POSTED UNDER All-on-4 Dental Implants Reviews
51 Years Old, Extensive Dental Work
UPDATED FROM bravesirrobin
8 months post
Complete
WORTH IT$28,000
December 20, 2018, my dentist installed my permanent set. These are acrylic resin on a titanium metal substructure. I am very happy with them. I was concerned they were too squared off and the gum seemed a little dark. thoughts? But after figuring out what my “new” smile is, I think they turned out pretty good.
Also, my bite was terrible. I had TMJ/Grinding/Clenching. It seems like my bite is correct now. I haven’t had TMJ pain since I had the surgery last April. I had the pain associated with the implants and healing but the daily headaches have dramatically decreased.
My dentist really looked at the aesthetics of the smile, how they line up with your facial structure, your lips, etc. The picture I posted shows my smile now on the bottom and my smile from 5 years ago (before they really went downhill).
I did not get this procedure done because I was concerned about how my teeth looked. My primary concern was being able to chew food. With two different types of dentures, I almost choked on food. I only had the upper done. The bottoms are fine (have two implants already).
It is nice knowing I won’t have to worry about any more root canals, extractions, crowns, implants on the upper. I only have to worry about getting it serviced once a year and new screws.
Also, my bite was terrible. I had TMJ/Grinding/Clenching. It seems like my bite is correct now. I haven’t had TMJ pain since I had the surgery last April. I had the pain associated with the implants and healing but the daily headaches have dramatically decreased.
My dentist really looked at the aesthetics of the smile, how they line up with your facial structure, your lips, etc. The picture I posted shows my smile now on the bottom and my smile from 5 years ago (before they really went downhill).
I did not get this procedure done because I was concerned about how my teeth looked. My primary concern was being able to chew food. With two different types of dentures, I almost choked on food. I only had the upper done. The bottoms are fine (have two implants already).
It is nice knowing I won’t have to worry about any more root canals, extractions, crowns, implants on the upper. I only have to worry about getting it serviced once a year and new screws.
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UPDATED FROM bravesirrobin
7 months post
6 Months - now time for the permanent
It’s been 3 weeks since they did the impressions for the permanents. We had agreed the temporaries were 1mm too far forward. and the teeth were a little long. However, the first results made the teeth too small and not my natural smile. I also had a pronounced lisp. We both think the temporaries had the size of the teeth fine, but that 1mm too far forward was all that needed to be corrected. He took new pictures and a bit impression to send to the lap tech. I go again on 11/15/18.
Replies (6)
How did you do yesterday? I've been following along. I am about five months out. So did they fix your temporaries right then and there, or did you have to wait? My Doc has an onsight lab, which is really nice.
Yesterday I got a second temp, but I need time to decide on the final color etc. Plus, I want to go home and eat, talk and make SURE the temps are what I want before I commit to my forever set. My eye teeth seem a little low. And I'm not sure about the color.. B-4. I'm getting new veneers on the bottom, so they will match up, no matter. Ohhh, decisions are hard!
Yesterday I got a second temp, but I need time to decide on the final color etc. Plus, I want to go home and eat, talk and make SURE the temps are what I want before I commit to my forever set. My eye teeth seem a little low. And I'm not sure about the color.. B-4. I'm getting new veneers on the bottom, so they will match up, no matter. Ohhh, decisions are hard!
I had my surgery back in mid-April. It did okay for me except for a few side effects that I lived with until the 6 month mark. At that appointment, when they took the temporary off, I told him the left side was thick and the way my tongue sat made me nauseous sometimes. The lab tech was on site that day because they were doing the molds for the permanent. When I went back to test the first molds of the perm, I said they were too short. I went yesterday, tried a new set of molds, and they were still too short. I found a picture where I had my natural smile and texted it to the dentist as well as a pic of the temporaries, which look natural. I want my teeth to look like they used too before the collapsing root canals. I also am fine with the color of my temporaries. I'm keeping my bottom teeth as well, and I'm not getting veneers. I'll go back and try the next ones on after the holidays. They said the molds are in wax, so I don't think it's an option for me to take them home and try for a while.
Do you know if they used the same teeth and pulled them down further, or did they make you bigger teeth? My wax try-ins have been too short 2 times... hoping to fix that.
I've sent pics, but only big ol' smiley pics... and they like to see just a resting face, and a sideways view. It took me all night to find some. I mostly smile for pictures, darn it! lol!
They used a different set on me. My dentist holds onto the temporary as a backup if something has to be done on my perm ones.
Thanks! I'm on the try-ins at the moment... so they can manipulate the length, placement, color etc right now. We're almost there!!!
Like some before me, I really am not sure how I should feel. I had my all on four upper arch surgery first week in February 2019, 8 teeth extracted and temporaries loaded same day. They looked so good after a couple days and I was so pleased. I didn't really have much pain and no bruising. It is now 4 weeks today, and I have made arrangements to fly out to see the dentist that did the work for me, only because I am worried sick that hey are failing. First issue was the day I was due to fly back home I must have clenches my teeth in the night and one of the teeth off of the all on four snapped off, obviously I was worried and the dentist luckily enough cemented it back on to the plate. I was informed that I must have bruxism and was advised to have botox to try and correct this, so the dentist called someone in who gave me 8 injections. Anyway, returned home and after 2 or 3 days the tooth snapped off again in the night, and when I say snapped, it was loud and woke me up. Not sure if the temporary bridge is moving or it is the abutments and still not sure how I am supposed to feel, as in, is it the botox, or is it the implants/abutments (not sure of the difference). Can the temporary bridge move without effecting the actual implants? I never feel it moving but know in myself that it is as its just the two at the front which seem to now be up higher as I can feel the outer two are much lower? Some swelling on my gums which have notices are kinda white and my tongue is a yellowy orange - still no pain though. Still have a bad lisp, but weirdly, somdays my speech is not too bad. Along with this I have not eaten much, just porridge and tomato soup with a bit of mash potato in the evening. In four weeks have lost over a stone in weight, I just am never hungry, maybe because I am anxious, I have no idea. Anything to give me some confidence in what and how I am feeling would be good.
UPDATED FROM bravesirrobin
22 days post
3 Week Update
I just passed the 3 week mark post surgery. I have to say that today is the first day that I didn't "feel" my teeth all day. They felt - integrated? Later in the day they felt a little sore and I had to take an Ibuprofen. I can't really explain it - but they didn't feel so foreign. I'm just realizing some of the challenges with potential stains on my temporary - especially with lipstick. I wear an all day Chanel lipstick, that is impossible. My alternate was a Lipsense product that was very drying in the past. However, now the LipSense drying quickly is a positive and I can let it set without it staining my teeth. I continue to eat slowly and methodically (chewing), take small bites, etc. I received some lab work back today and I think it was the protein number was lower than last time. The only thing I can think of is that I've had much less meat in the past due to chewing, etc. Interesting all the areas unstable teeth will impact for you.
Replies (12)
They look great! I was obsessed with staining. I have not had trouble with lipstick, although I notice it gets on these teeth more than my old crowns.
It's crazy to have molars, huh?!?! I went so many years without molars I forgot what it was like!
I have a 5 month post-op evaluation next week. I am hoping I am 100%
I have not really had any pain outside of the initial bruising and bone trauma. No sores or anything. For the last 4 months I have pretty much felt like these are my teeth.
I am more sensitive to spicy and acidic food, though. It's been almost 5 months and I am still unable to eat hot peppers like jalapenos like I used to. Other than that, I have no issues.
How are you doing now?
Sorry such a delay in my reply. Mine are settling in. I still get headaches, and chewing comfortably is a struggle. I'm very sensitive to smells and spicy foods. Any strong scent, and I'm reeling. A trip to PetSmart (smelled pet urine) sent me into a transient aphasia migraine, which I haven't had in 25 years. I thought it might be menopause causing it, but now I kind of think it's the implants at the front of my mouth near the sinuses. I wonder if anyone else has had this. I still get a nauseous feeling every day - almost like the chemicals in my mouth throw me off. My gums seem to be healing fine. I'm curious to know if my acrylic permanents will be thinner and feel less bulky or more bulky due to the bar.
My prosthodontist is a little vague on the size of my perms. My temps are not bulky, though. I just want the smaller bottoms. I do know that mine won’t be flat on my gum. They will curve up. I will only be able to waterpik, which worries me.
I am sensitive to spicy, which is hard!
I’m sorry you are having those other issues. I hope they get better with time!
And menopause. Ugh! So awful!
I wouldn't say my temps are that bulky, but the left had side for some reason tends to go to far into my upper pallet so it's annoying and I'm always aware of it. Like my tongue sits there. I only had the uppers done, not my lower teeth.
My perms will not have a bar. They will be xircon with some sort of fiber bar instead of a titanium bar, so they should not be any thicker... I hope. I had imagined the teeth being small and delicate. At this point I am not sure that is a possibility with this procedure. I worry about the screw holes, too. I feel I can clean better with them open and wonder if it is necessary to close them. Honestly, I wonder if snap in teeth would be better. At least they could be cleaned quite easily.
I'm wondering if the headaches and trouble with chewing are because of the current placement of the bridge. It may be worth calling your dr. instead of waiting until your next appointment. Around two-three weeks after the procedure they had to re-adjust the fit of my upper bridge, I had some tension around my jaw, causing headaches, and my bite was off. After they re-adjusted it, everything has felt really good. My jaw still gets a bit sore if I chew a lot or talk a lot, but I haven't had anything that's been causing pain or any type or discomfort. I am aware of it in my mouth often because it's on the bulky side (I also have acrylic), but I'm kind of getting used to that feeling. Sending you continued good luck wishes!
How did they readjust your bite? Drill on part of the temp? My issue is I’ve always had headache issues. They’ve less ed somewhat. I start d Amitriptyline last week. That takes a few weeks to start working. I feel like my neck is always tense & I have to tell myself to relax. The chewing exhaustion is real though! Dev, which perms are you getting?
Did it get better for you? I've had a full upper porcelain bridge on 8 implants for over 13 yrs. At first I remember it took a while for my tongue to adjust to the acrylic temporary and my Jaws had to get used to a perfect bite . My prosthodontist immediately had a nightguard made and that solved the tongue situation . Do you think you clench during the night and it's causing tension in your Jaws and neck? I hope you feel better.
Zirconia would have added $3,000 to my cost, so I went with the regular acrylic. I don't have a problem keeping mine clean. My titanium screws are in with the temporary. I would think it better that they be covered. I know you get annual maintenance once you have it completed. I brush and use a waterpik a couple times a day. I had a partial plate before that I would snap in to chew, and I would never recommend them. I couldn't take it in my mouth - I'd get nausea. What I have now is much better than that (and I was on my second type of partial plate). I find trying to find a new smile difficult. Before I get my permanent one, the oral surgeon wants to test the torque on each implant to make sure they can take the pressure. It will be a bit of a circus running from the dentist to the surgeon and then back to the dentist. But I've got until October to figure it all out. Let me know how you do!
They took out the bridge, made some adjustments to it, and then re-inserted it. It took a few hours. I waited in the clinic while they worked on it. It made a big difference. (They don't charge for this, also they weren't thrilled to do it since it meant more jostling to the screws/implants but it was needed.) I also had headache issues in the past, they went away for several years, but the past year or two they're starting to come back, though not often. I'm sorry you have to deal with headaches. When I got the jaw tension and headache from the way the bridge was placed I wasn't happy and I thought if they didn't fix it, it was just going to get worse over time. Since it got fixed everything has felt quite good. Although I'm now starting to really notice that space between the bridge and the gums that people have been mentioning. The space just keeps increasing and there's this kind of suction-y feeling, it's a bit weird. And yes that chewing exhaustion! I wonder when that goes away. My perms are going to be acrylic, with the bar. When do you go back for a follow up?
How are you doing? Did you get your perms?
Replies (7)