to 8 of the 12 implants. Eventually these will become my back up set. Tomorrow I will find out when they can start designing my final nano-ceramic teeth. I want to be completely healed before the design phase starts as I do not want the final teeth to be modified. I don’t want gaps filled on the finals. I’m ok with refining (taking away) but I prefer no layers of anything added. The new teeth will be designed to complete the lip support goals as well as the obvious goal of having a perfect set of teeth. So tomorrow is the beginning of the cosmetic portion of the whole process. To me, this process is just as important as the surgery and skillful placement of implants. For me they are different. Separate initiatives. I’m so excited to get started! I’ll say it again... I have had a normal amount of visits. 1. Interview 2. Exam, impressions, scans 3. Surgery 4. Immediate swap out on the uppers as the hole placement was off on the acrylic after surgery and also to have stitches removed. 5. Tomorrow’s appointment I had a few pop ins here and there prior to business trips. These appointments were not necessary, they were for my own piece of mind. I wanted him to make sure I was healing as expected and I wanted the teeth cleaned and examined outside my mouth. Radiance has been very gracious to accommodate my requests. Never any hesitation to see me, even though it was not necessary. I traveled throughout this whole process, to Asia, Europe and domestically. No issues at all! Wish me luck tomorrow! Updated on 13 Jun 2018: Yesterday I had my 5 month evaluation. It went well, I am healing perfectly and I am doing a perfect job keeping them clean. That is always my top concern. Keeping these implants as clean as possible will go a long way in the overall long-term success of the procedure. I am curious to know how many of you floss. I was under the impression that I would need to floss but the doc says that is not required, and in my case practically impossible. My bridges will curve to hide my gum line. I see many people with straight bridges that just sit flat on the cut gum line. My upper gums show when I smile, so the bridge has to curve upward or you would see where it connects. As you research this process, it is very important to take into consideration that all cases are different. I am a perfect candidate for the procedure but I had some aesthetic desires (beyond teeth shape and color) and a gummy smile. I do not want my perms to look like my old teeth in the sense that I want them to support more fullness in my lips. You can do this with plastic surgery or fillers, OR it can be incorporated into this process. So, anyway, just keep all these things in mind when building out your plan. As I mentioned in my last post, I view this process as 2 distinct processes. The first being the surgery and implant placement... with fully functional teeth being placed at the time of surgery. The initial teeth should be strong and visually pleasing. If they are not, they should redo them. You should be very happy with the look from the beginning, in my opinion. After Dr Iskandar swapped out the original upper bridge, I was very happy. The drilled holes in the one placed at the time of the surgery were too forward. The second set was more precise because the impression they took after the fact was more accurate. The initial teeth were built using an impression made when I had all 19 of my own teeth + a bridge. It's common sense that it is difficult to fit something perfectly before the teeth are pulled and the bone is prepped. In any event, make sure you select a doctor that is willing to make you happy with this first set at no additional cost, regardless of the resolution. This was the primary reason I did not want my permanents immediately. There is no way to get that perfect fit until you know the shape of your healed mouth. If you are going from dentures to all-on-4 or don't have many teeth, it may be easier to get a good fit from the beginning since the impression will be more accurate. Everyone is different and you do whatever feels right to you. So, back to the evaluation. All is good and I am ready to start the cosmetic portion of the process. They did very detailed impressions (yuk) and I go back next week to begin the very serious process of teeth shape and color selection. To me this is as stressful as the surgery. I had such ugly teeth, everything looked good to me when I first started the process. When I selected the teeth and color for the immediate teeth, I was just overwhelmed with everything going on. I like the shape of my acrylics but I think I am now better prepared to select the teeth I will live with for a long time. I know what I don't like about these teeth, so that helps. It still stresses me out. This is another reason I did not want finals immediately. I wanted to see how my face structure was post-op and have the luxury of "test driving" a couple of options (maybe more). This is a real luxury, not a hassle. I am lucky that I live close to the office. I suppose if I lived far away this part of the process could be problematic. If you live close to the office, what's the big rush? If you read all the updated from patients that had 'teeth in a day' you will see that they are not done in a day and usually have issues with the immediately loaded perms. Breaks, chips, peeling (whatever that is), holes popping out, rubbing, sores, gaps and religning, follow-up appointments, etc... It's all fine if everything gets sorted out in the end but it is not a single visit and you are good to go. Read them carefully and make decisions based on what works for you. Don't let anyone bully you into thinking you are an idiot for not doing it their way. It's your teeth, your mouth, your money and your time. Visit at least 3 places and write all your questions down. Email and call and note how long it takes for them to respond. In the end, do what feels right to you, regardless of what anyone says or thinks. Now is NOT the time to be cheap. So, I am not 100% certain what happens next week, but I will let you know then... Exciting! Cheers! Updated on 27 Jul 2018: I went yesterday to try in wax models of the finals. They look really good (see pic). These are wax, so they are not the final/final. I am scheduled to get those on August 17. They will look pretty much like the pretty teeth I had in my teen years. Just a side story... and TMI, I am sure. I was on my own at 16, married at 17 to a very abusive man. At 22 I had a child. More abuse combined with no money and certainly no money for dental care = very bad teeth. I did have money for cigarettes, lol. Smoked like a chimney (1.5 packs of Winston Reds a day!) and had no dental care from, say, 15 to 30 yrs of age. When my child went to school, in 1991, I defied my husband by getting a job as a cafeteria lady at her school. Little by little my confidence in myself grew. I excelled at every job assigned to me and I took great pride in my work even when it was washing the dishes from 400 children, which I did a LOT! This story could have ended like a 'Snapped' episode, but it didn't. In 1994 I escaped that marriage, with only my child and the clothes on my back. I immediately stop smoking (cold turkey) lost 80 pounds and got my hair cut cute and wore cute clothes. "I" was back, BUT, my teeth contradicted the new person I had become. People judge you by your teeth... I don't have to tell you that if you are considering this procedure. I did not have much money, I think I was making 1200/month before taxes. But I managed to get root canals and crowns one by one and visually my teeth started looking much better. They looked fine around 1998. I did not have many back teeth, but you could not really tell. 20 years later all that work was deteriorating. That's what brought me to all-on-4 and my initial post here. I am giving you the back story because I want people to know that with a little confidence you can have NOTHING and thrive. You can fight your way to prosperity. You can do this process in steps or you can do like me and save for 10 years to get it done all at once. You can get dentures if that's all you can afford. For me it was the final step in a 23 year process that all started the day I took my life back. Make a plan and work hard. You can do it. I'll post pics when I get the finals put in! I can't wait! Updated on 18 Aug 2018: I attached 3 pics, one I took after I left the office, one taken when they put them in and one silly one I took to send my sister. They fit like a glove and even though I have not had a full set of teeth in nearly 40 years, they didn’t bother me at all. I’m on a test run to decide if I like the color, fit, etc. I really love the look. I do think I will darken the gum and possibly add a tiny bit of shading. I’ll discuss when I go back. I can’t stop smiling in the mirror. They just look so beautiful. The pic in the office wasn’t staged. That’s Dr Iskandar next to me. He is truly that enthusiastic. I just love him! The other guy made the teeth. He didn’t say anything, he just watched. They put them in and then tightened the screws. Then he took X-rays with a handheld gadget to see the seating of the abutments. I still can’t imagine doing all this creative process before surgery. I changed my mind on what I wanted a few times and I am still refining what is perfect to me. The shape of your final jawbone also determines what types of teeth will work. The shape you have in mind may not work. I got what I hoped for with a couple of tweaks. Super, super happy. So very worth it. I’ll change my procedure status when everything is finished, but right now I am THRILLED! Updated on 24 Sep 2018: Today is 9-24, which is about 8 months since surgery. I can say now that this is the best thing I ever did. People tell me frequently that I have a beautiful smile, which is nice :) I have pretty much stopped boring them with the details. I just say thanks so much! My cleaning routine is pretty standard now. This was a huge investment and I want to keep them as clean as possible. I have a tiered approach which takes 15 min in the morning and 15 in the evening. It sounds like overkill, but I enjoy doing it. The results are slick, sparkling clean teeth. I drink a lot of hot, very strong tea, so I am concerned with staining. 1. I spend 15 minutes 2x a day using the waterpik. I have self-adapted tips for my waterpik(s) that help me get up under the bridge 2. I have a full set of stainless dental tools (mirror/picks) to help me inspect my screw holes (currently open) 3. I have a large, medium firmness toothbrush that I use for my initial brushing after I waterpik. 4. Then I move to an ultrafine soft long bristle brush to get under the appliance 5. I have FIVE waterpiks. 1 cordless for off grid travel (when there is no available power), 2 nano travel sets, one for hotel travel and one to keep in my truck with a bottle of water (I have a power outlet) and a full size in both bathrooms at home. 6. I use a sonicare at least once a day with a whitening tooth polish to avoid tea stains and clean the abutments that I can access 7. I drink my hot tea with whole milk to reduce the staining properties of the tannins. I stopped drinking iced tea. 8. I use bubble tea straws to drink everything that is not water and try to keep colored drinks away from my teeth. 9. I swish water in my mouth as I eat or drink. I always have water nearby. 10. I drink lots of water and very few drinks that stain (other than my tea) 11. I alternate between whitening, plaque control and natural mouthwashes (all generic brand from Walmart). 12. I use a 10x mirror to inspect the teeth every night. Notes I am still 100 percent confident with my decision to take the slow route to perms. There is no way I would want the perms placed at the time of the surgery. The longer you can wait, the better. This also helps people who can't afford the whole process at the beginning. Keep the temps as long as you can while you save for the perms. Waterpik tip adaption See the pic of the waterpik tip. To get that curve just dip the tip into boiling water and gently bend it. I used a small silicone tong to bend it... and you have to let it cool slightly before releasing it or it will go back to the original shape. You can change it over and over, so don't worry you will mess it up. Thanks for all the support! Let me know if you have any questions! Updated on 5 Nov 2018: Close to 10 months post-op and enjoying these teeth! They look so nice. I’ve attached a before and after pic s a reminder. My before were not as dramatic as many, but they were really bad and I had no molars. The crowns were failing at an alarming rate and the next one that was failing was a visible tooth! I was lucky that the shape of my mouth and smile hid much of my problem. I did not have any infection or disease. These perms have been in a few months and every day I get more confident in my chewing. I have still not tried popcorn or hard beef jerky, but I am eating crispy bacon again, which is a huge win! There’s no pain or anything, I am just scared of damaging them and taking it easy. I drink strong hot tea all day long and have noticed no staining at all. I’m an obsessed brusher, so that helps. I’m still scared of beet juice, which I love! My tongue has returned to normal. It hated acrylic. My tongue felt scalded all the time, like I took a drink of super hot liquid. I was very sad to have that issue (for months!) as I am a ‘foodie’. It seriously bothered me. I felt like it was associated with the acrylic material and the fact that I am apparently a tongue thruster. No one seemed to agree with my theory. Well, I am happy to report that about one week after switching to the nano-ceramic, my tongue returned to normal. My dentist wanted to try another set of teeth on me, so I go back Wednesday for a try-in. I really doubt that I will prefer them to these, but he really wanted to do it, so sure. That means I will have a spare set. That’s a hell of a gift, you know! My current perms have a perfect bite and suit my face. I catch people looking at my teeth but possibly because I smile all the time. No matter how big I smile, you cannot see that they are not natural. I worried about that! The biggest annoyance is food getting tucked between my lips and gum. It’s hard to clear it with my tongue. Aggressively switching water at the table is annoying and bizarre. I generally cover my mouth with a napkin and try to clear my mouth with gentle swishing or I excuse myself for a quick aggressive swish in the bathroom. I have a silicone cup that I carry for this purpose. Funny, but I carry a collapsible silicone dog bowl so I can waterpik on planes where it’s hard to physically get your face over the sink. One more funny note... I went to Colorado to work with a young start up for a few days. I’m 55 and most of this group was younger than my kids! So, we had a dinner out one night and I made the mistake of taking 1/2 of an edible (it’s Colorado). I don’t drink or do anything and thought it might be fun. WELLLLLL... 1/2 was WAY too much! I hated it. It make my teeth feel like aliens in my mouth and I literally cold not talk!!! My tongue could not work. To compound the problem, I could not taste. If you are wanting to experiment while in CO or Amsterdam, beware. I’ve learned my lesson, lol. Updated on 12 Nov 2018: A couple of more pics of the newest perms. I like them a lot. They look very different from the others and are closer to my natural shape. I filtered the face pic heavily, lol. The teeth closeup is unfiltered and I should have brushed my teeth, clearly. The black spot is not a flaw in the teeth. What do you think? Updated on 5 Dec 2018: These are the second set of finals the doc has made for me. I’ve also included pics of the first set as they removed them. My teeth are incredibly clean when removed. My cleaning regimen will help insure the maximum life of these full arch hybrid dentures. They are always amazed at how clean I get them! My tongue problem is resolved. I was using too much mouthwash. I am using mostly saltwater rinse now. We will see ow that goes, long term. Updated on 2 Feb 2019: Updated on 7 Apr 2019: I finally felt comfortable getting my bridge holes filled! Friday I headed over to Radiance and tried in my emergency MMA (or is it PMMA) teeth. I travel all over the world for work and needed an emergency set of teeth that could replace my perm upper or lower in the event of a break. These teeth are BEAUTIFUL! People getting the procedure now will get these teeth before the perms to make 100% sure you like the look. It is a HUGE benefit because it will leave you with an emergency set, as well. Most people would leave the set at Radiance but in my unique situation, I need them on me when I travel. I am super thankful Dr Iskandar recognizes the need for an emergency set. I won’t ever have to go without my teeth. And I’m here to tell ya, I literally look like a seahag without my teef! As a patient, it would have been great to have this transitional real life try in before my perms. Believe I or not, your idea of what you really like changes and these will allow you to tweak the final set... and have your family and friends see you and weigh in on changes to make. Apparently this material is new to market, or newer anyway. Please let me know if you have any questions. The attached pics are of the emergency kit. I have screws, screwdriver and teeth all secured with tape so hey can’t fall when the case is open. If you are considering this life changing procedure, just do it!!! It is so incredibly worth it!!! Cheers!!!! Updated on 13 May 2019: I can eat Bit-O-Honey and Mary Janes again! I haven’t tried to eat them in years but saw them at the store and decided to give it a go. No problem at all! I’m still cautious, I don’t want to stress them too much, even though Dr Iskandar says the XircOn material can handle it. It’s great to enjoy these little pleasures again! Updated on 20 Feb 2020: Hi all! I’m 2 years in and still love my smile! Absolutely no issues, nada, nothing! I have no issues with the arches. My mouth is super healthy. No change in my tori, which was slowly growing with my natural teeth. There has been no noticeable wear to the teeth. The ridges are no being ground down. This material is really amazing. No smells, no staining AT ALL! I am eat anything and everything and have settled into a normal daily routine. I brush with a regular toothbrush 2x a day and with an electric ‘sonic’ brush once a day. I use a plaque rinse at night. I waterpik 2x a day. Total time, maybe 12 minutes a day. I travel internationally a lot for work and I have a spare acrylic set with screws and a little removal tool just in case I have an emergency and break my teeth, which is highly unlikely. It does make me feel better having them with me, though. No one knows I have ‘dentures’. I’m sure they think I have veneers, but that’s ok. I’m thrilled. Let me know if you have any questions!
All the way from Washington DC to Dallas, and i wasn't disappointed at all, Dr. Iskandar made my experience in a dentist office very pleasant. I was VERY nervous about getting work done and feeling pain. I felt nothing!!! I went to him toothless and came home with a new smile. I will always recommend Dr. Iskander for any implant operation, and is the only dentist I trust.
Hello I'm 27 years old had problems with my teeth for the last 5 years. I went to numerous dentist and they didn't seem interested in helping told me only thing they could do was give me dentures. Some places quoted me $5000 per implant with out extractions or dentures and that was the mini snap in implants. Than I was lucky enough to find this website and found great reviews on Dr. Mounir Iskandar at Radiance Dentistry. On August 8, 2016 I had my first appointment with Dr. Iskandar. He took X-rays and looked at my teeth. He was the only dentist to sit down and explain to me what's going on. He also advised me that he could save my teeth but had other options that would be more budget friendly. He advised me in my situation implants would be the best. He had gave me two options snap in denture for $19,000 upper and lowers or the fix all on 4 for $32,000 uppers and lowers. Dr. Iskandar also told me if I get the snap in implants I could upgrade to fixed implants at a later date. I decided to go with the all on 4 fixed. I was so depressed before going to Dr. Iskandar but when I left I felt great knowing he cares about your needs and will answer any questions you have. Frank at the front desk is amazing on helping with finical part. They offer Icare and will approve anyone for 19,000 just have to put 30% down. Before any implants are places Dr. Iskandar takes your set of X-rays and studies them then places digital implants on the X-ray to get best placement for each implant. On August 16, 2016 I had my tops done. I was so nervous but Dr. Iskandar and his staff were amazing. Before they started I knew I was in great hands with an highly expierenced dentist. Dr. Iskandar advised me that instead of 4 implants he was going to place 6 implants which was included in the price and no extra charges. Once they were finished I did not have much pain not like I was expecting. On August 18,2016 I had the bottoms done. Again Dr. Iskandar places 6 implants on the bottom with no extra charges. After seeing the tops in I couldn't wait to get the bottoms in. I had more pain in the bottoms due to fact couple teeth were infected but he was still able to place the implants. On September 19,2016 I had my stitches removed. Dr. Iskandar also took the temparies out and cleaned them. No pain due stitch removal. Dr. Iskandar took another set of X-rays to see how the implants were healing. I go back December 16,2016 to see how they are healing. If all looks well he said they would start on the impressions for the permanent teeth. I highly recommend Dr. Iskandar if you are needing dental implants. Him and his staff are amazing and you always feel welcomed. He cares about your oral health and will never get into a rush. All Dr. Iskandar prices are for the whole procedure and there is no hidden cost. You can call them any time if you have questions and the nurses don't hesitate to answer any questions you may have. I drive 2 hours one way to see Dr. Iskandar and it's worth every mile. If you have any questions I will do the best I can to answer them from my experience. I attached a couple pictures the first is the day after I got my bottom procedure finished. The second picture is on September 8th.
After going to my dentist for some pain and being told its time to think about other options that my teeth are just not going to be saved I was shocked. I knew form a previous attempt with a partial that a palate wasn't going to work for me. I started shopping around. Was quoted 40000 in Austin, 57000 in Houston. I was lost thinking I could never afford a procedure like this. Then I found Radiance Dentistry in Irving TX. I made an appointment for a consultation and was there in a week. After a few xrays Dr. Iskandar came in and gave me the options that would work for my wants and needs. I then went to see the patient coordinator (Frank). We came up with a plan and Frank was very helpful in assisting me in getting the financial end of it straight. I Went back in the chair for some pics and molds. We then set a date for Dec 15 (top) and 16th (bottom). Procedure day: Arrived at 9am had blood pressure checked and it was high.(I wonder why) They calmed me and had me relax until it came down. No rushing and no pressure. The top jaw needed 7 or 8 extractions and then whatever they do to prepare the jaw for implants and then placement of the implants. I was given oral conscious med with a bonus of nitrous. I am happy to say I can't tell you anything else about the procedure. Day 2 went about the same but 2 more extractions. I was told before day 2 that I got 5 implants on the top. Won't know about the bottom until I go back for my next check up. I was prescribed antibiotics and pain meds before the procedure. I took the pain meds day 1 But didn't need them and have since stopped. So I have had some swelling and a little color, but nothing like I anticipated. Updated on 22 Dec 2015: Well one week past. Swelling and bruises about gone. Would do it again in a heartbeat if needed. No need to fear the procedure at all. After having the oral sedation I wouldn't spend the extra money to be asleep. You won't feel anything. Diet is my biggest enemy. I wad a meat and taters guy. I look to the future and it helps me get by. A couple pics attached... Not pretty but the teeth are Ad far as pain after there is a little and every time you feel a bit you wonder if something is wrong. Its common and everyone has the same. Odds are its in your head. Look in the mirror relax, and look forward to the future. Updated on 22 Dec 2015: I went to all 4 years of the 6th grade and still can't spell. Or I am posting on my phone and have fat fingers. If anyone ever had any questions that they want to ask private then just private message me and I will send phone # I know I had many that i had wished I could ask someone that had been through it before. Updated on 15 Jan 2016: Nothing exiting. Days go by slowly and the weight comes off. Can you tell I'm hungry. As for the update I chipped one of my lower teeth by grinding while asleep so I went in a few days early. They went ahead and replaced the tooth while the dentures were out for stitches removal. Nothing loose and no pain during maint. They took molds for a night guard and will mail it to me after its made. A charge was never mentioned. I've had some gum pain on the front outside. We are just watching for now. Nothing obvious can be seen. Nothing that requires meds. Just sensitive to the touch. Will update more as sonething happens. Updated on 12 Apr 2016: Had my 4 month check up and was told that the implants look good. They took 1 set of impressions and I will return in 2 weeks for the next set. Hopefully within a month I will be at the wax try in stage. It just makes you feel relieved to have the Dr. tell you that things are going as the way they should. I still have a little numb feeling in the nose area but other than that no discomfort. Updated on 16 Jun 2016: fell behind in updates. Visit 1: I had my final impressions done. Not much to tell about them, but at that appointment My wife and I chose the final teeth shape,size and shade. Visit 2: This was my first wax try in. The teeth themselves looked great, but I wanted the front top teeth brought in a little and the dentist took a few bite impressions for some changes there. Visit 3: Second wax try in. changes were spot on and both the dentist and I were satisfied. Up until this time there were two weeks in between each appointment. The next step is to have the bar for the finals made and the teeth put on the bar in wax for one final try in. this step take about three weeks. so I am at two weeks now. They will call when the teeth are ready and schedule me. The teeth are Ivoclar Blueline and they look great. I guess that about catches me up. Hopeful that my try in goes well and the following appt. will be for my final install. Its been a long six months and I have had ups and downs. I have lost 30 pounds (good and bad), have broke my temps a few times. Dr. Iskandar didnt seem upset he just repaired them, became short with family members at times(sorry), but would do it again if needed. All my pain has been gone for about a month, so no more phantom tooth aches or numbness anywhere. Will post a pic when my finals are in.
After many years of failing, crumbling, breaking & missing teeth as well as countless horribly painful tooth infections due to Lyme disease, I needed to take action. After a ton of research, I was able to locate the best doctor who had a TON of rave online reviews. And I thank God for finding Dr. Mounir Iskandar at Radiance Dentistry in DFW Irving, TX! At first, I had a temporary crown on a front tooth that'd kept falling off, so I had Dr. Iskandar look at it. After looking at it for seconds, he said the tooth hadn't been properly prepped/drilled. I knew at that moment that he was extremely good at what he does and precise. I wanted & expected precision! He fixed it and put on a new temporary crown that never budged! I knew that he was a man of GREAT precision, and believe me, that matters big time when you're spending a ton of money to get All On 4 dental implants! I'd seen where others had to travel afar, and I considered myself very blessed to find All On 4 from an affordable dentist, oral surgeon, prosthodontist in the DFW Dallas Fort Worth Irving Texas TX area! Dr. Iskandar is a dentist, oral surgeon and a prosthodontist. And I hope that anyone, whether in the DFW area or in another state will see my review and come get the best possible All On 4! They greatly accommodate anyone who travels! What really helped us was the very affordable cost and the fact that they offer a variety of financing options that made this possible. I'm right at the one month mark, as I had my 1st surgery to remove my top teeth & put on my temporary new teeth done on November 17, 2015 and the bottom part to remove my bottom teeth and get my temporary new teeth was done the next day on November 18, 2015. They use pills for sedation, and I never once felt a single thing and hardly even remember being there! Both days I awoke later at home wondering how I'd gotten home without any memory of traveling. The entire process was 100% painless and AWESOME!!! And Dr. Iskandar is such a perfectionist, I haven't had to have any adjustments at all whatsoever! WOW! They prescribe pain meds to get you through the first few weeks of healing and are always 100% there for ultimate support! I also used ice packs a ton which help a lot, although I had zero bruising and minimal swelling. And my new smile??? Even though they are just my temporary teeth, they look PERFECT!!! I keep getting compliments on my perfect smile!!! Additionally, I must add that I had followed the YouTube videos by kalinjax (look up her All On 4 videos), and she had won a smile makeover by one of the dentists who pushes his ads big time online. He comes up everywhere. She was given the cheapest looking final teeth where you could literally see the teeth through the transparent gums! It was awful. At first she was happy, as it beat having dentures for 2 years that she hated. But then, an AWESOME company out of Florida offered her theirs, so she did another video showing those which she loved SO much more! She said they looked so real that it was mind blowing! She told the exact type & shade they were in the description of the video, so I wrote it down so I could ask Dr. Iskandar if I could get those as my finals. When I showed him the information, he said not only do we use those, we use the upgraded version!!! I couldn't believe it!!! The lady in the video had a super model smile, so of course I can't wait to get my final permanent teeth!!! Dr. Iskandar only charges $29,000, so I was worried the materials might be low end and it turns out they are an extremely high end hybrid!!! After getting to know Dr. Iskandar, I can truly say that he bends over backwards to truly help bring the absolute best experience, product and service to his patients at an affordable price because he truly cares!!! And I mean that...he cares deeply about his patients! Not to mention, he offers a TEN YEAR WARRANTY that fully covers literally everything!!! WOW!!! Today I get my top & bottom stitches out, which will include having my temps removed & then put back on afterwards. I will post again about that as well as with regular updates. PLEASE beware of some cheaper dentists online who push cheaper prices! In many cases people get low end materials as a result of an affordable price. Just make sure to do your research and find out exactly what you're getting. And if you want to have the best of everything, it's definitely more than worth traveling to see Dr, Iskandar if you are outside of Texas. You won't regret it! I was beyond terrified of this entire process and devastated to lose my teeth at age 44, but here I am only a month later with a beautiful smile, zero pain and couldn't possibly be happier about literally the entire process, procedure and end result!!! I think that my beautiful new smile speaks for itself. No more hiding my mouth when I speak, and no more hiding in my house because I don't want to be seen in public. Now I go everywhere and make sure that I smile a lot big time! Please comment with any questions. I'd like to help anyone through this process who needs it, as I know it's very scary. But trust me, it's 100% totally worth it if you are in the capable tender loving caring hands of Dr. Iskandar!!! I might add that the office staff are already like family as is Dr. Iskandar! They all care so deeply which is very tough to find these days! Best wishes to all & I'll post more pictures and updates again very soon... Updated on 10 Aug 2017: I got my beautiful smile a while back and wanted to update everyone and thank you for all your support and comments! I couldn't possibly be happier with my new radiant smile thanks to the incredibly awesome team at Radiance Dentistry Implant Center. I get countless compliments on my smile. No more hiding in my house. No way! I show off this smile every chance I get!!! And you can have a perfect smile too. Just give Radiance Dentistry Implant Center a call and Dr. Iskandar will take perfect care of you along with his excellent team. They are literally like family now. They are affordable too! Even better, Dr. Iskandar is an absolute perfectionist!!! He studied me from every possible angle many times to ensure total perfection. But hey...my gorgeous new smile speaks for itself! Love to all! ???? Updated on 10 Aug 2017: I'd like to thank everyone who commented and for all your support. And I'd especially like to thank Radiance Dentistry Dental Implant Center in Irving, TX (Texas) for giving me back my smile. I show off my radiant new smile every day and receive countless compliments. Radiance Dentistry Dental Implant Center has so many wonderful and positive online reviews that it's a huge job just to read all of them. They will help you if you're out of town too. The best part is having a dentist who is an absolute perfectionist! Believe me, you want a perfectionist like Dr. Iskandar when making any dental investment, period. Everyone...the entire team are beyond awesome and ensured I was always 100% comfortable. I'm probably the most nervous person on Earth with severe anxiety, especially when it comes to dental procedures. And don't even get me started on needles and oral surgery! Not anymore!!! This entire process was a piece of cake. I never once felt pain during any procedures, wow! My fears were completely laid to rest from the get-go, and I always looked forward to going to my dentist. Seriously, everyone there are considered family in my book! Thank you again to my awesome family at Radiance Dentistry Dental Implant Center for my perfect gorgeous new smile!!! You all worked to ensure I was happy every step of the way and to give me a stunning perfect smile that the entire world deserves to see. Lotsa love...
I am a 51 year old female with periodontal disease (receding gums, loosening and shifting teeth) I have made the decision to have all of my teeth extracted and get implant supported dentures. Periodontal disease runs in my family and after two kids, years of cigarette smoking and too few regular cleanings - I've lost the battle and my smile looks horrible. I brush and floss religiously and I no longer smoke, but I know that the disease/bacteria in my mouth is affecting other areas of my health as well. It has to. My overall health and the fact that I hate the way I look in pictures, am totally self-conscious when out in public and avoid social situations is what led me here, to Realself, to Dr. Iskandar. I started researching the implants once I learned that I am not a candidate for Invisalign - which was my original plan. The orthodontist said my teeth were too loose and suggested I look into All-On-4 Implants. From there, I found the video series from Kalinjax on YouTube. I highly recommend watching her series if you are just beginning this journey! She also has a website. Learning about her journey pushed me to the decision point. That and two teeth got very, very loose while I had a severe cold (?). I started looking for a local specialist and ran across reviews for Radiance Dentistry here on Realself. I double checked their google reviews and all were really happy with Dr. Iskandar and his staff. I called and was able to book a consultation the following week. At the consultation, they did a CT scan and one of the assistants explained the All-On-4 and the Implant Supported Dentures to me. She was very thorough (but I had already researched a ton), explaining everything from the timing to the procedure to the difference in the two appliances. Dr. Iskandar came in, reviewed my CT scans and explained the procedure and process to me as well. He answered all of my questions and was very nice and patient. When we were talking about the implants and the denture, bridge, etc...I realized, and Dr. Iskandar confirmed, that I could have the extractions, the implants and basically the same denture (teeth) with snap-on or implant supported dentures. They are a little bit different in that they are removable not fixed (the All-on-4 can only be removed by your dentist), there is a little more of an acrylic gum/palate than the All-on-4 (but the majority of the palate is still exposed, unlike a regular denture which covers the entire palate). The other thing is that the highest-end denture (the zirconium) can’t be placed on the snap on denture. Well, since I can’t afford the high-end denture anyway, I decided to go with the snap on and save a lot of money. And the best news is, if I ever want to upgrade to the All-on-4, I can use the same implants and will just pay the difference between the two prices - which is currently $6500. That sealed the deal for me! I also like the idea of being able to really clean the denture. The implant/abutment is super strong and they will NOT come out of your mouth unless you take them out. They don’t move around. Dr. Iskandar did say that it would be easier for me to adapt to not having natural teeth with the All-on-4. At least an All-on-4 on top and snap in on the bottom but I can't spend that much money right now (that set up would be $25,000 - still a good value). I met with Frank, the patient coordinator and he explained all of the financing options. There are lots of options. I will use a combination of cash and a zero interest credit card. You do not have to pay it all up front. You can pay in stages which is helpful! I have followed up with questions on the phone and have never felt pressured, rushed or like anyone is pushing a higher cost treatment plan on me. I am having both arches done for $19,000, $9,500 each. That is an all-inclusive price. Extractions, implant surgery, anesthesia, temporaries, finals and all appointments in between. There is a 10 year warranty on everything. They use the Ivoclar Vivadent line of denture (the same that Kalinjax has in her last videos) and top-of-the line impants. I go in for impressions next Tuesday. The following Tuesday afternoon they will extract my uppers and fit my temporary. The next day they will extract my lowers and fit my temporary. I will go back on Friday, then again in four-six weeks. As I understand it, my finals will be ready and I should be healed in about four to six months. Am I nervous? Not really. I’m more excited than anything. I know it will be a challenging few months with some discomfort and lots of adjustments but I’m researching soft food diets and am just going for it! I will update after my next appointment. Updated on 14 Jun 2016: My pre-op and impressions appointment went really well. No problems at all. First they took my blood pressure and pulse (probably to establish a baseline). Then they set right in making the impressions. There were two sets made for both upper and lower. The first set was in a light gel. The second set was the thick gooey stuff. They leave that in for a couple of minutes while it hardens. It is kind of weird but no big deal. I have a loose tooth on my upper arch and was afraid it would come out, but it survived intact. I also chose the color for my immediate dentures. I went with the lightest shade I could for the immediates. I understand that you can go whiter with the finals but I think this is a good way to kind of ease into a bright white smile. Surprisingly, the color I choose is not that drastic a difference from my natural teeth. Go figure. I got lots of prescriptions! Be sure to go into detail about the medications you are taking. They were going to prescribe a Z-Pac but eliminated it due to possible complications with my thyroid medications. I have to fill prescriptons for Amoxicillin (antibiotic), Ibuprofin 800mg (pain/swelling), Tylenol #3 (pain), Triazolam (anxiety) and Peridex (oral rinse). These all must be filled prior to surgery. I made my first payment today as well. The total cost is $19,000. Today I put $2000 down in cash. Next Tuesday (day of 1st surery) I will pay another $10,000. This will be a combination of cash and the lowest interest credit card I have. To begin the final phase (about four months after surgery) I will need to pay the balance of $7,000. I am very happy with the price I am paying for what I am getting! These are top-of-the-line implants and dentures. You can research both and see if your dentist uses them. The denture is by Ivoclar Vivadent. It is the BlueLine. You can google it and see how nice they are! I can't remember right now what brand name the implants are but I did research those and they are top-of-the-line as well. I am so excited to get this done. I am still not really nervous. I know it's a big deal getting all of your teeth pulled, but for today anyway - I am perfectly calm! Here is a picture of my teeth. Ewww. Thankful this is one one the last times I will have to look at these! Updated on 21 Jun 2016: I went in at 1:00pm yesterday for the uppers. The blood pressure, c02/pulse monitoring devices were attatched, I took my oral sedation medicine and relaxed until my blood pressure came down and I was sufficiently woozy. Dr. Iskander and his staff are very sweet and accomodating, always calm and no rushing things. I asked for, and received, great music to listen to which always calms me and makes me happy. I think they started the procedure about 30 minutes after I took the sedation pill. I was aware of the shots he gave me in the mouth but didn't feel a bit of pain. I had taken the 800 mg ibuprofen an hour earlier as directed also so I'm sure that helped. I was aware during the procedure, but couldn't feel anything. Dr. Iskander asked me to open my mouth wider or something a couple of times, which I can only assume I obliged. I do remember a bit of pressure when the denture was attached to the implant, but that's about it. Next thing I know, it is now...almost 12 hours after the start of the procedure. I'm feeling suprisingly good. I awoke to see some blood on my pillowcase, coming from the right side of my mouth. This is the side with more discomfort. I'm also pretty hungry so I am drinking a protein shake. Probably all I will have today since I go in at 9am for my lowers. All said, I am blown away by how much easier this was than I thought it would be. I'm attaching a photo of the upper temps. Will post later after lowers are done. Updated on 24 Jun 2016: Today is day three after the upper arch and day two after the lower. I have been just lounging around, trying to keep on time with my antibiotics, rinses, pain meds. The pain has been pretty minimal although it did start to throb and bleed when I did too much moving around. Especially when I let my head drop. I learned pretty quickly to squat rather than lean over! I have also set my alarm and not gone more than five hours without an Ibuprofen or Tylenol. The Ibuprofen is a MUST! I could feel my face shrinking after taking it. It is the only thing that provided relief from the pressure of the swelling. The codeine gives me a headache so I don’t use it. The swelling has been weird, traveling all over my face. For a little while, I had a huge knot on the right side of my lower jaw. Later, I had a bump the size of a walnut near my nose. Yesterday, my nose was really swollen, today it is not. This morning the right side beneath my jaw was huge - like jowls! Now, not so much. I iced every 20 minutes or so the first day after each surgery. The second day I iced some, then started applying warm, moist heat. I ended up keeping a rice cooker filled with water and a bunch of little washcloths next to my bed. It felt really, really good to apply those warm cloths to my face! Dr. Iskandar said that moist heat is important because it increases blood flow/circulation which aids in healing. He said no more ice is needed. All I have really had to "eat" are protein shakes and pudding. I have chocolate whey and vanilla vegan protein powders and I've been switching off, adding almond milk, fruit and veggies to make it interesting and to add more nutrients and fiber. Smelling the families burgers and fries last night was kind of hard. Can’t lie about that! Today I went in for my post op visit. It took about 15 minutes. Dr. Iskandar explained how to pop the denture off of the implants and then assisted me as I did both arches a few times. I was scared that the pressure would really hurt on the implants but it wasn’t that bad. The gum line of the denture scraped against my gums when I tried to put it in once and that did not feel good! I think it will just take practice. You have to kind of feel when the holes on the bottom of the denture line up with the abutments on the implants, then press down kind of hard until they snap. Pressing any kind of hard right now is scary because everything is so tender. I know that it will get easier each time. I am to remove them every other day and clean both the denture and my gums with the astringent. Now I just wait. Wait for everything to heal. Wait to eat real food (lol). Wait for the final, beautiful smile. I come back in a month to have the stitches removed. In September or October, we will begin the final phase which is designing my final smile. Thanks for all of the feedback from everyone here. I’m happy to answer any questions. I will post pictures in a few days after most of the swelling is gone. Updated on 29 Jun 2016: Today marks one week since having my extractions, a bone graft and 10 implants placed. I feel really good all things considered! I haven't had a lot of pain really, just achy discomfort - especially after physical exertion - and sometimes a bit of a bad attitude about food (lol). I am not taking pain pills but I am alternating with Tylenol and Alleve to keep the aches at bay. Yesterday I was out for few hours (for the first time) and did quite a bit of talking. It really wore me out! My face ached so much afterwards. I am thankful that I don’t have to talk all day long. I don’t have a lot of issues with annunciation, but I do speak more deliberately and slower. Most of the visible swelling is gone. I did notice a light yellow bruise on my left jaw the other day but it is fading. My face is still numb from beneath my eyes through the bottom of my jaw. It’s weird. I am still on soft foods. Lots of protein powder shakes, oatmeal, scrambled eggs and pudding. I had pan-fried cod the other night and that’s about it. I am going to try to venture into some more foods today but Dr. Iskandar said to expect it to be at least two weeks before I feel like biting into anything. Today is the first day that what is in my mouth feels almost...normal? I realize that I have to adjust to my new normal and this is it. I guess it feels like a bulky retainer on the upper. I know that my gums are shrinking so who knows how that will feel in a month? I don’t notice much on the lower. The temps look okay. Way better than my natural teeth. Will update again soon!