All on Five on Upper Arch

It has been almost six years since my surgery. I have had no issues. It is of utmost importance to develop a habit of cleaning and oral hygiene. I do think that is key to long term success.

It as been a while since I have posted. My journey began in September 2016. I am happy to say I have no regrets concerning the decision to go this route. The reason you do not see many updates this after implant surgery is likely due to the fact that we have become complacent and our dental health has become a non-issue. That is how it should be and I would wish this for everyone going through it or facing it in the near future to be patient. It is scary and somewhat painful at first.
I remember waking from surgery and thinking “what have I done” but gathering myself. I remember the fort time trying to eat and because the soup (not spicy but just enough spice) set my mouth on fire from all the surgery earlier in the day. I also remember thinking I would die to eat a steak or something real a little later. I had to repeated tell myself and be confident that I was told it was surgery, it would be painful, that I would hate the temporary, things would improve, and in the end I would love the permanents. They were all correct and I now only think of it as something I had to go through to get where I wanted to be.
Do your homework. Find a competent team to do your work. Get your mind prepared and stay positive. Half the battle is in the mind and that is in your control.
Good luck to all who travel this path and to Those who are facing the largest hurdle for most, financing. Hopefully you can find a path.

Things have been moving along really well. I have been through 3 wax try-ins, the last being this past Wednesday. Each time the wax set has improved. The last time there was a slight problem with the left side being slightly out. That correction was made on the office. After the correction was done, the result felt really good. The staff kept asking me if I thought this was the real deal. Things felt really good, they looked really good, but I asked them if I could just get out of the chair and walk around the office building for a while. I did that with my wife along with me and simply thought I couldn't find anything wrong. I just hope they can get the permanent set to fit and look like the final wax. It is great to finally get to the point you wanted to be in since you started months prior. I have just had no real problems. I would say, so far, I would be the textbook case. There is discomfort at the beginning. The surgery makes hamburger out of your gums and re shapes the bone plus there are bog holes drilled in that bone with giant "screws" put into them. I would not choose to do this with just local anesthesia but I would say that if the choice was between doing it with a local or not doing it, I would go with the local. I do remember sort of panicking when I woke up and had the big mouth full of teeth at the top that seemed so off somehow. I kept telling myself to stay calm and I would get used to it. My advice is to go in educated in what is going to be done and get your head set on the first two weeks. First few days are definitely uncomfortable. You really have to get used to the apparatus in your mouth. Because of swelling, everything pushes at you and you are eating only soft foods. The change in your mouth makes eating different and difficult, especially at first. This too passes and I know now I could even live with the temporary and be OK. I expect the perms will be that much better. It is a lot of money but what it can do for your daily life makes it worth it. I am in my mid-60s and when I first lost part of my teeth in an accident I was told over and over there was no way to get them back. I have had partial dentures, crowns, bridges, root canals, reverse root canals... you name it. This is getting closer than anything yet to get teeth back that have been gone for 50 years. A good 40 years or so out of these and they could be a final solution for me. Since I stated my age you might find that humorous but I have plans... I would recommend the procedure at this point rather than nothing or dentures. Good luck to all that are contemplating or in process. Keep yourself healthy. Thanks to all who chronicled their journey here. I read many and it definitely helped me prepare. I think I will be ready for some good apples this Fall!