Hi, I really need help. Advice if you feel comfortable sharing it would be really appreciated. I have bad teeth. So bad that there is not much that can be done. Ironically getting dentures is like so painful, not so much of the stigma, but the changes in facial structure and the discomfort. I played high school football for a year and I hated wearing a mouthpiece. I also hate how someone's facial structure changes with the absence of teeth. If I had any pain, which I don't, I may had another view.

Now bad teeth is the ultimate Babe repellent. When I first joined this site I didn't disclose this, lying by omission. One day after a much younger girl contacted me, I decided to come off with total honesty. As you can guess, the replies totally dried up. Even though I am not bitter, I am this year going to do something about it. I have been researching different dental options and would totally love to get full implants. The information about implants can be fuzzy at best. Some websites they are pretty affordable, some websites they are prohibitively expensive.

If anyone has went the implant experience, and you feel comfortable in sharing your experience. Could you tell me how it is to have them. What price range did you have to pay? Are they comfortable? Do you know any dentist in the Tampa Bay area that specializes in the expertise? Do you like the appearance? Did you have any problems that were not anticipated. Would you do it again?

I know that I am asking a lot. I am hoping to find people that would love to brag about their experience, or people that want to warn others about their experience. I know that I am going to have to spend a lot of money if I decide to go this route. I all ready have dental insurance, but hate the fact of getting dentures. I don't want to lose bone, so I am postponing it. If you can help it would be really appreciated. Take care and God bless.

oh wow - huge problem for you - hope you get advice you need. My ex has had a few implants, they were expensive ($-thousands) and the process is quite long. Lots of surgery involved - preparation and then waiting for healing. He did have some further problems with bone loss.
But the main reason he needed the teeth replaced was because of bone disease anyway. There is some kind of stuff they use to replace the bone and then new bone grows around it -

I wish you all the best

Dental implants are the longest-lasting and most natural looking/functioning solution for replacing missing or bad teeth. You do not need to have every tooth replaced. You can replace a few teeth and bridge them together as well. There are many options. I highly recommend you see your periodontist or Oral surgeon for a consultation to determine the best option for you! The cost of dental implants can vary quite significantly geographically, so you can find savings by considering a larger geographic area. This is especially true for patients in larger cities. Dentists in urban centers generally have a higher cost of living and higher overhead costs than those in smaller towns and as a result, are more likely to quote higher prices.

My brother is dealing with same issue. years of smoking cigs and not going to dentist. we watched one of those make over shows where they fixed a woman's teeth over her lunch hour with implants. yes I heard pretty pricey but it would be worth it and maybe they have payment plans. anyhow just wanting to say congratulations on deciding to get it done

Having worked with Hospice/elder care these past 15+ years {I think PacificStar could speak on this too} the number of adults that I've come in contact with that had good - great set of dentures and sloppy bad fitting ones were few and far between!

Seems getting a decent set of good fitting dentures has improved greatly; and I did have 2 patients that had implants also. But dentures {if done right} fit so well that it's often hard to get them out without the patients assistance ---
Try doing that against their will to clean them --- UGH or if they're chewing their tongue and they're on blood thinners; you could lose a FINGER or 2!

But getting referrals and 2nd opinions is ALWAYS the way to go when spending that amount of money for something you'll have the rest of your life!

Yes... I am getting near that decision (dentures vs. implants) myself. There's a term "Medical Tourism" which refers to going out of the country to save BIG! I have two friends who have gone to Los Algondes Mexico and saved over 80% vs. getting implants in the USA. You walk across the border near El Paso, TX and there are over 200 MODERN SAFE ENGLISH speaking dental clinics available. Yes, your dental insurance will cover procedures done there; they cannot bill directly but will fill out all the paperwork for you.

Google: "Los Algondes dental" Research the many sites. My advice would be to go there, see if you are comfortable with everything, and get an estimate.

RE: Pain and the procedure -- As someone else has mentioned, you may need to have the bone "built-up" which is done with (yes!) cadaver bone. Usually, not every tooth is replaced with an implant. Think of the implant as a "socket" onto which they put a bridge. Works great! Looks great! Yes... some pain... But, just do it b/c you know you already have a low grade infection which affects your health.

Hope this helps!

There is a big time and money investment, but implants are the closest thing to real currently available...I just spent almost $1700.00 to save one molar that required a root canal and a crown.....And I would do it again in a heart beat!...Good luck Cracked!!

Congratulations on making this decision... I know I have had a couple of friends that have gone down to Mexico. One I know said they would never do it again they would go with Dentures next time around. I commend anyone that takes the plunge of getting their teeth fixed..
The rewards of self confidence to be able to smile at will, hopefully will be worth it all...
Good luck

For some the cost of implants is so high there is no choice but to go with dentures that are not exactly the price of a Happy Meal either. And you don't know if you are getting quality dentures for your bucks or some easily cracked or stained low impact plastic that won't let you eat much past semi-solid food. Forget chew a good steak or bite an apple like the advertisements.

The bone surgery and if you have any complications that they really down play until you are half way in the bag and it is too late to turn back can require anesthesia and even hospitization if you have High blood pressure, seizures, or spasticity. But yea costs can be significant if you have complicating factors like diabetes, osteoporis, metal allergy to name a few.

Or if you are on a fixed income they can't attach like social security and not something you can use to secure a low interest loan the interest alone can double the cost. These are not costs the finance companies are eager to spread over any time like car payments which in some cases would be cheaper.

I think it is pretty cruel how people act since many people did not have the option to have quality dental care as a child; dental insurance while raising their families, and many jobs cause dental injuries that tend to fall like dominoes over the years but are not covered.

My feeling is you will have better health taking out bad teeth but if you have to go in debt and be stressed out paying for high dollar dental care to the exclusion of other necessities or quality of life stuff, or leaving something in reserve for emergencies the decision to tell people to deal with it or move on is the only reasonable decision.

yes they are expensive. i paid about $4k each for the two i have. upper and lower front. looking at me nobody knows and there is no additional maintenance. The cost may have been that high as I broke the two teeth that required implants

Hi Sweetie, I feel your pain dear. I am a 57 year old. Worked all my life to pay bills. Never had insurance until this last year. Teeth were bad due to meds taken for Asthma and diabetes. Was never able to get a date or anything. Finally had all my teeth pulled. Now can't afford to buy plates. I do not want implants, I had a co worker that got implants and had nothing but problems and always in pain. So again at a stand still on the dating game. Good luck in your endeavor. I am here if you ever want to talk.

Judy

Dental implants replace the roots of missing teeth. They act as an anchor to hold permanent replacement teeth, bridges, or dentures. You can have any number of teeth replaced with dental implants. If you’re looking to replace the entirety of your top or bottom teeth,you must go Orthodontist.

My brother-in-law got implants 20 or more years ago... he's never had a problem.. He had them done in the US. I've known other people who have gone to Mexico for the procedure, due to the costs in Canada..
Good on you for doing something for your health... dental health provides overall body health..

Yes there is something to replace the bone, or more like make the bone grow. I cant remember exactly what it is , but it comes from a cadaver. I hated the thought of that, but I got somebodies bone stuff in my mouth.
It's been five years since they started on my teeth. The first five implants came out. I pulled them out by mistake. Oh the fun I've had.

Implants can be great, but it can also be something you may wish you had never started.

I don't mind answering any questions you may have.

They began the work on my teeth five years ago. Took about three for them to finish. They didn't fit very well. They would rock just at tiny bit and sometimes a little bit of food would get in between the denture and my gums, and it hurt.

A few months later I was trying to unsnap them from the implants to clean them. One side came off just fine but I was having trouble with the other side. It hurt some but not bad. Finally I pulled just little more and pulled the damn implant clean out of my bone.

It took about a year, but I finally pulled four more out.

They are doing all the work over, and not charging me anything.

I should be completely done once more by next month.

They may work fine, but it wouldn't surprise me if these come out also.

More fun than you can imagine... :) Lee

I live in Mexico. My dentist was trained at U. Minnesota and sppeaks perfect English. Implants aren't his thing but, he has a referral to a periodontist/oral surgeon that does implants. The cost isn't dirt cheap but it is about 25% what you would pay in the states even after transportation and temp lodging.