POSTED UNDER All-on-4 Dental Implants Reviews
Less Terrifying Than Expected
UPDATED FROM caroln242
Finally! New teeth!
As of September 28, 2020 I have my new snap on dentures. Due to the COVID, it took close to a year, but it was worth the wait. I am back to eating steak, bagels, sandwiches, chips, popcorn, chicken wings, pizza...whatever I want. Since it took so long to get the final dentures, the gum grew over one of my implants and I had to get it lasered. It sounds scary but there was no pain during or after, and no blood. The dentist also cauterized it and it smelled like burning flesh...which I guess it was! Still, no pain. It was one of the weirdest things I've ever gone through but it turned out just fine.
I have to go back a few times to get things "tweaked" a little. One of the, what I call "walls", is a little too long and hitting something on my gum when I snap the denture on, but once it's in I don't feel it. And I'd like the palate opening made a little bigger, which they said can be done without a problem. Other than that, the only reason I'd have to go back is for cleanings and possible o-ring replacement. I found out there are different o-rings that make the snap on denture tighter or looser, depending on what you need. And of course they wear out eventually. But that's a small price to pay for being able to eat normally again.
No more denture adhesive, no running to the bathroom before eating to add more adhesive, or being nervous they might come loose during a meal. All of which has happened to me. I can now have coffee with my breakfast, or any hot beverage any time I want without my denture adhesive melting and my teeth coming loose. I had forgotten what it's like to be able to grab a couple pretzels and eat them without thinking about it. Or to grab a quick sandwich somewhere when I'm out. There were so many things that I just couldn't do before. Now I think...oh! yes, I can stop for coffee and a doughnut now! How great is that??
Sounds silly I guess, but I missed so many of the little things in life. Like having a pickle on a burger. I couldn't bite one before or my top teeth would come loose. And I couldn't eat a hamburger outside of my house anyway because I had to have it cut up into tiny bite size pieces.
At least now I don't have to survive on soup, pudding, jello, peanut butter sandwiches, mashed potatoes, and meat cut up into teeny pieces.
Do I recommend snap on dentures? You bet I do. If you are able to afford them, do it. If you can't afford it, I would start saving so I could do it eventually. I took out a loan to get my snap on dentures and the payments for the next 5 years are more than my mortgage. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
If anyone has any questions about the implant process (nothing too technical though) or the snap on dentures, feel free to ask me. So many people on line have helped me, I think it's only right to pass the information on to others.
I've included a picture of me with my new smile!
I have to go back a few times to get things "tweaked" a little. One of the, what I call "walls", is a little too long and hitting something on my gum when I snap the denture on, but once it's in I don't feel it. And I'd like the palate opening made a little bigger, which they said can be done without a problem. Other than that, the only reason I'd have to go back is for cleanings and possible o-ring replacement. I found out there are different o-rings that make the snap on denture tighter or looser, depending on what you need. And of course they wear out eventually. But that's a small price to pay for being able to eat normally again.
No more denture adhesive, no running to the bathroom before eating to add more adhesive, or being nervous they might come loose during a meal. All of which has happened to me. I can now have coffee with my breakfast, or any hot beverage any time I want without my denture adhesive melting and my teeth coming loose. I had forgotten what it's like to be able to grab a couple pretzels and eat them without thinking about it. Or to grab a quick sandwich somewhere when I'm out. There were so many things that I just couldn't do before. Now I think...oh! yes, I can stop for coffee and a doughnut now! How great is that??
Sounds silly I guess, but I missed so many of the little things in life. Like having a pickle on a burger. I couldn't bite one before or my top teeth would come loose. And I couldn't eat a hamburger outside of my house anyway because I had to have it cut up into tiny bite size pieces.
At least now I don't have to survive on soup, pudding, jello, peanut butter sandwiches, mashed potatoes, and meat cut up into teeny pieces.
Do I recommend snap on dentures? You bet I do. If you are able to afford them, do it. If you can't afford it, I would start saving so I could do it eventually. I took out a loan to get my snap on dentures and the payments for the next 5 years are more than my mortgage. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
If anyone has any questions about the implant process (nothing too technical though) or the snap on dentures, feel free to ask me. So many people on line have helped me, I think it's only right to pass the information on to others.
I've included a picture of me with my new smile!
UPDATED FROM caroln242
Dentist office opened again!
My dentist is finally seeing patients again for non-emergency visits after being shut down due to COVID-19! I have had 2 appointments since he reopened (first was to get those stitches out of my mouth!) and I'm starting on the wax try in's now. Yucky procedure, but at least I'm moving forward in the procedure. I'm just terrified a second wave of COVID will close my dentist down again before I can get my new teeth!
Replies (2)
Hi carolyn...so happy you got your new teeth!! How many implants do you get with Snap- ins?
I got 4 uppers and 4 lowers although I've heard of people getting 6 and 6. I have no problem at all with 4 and 4. So far I've eaten everything I used to with my real teeth with the exception of corn on the cob. By the time my procedure was complete, corn was out of season! (Don't want that mealy stuff they're selling this time of year.) Trying corn on the cob will have to wait til next summer. It must be wonderful to have a full mouth of implants that you don't have to mess with, taking them in and out! I'm sure you'll love them. Hope you're recovering nicely!
UPDATED FROM caroln242
Everything on hold
Due to coronavirus, my procedure has come to a screeching halt. I don't know when it will be continued. I'll post again when ....well, when I have something to post about. In the meantime, I'm sitting at home with a mouthful of sutures that can't be taken out yet because my dentist's office had to close.
Replies (5)
My husband got upper dentures and has no problem with keeping them in place. But with the state of his bottom teeth, I don't think it will be long before he's going to have those replaced as well. Since most people have a horrible time keeping bottom dentures in securely, our dentist suggested that he get implants on the lowers. I think that makes sense and will encourage him to go that route when it's time.
I will recommend implants to everyone that can afford them. I believe it is becoming the new standard of practice in dentistry.
As for what's involved, I can only tell you my procedure. Other people may have other experiences. First you get x-rays to make sure you enough bone to support the implants. If you don't, you'll have to get a bone graft (like I did) at the time your teeth are pulled and wait about 3 months or longer for the implants to fuse with the new bone. So, after the x-rays the dentist will pull all your teeth and put the implants in. After that procedure you'll have temporary dentures. Since you'll have sutures in your mouth, you'll be on liquid/soft food for a couple weeks until the sutures come out. Then you have to wait for the gums to heal, shrink as much as they're going to, and the bone graft to completely harden around the implant.
After all that, it's time to expose the implants which will probably involve stitches again, and get the abutments screwed on. Then they start the wax try-ins to get your permanent dentures to make sure they are perfect. That takes 2 or 3 times to get them exactly right and you have to wait inbetween times because the lab has to make them. Then finally your teeth are ready and you may need a couple adjustments to make sure they are completely comfortable. That's it. Hopefully you read my posts from the beginning so you know what to expect and different challenges you'll face.
Hope this answers some of your questions. I'm not sure specifically what you want to know, so this was just kind of general info.