Incredible Results! - Greenville SC
I was missing 4 upper front teeth from birth. I...
I was missing 4 upper front teeth from birth. I had a partial for 10 yrs prior to implants. I had put it off for many years due to cost of procedure. The money has been well spent and it has done wonders for self-esteem.
The surgery was very painful. Many, many shots and stitches. I was very swollen up to my eyes with bruising on my face the week following. I also had a bone graft from the lower jaw which I hear is common as bone loss occurs with missing teeth. After 4 months I went back to have the healing caps put on. A month and a half later they were removed and the fitted for crowns and veneers of the 2 natural front. The result was amazing! People knew something was different but it was so natural that many times they couldn't figure it out. I got so many compliments. Most have no clue that I have implants!
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The four upper implants are still holding up great...
After the original implants I had two more placed in the lower jaw (bottom canine teeth). These were placed by my regular dentist in 2009 which was a BIG painful and costly mistake. I thought that I would save a few hundred dollars and let him do the implants. I had never felt such pain in my life after the surgery. One of the implants became infected immediately and began a 6 month process of going back and forth to him to treat it. He replaced it a few months later after the implant began showing through the gum and I showed him that it was loose (He originally thought that it was fine when it began showing through the gum). The infection again returned (like a big pimple on the outside of the gum). I couldn't understand it. He blamed it on a faulty implant but after the infection returned with the second implant, I didn't believe that. My regular dentist kept trying to reassure me that it was just a minor surface infection. I eventually sought out my original periodontist who placed the original 4 implants.
The periodontist removed the implant and grafted bone to replace what had been lost due to infection. He said that the infection was working its way over to my adjacent healthy tooth! My periodontist was able to repair the damage and successfully place a new implant a year later (2010).
Because of the financial impact of paying for the surgery twice plus the cost of bone grafting and repairs, I still do not have crowns on these two teeth.
Heed my warning: GO TO A PROVEN PROFESSSIONAL FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS!
Replies (15)
Really like your post, very educational. I can say dental implants can really enhance your life. Continue to keep on creating good articles.
I had my tooth removed and the bone graft done at the same appt. I ate blended soups and drank smoothies for almost a week. I only needed to take pain meds once on the first night(can't remember if it was Tylenol or Advil) Then I was able to eat a somewhat normal diet but no chips, nuts and crunchy foods for a few weeks. After that, I waited 6 months while the bone graft became strong enough for the implant. After the first week it was easier than I thought!