Do you regret getting dentures?

[mymillions]

Originally Posted by Manuel B

My periodontist did 2 implants in the front/top,($1,600. each, plus the cost of a crown-cap) and whenever I need a tooth pulled I go to him and he fills in the empty spot with freeze dried bone, that way if I need another implant later the spot is solid and ready, and the gum area does not sink in, he showed me snap-on dentures with no fake gum area, just the teeth against your own gums, he said you need 3 implants in a tripod pattern to do it, they felt like the snaps on a cowboy shirt. He also does sinus lifts when people have been missing top molars for a while and there is not enough bone and things droop.
I have customers with dentures that come into my place with horrible bad breath, and a few who click their dentures when they have nothing to do, weird habit.
My dentist thinks it's time for a top denture, but my periodontist thinks my OEM's are worth saving. I don't like the look of most dentures, I call them Unitooth, like one big tooth with no spaces in between, they look fake from 50 feet away.

RIGHT, here is what I was looking at, in researching;http://http://www.eonclinics.com/dental-implants/
They say they can go into the sinus cavity and "sprinkle" ground up bone and it "seeds" and grows missing bone for missing teeth. THATS good, and so bone loss isn't permanent. And the implant is possible for anyone... except the price of getting a healthy mouth! We all want to stay the march of time; and keeping our good looks shouldn't be like staring are the cost of a new car! My DH's friend has gone to a dental college to get 6 implants done and it will be $16,000 .
What dental insurance out there pays the 50% for implants?

[mymillions]

Originally Posted by Manuel B

My periodontist did 2 implants in the front/top,($1,600. each, plus the cost of a crown-cap) and whenever I need a tooth pulled I go to him and he fills in the empty spot with freeze dried bone, that way if I need another implant later the spot is solid and ready, and the gum area does not sink in, he showed me snap-on dentures with no fake gum area, just the teeth against your own gums, he said you need 3 implants in a tripod pattern to do it, they felt like the snaps on a cowboy shirt. He also does sinus lifts when people have been missing top molars for a while and there is not enough bone and things droop.
I have customers with dentures that come into my place with horrible bad breath, and a few who click their dentures when they have nothing to do, weird habit.
My dentist thinks it's time for a top denture, but my periodontist thinks my OEM's are worth saving. I don't like the look of most dentures, I call them Unitooth, like one big tooth with no spaces in between, they look fake from 50 feet away.

Sounds like you have a Peridontist that has continued learning new things; nice!

[firedoc]

Originally Posted by Jim_HiTek

Since I'm considering a single implant of a tooth, Doc, how about this discrepancy I'm reading here and in other posts? Does the best work take 10 months, much of it waiting to heal, or can an implant actually only take 2 weeks?

There are certain ideal cases where an 'immediate' implant can be placed. But they are rare. Ive seen many implant failures due to loading of the implant prematurely.

[Dunner]

Years ago, I had a 2-in-1 cap. 1 molar cap with 2 teeth on it. It lasted until the capped tooth failed. Maybe 5+ years.

I now have a full uppers and 2 lower implants to support full lowers. It takes about 4 months for the titanium implants to fully adhere to the jaw bone. With the blessing of my dentist, I "adjusted" a couple of sore spots myself with a dremel tool with a small grind stone attached. I can eat Corn Nuts.

[firedoc]

Originally Posted by Dunner

Years ago, I had a 2-in-1 cap. 1 molar cap with 2 teeth on it. It lasted until the capped tooth failed. Maybe 5+ years.

I now have a full uppers and 2 lower implants to support full lowers. It takes about 4 months for the titanium implants to fully adhere to the jaw bone. With the blessing of my dentist, I "adjusted" a couple of sore spots myself with a dremel tool with a small grind stone attached. I can eat Corn Nuts.

In my mind a crown (cap) is a failure if it only lasts 5 years. Most insurance companies will not pay for replacement in anything less than 5 years. I never did like the physics of a cantilever bridge. As I felt it hastened the demise of the attached tooth. That is a good place for a single tooth plant. The use of an 'overdenture' dramatically improves the retention and function of a lower. Adjusting a denture for high spots is not rocket science but can be overdone.
Sounds like you had a decent dentist at least in theory.

[papa&susu]

I am in the six month waiting period for my implant to stabilize for the implant to be installed.Front tooth gone so.... I look like a picture for the redneck calendar photo. My dr had to use human bone around implant fo fill. My question to him was it tested for HIV and hapatitis. So far so good done in Nov new tooth in May

[Dunner]

Without digging through my receipts, it could have been 8-10 years. Don't remember.

I had my dentist adjust them once, but I wasn't going to drive 15 miles round trip, every time I got a sore spot. I used Play-Doh to detect the high spots.

[firedoc]

Originally Posted by papa&susu

I am in the six month waiting period for my implant to stabilize for the implant to be installed.Front tooth gone so.... I look like a picture for the redneck calendar photo. My dr had to use human bone around implant fo fill. My question to him was it tested for HIV and hapatitis. So far so good done in Nov new tooth in May

Freeze dried allograft human bone from the right sources is perfectly safe. It has been tested and the process of preparing it also helps. There has NEVER been a documented case of disease caused by allograft from a reputable source. BUT the bone is expensive and thats one of the reasons you pay dearly for the procedure. One of the problems with cut rate dentistry is that one of the places they can cut the cost is in where they get the supplies.

[firedoc]

Originally Posted by Dunner

Without digging through my receipts, it could have been 8-10 years. Don't remember.

I had my dentist adjust them once, but I wasn't going to drive 15 miles round trip, every time I got a sore spot. I used Play-Doh to detect the high spots.

Good ad-lib with the play-dough but I'm not sure about the toxicity.

[Dunner]

It's spelled Play-Doh and it's made for kids. Just how toxic could it be?

[firedoc]

Originally Posted by Dunner

It's spelled Play-Doh and it's made for kids. Just how toxic could it be?

Thats a good point but you never know. I dont trust anything that copies the funnies. And that is sure an 'off label' use.

[firedoc]

Dunner,
BTW we will be headed for your neck of the desert the end of the month. We start a volunteer gig at Boyce-Thompson Arboretum.

[Dunner]

I asked the dental assistant where I could get the indelible ink sticks they use and was ignored. Art store had no idea what I was talking about when I asked for indelible ink pencils. My other dentist said to use lard, but I have not had much luck with that. Besides, the Doh is re-usable. I use it in my shop for making epoxy molds for connectors, etc.

[firedoc]

Originally Posted by Dunner

I asked the dental assistant where I could get the indelible ink sticks they use and was ignored. Art store had no idea what I was talking about when I asked for indelible ink pencils. My other dentist said to use lard, but I have not had much luck with that. Besides, the Doh is re-usable. I use it in my shop for making epoxy molds for connectors, etc.

How do you sterilize it?