Berkeley Parents Network: Dental Implants

Berkeley Parents Network

Dental Implants

Berkeley Parents Network > Advice > Advice about Health > Dental Implants

Bridge or Dental implants?
Cost of dental implants
Child's Missing Permanent Tooth

Bridge or Dental implants?

December 2003

I need advice about dental implants. How long do they last and how do they compare to bridges? My insurance will cover 50% of the bridge but nothing on the implant. I am concerned that the bridge would require shaving down the two surrounding teeth. Wouldn't that result in the eventual loss of those teeth as well? Can anyone recommend a good dental implant dentist--should he or she be a board certified specialist in implants? Thanks for any help you can give me. Cindy

I will be having implant surgery on Jan. 20. The reason I am having it, as opposed to a bridge, is because of the factor you mention - the bridge would put wear and tear on the two teeth on either side. I clench my teeth a lot. A bridge for me could result in the eventual loss of the two teeth on both sides. A good question to ask your denist and any specialists - if this were your mouth what would you do and why. My surgery will be with Dr. John Kwan (510 547 1300). I have had one meeting with him and was very, very impressed with his interactions with me. If you want me to tell you about my experience with the implant operation - please just send me an email after Jan 20th and I will let you know. I don't know how long implants last compared to bridges, but I know they do last longer. Best of luck to you. margo

October 2003

My partner has been offered the choice between a bridge and dental implant. We are leaning towards the implant, even though it's not covered by insurance (bah!)because it seems better for the health of her teeth. Has anyone had this sort of thing done? Anything we should know about it? Is it long, painful? What's the healing time like? Since the tooth was removed about two weeks ago we have some time to decide, but something needs to be done by January. Thanks Samantha

I recently had a dental implant done and it was the easiest most painless dental work I've ever experienced. The extraction of the permanent molar was a lot worse. In fact, I can't wait for the day when dental implants will be the procedure of choice instead of root canals and bridges. The dental surgeon that performed the implant had probably a lot to do with how smoothly it went. I saw Dr. Krey of Bloom, Berger and Krey in Berkeley. They are EXCELLENT. After four months of letting the implant set, I visited my dentist (Dr. Nakahara at Nakarahara, Grisantie and Sie - also SUPERIOR dental service) about two days ago, to get the implant location prepared and fitted for a replacement tooth and crown. Again, all really painless and easy. I would go for an implant again if the situation arose again. A bridge is far too inconvenient to manage and the possibility of compromising surrounding teeth, if a very strict regimen of cleaning below the bridge is not followed, is very high (in my opinion). Please email me if you want to discuss further. Edna

Samantha - I am in the same dilemma, and looking for a dentist I can trust to carry out the work. There's an advice board that I've found useful about this question (deciding between bridge and implant) at: http://members5.boardhost.com/CosmeticDental/index.html?1067238202

There are contributions from various cosmetic dentists as well as many patients, and your question comes up again and again - so you may find some relevant discussion. One person there said that implants are rocket science, bridges a thing of the past. I tend to think that bridges are less scary, and perhaps less likely to fail. If the teeth next door to the gap are heavily filled a bridge may be best, as one of the disadvantages of a bridge is that you need to prepare the adjacent teeth to support the bridge. Yet some people who have implants love them. One thing a dentist said to me is that there is not much option left if an implant fails, whereas with a bridge you can always go to an implant later. The technology is constantly improving. I just wish that I could grow a third brand new set of teeth! Or that the stem cell people would get going on teeth...oh well. Good luck, and I hope you make a good decision. Hope this helps - there's a lot of discussion on this topic on that message board. Janice

I have a few close friends who are dentists and dental sub-specialists; they all say, unanimously, that they wouldn't have an upper implant done (gives rise to a host of greater complications--abcesses, infections to the brain, etc.)--but that they would, in the hands of someone very competent, have a lower implant done. They recommend going over to UCSF Dental school, as private clinic patients, and having your implant work done. As well, lower implants can give rise to jaw damage. Goo
More inclined to having a bridge, at this point

I had an implant done about 8 years ago. It wasn't covered by insurance, but I chose to have it done anyway, for several reasons: (1) the tooth is very visible--one of my top front teeth (#9, for dental buffs)--and having one ''fake'' tooth instead of 3 (which is what you'd get with a bridge) is more natural looking and easier to hide; (2) my dad happens to have a bridge in the same location, and it looks terrible, has given him problems (which I believe are related to the difference between implants and bridges); (3) having a bridge done involves grinding down 2 perfectly fine other teeth (one on each side of the gap) to anchor the bridge, and I just don't think that's a good idea; (4) a good time to do it is when you're young and healthy and have very dense bone; (5) here's the biggie--I was young and single, had a good job, and knew I could afford to do it.

Here's what I went through, to the best of my recollection. I had the root of the old tooth extracted. Waited for that to heal (can't remember how long, but at least a period of a few months). Had surgery to put the titanium stud (to anchor the implant) in my jawbone. This was definitely the worst step-- much more involved than I thought it would be (I think I had as many as 20 stitches, yes, all in my mouth--yuck). Waited for the incision to heal, bone to regrow around the stud, then had minor surgery to attach socket to stud (to poke through gum so crown could be attached)... I think this was at least 6 mos. later. A couple of months after that, the crown was attached (after many, many visits to the dental lab to make sure the crown looked just like my other teeth). All told, it took over a year from start to finish.

My advice... shop around for absolutely the best and most honest dentists you can find, who do lots of these procedures. Not everyone has the right bone for implants... I have a friend with failed implants, and it's expensive and aggravating. The worst step was having the stud put in--the rest is relatively minor. I would say it's kind of on a par with having your wisdom teeth removed. Try to get your painkillers before the surgery, so you can take them as soon as necessary after surgery (instead of waiting, drooling, and throbbing in a pharmacy like I did). One thing, though, is that you have to take scrupulous care of the gum around the tooth forever afterward (but you'd have to do the same with the bridge, and it'd be more difficult/more annoying); this is not a place where you want to encourage gingivitis.

I'm really, really glad that I chose to do the implant over the bridge. It looks great, and it was worth every penny. Kristine

I got a dental implant to replace my front tooth about seven years ago and have been almost completely satisfied. I chose the implant because I would have had to ruin the two neighboring teeth to attach the bridge and I didn't like the idea of going from one damaged tooth to three. The process is long but relatively painless, though you will get very used to getting shots of Novacaine. I had to use a retainer with a tooth on it since my missing tooth was so visible. That was the most annoying part of the process, made much worse when I lost the thing while my dentist was on vacation and had to go a week with no front tooth. I seem to remember all the phases of waiting for the bone to grow, etc taking about a year or more. I am happy with the result and would definitely recommend it. The only downside is that your gum pulls away from the implant so your gum line looks kind of odd and that your implant color will not change with your other teeth. Mine have changed slightly and so the implant now does not match perfectly. I could get this fixed but don't quite need to yet. But I can eat anything and not worry about the implant at all. Good luck! Sally

I would highly recommend getting an implant vs a bridge. I am almost finished with the process and this is after 2 1/2 years! In my case, I had some significant bone damage on my front tooth and it took 2 bone grafts to build up the area so that I can get the implant placed. This was an unusal situation. I believe that most implants take about 6 months to a year. The reason I chose this over a bridge is the atrophy that will result from the lack of root structure in the area. I former co-worker had a bridge on her front tooth and it was very apparent that she had some distortion going on in her mouth. Plus I was not so fond of ruining two perfectly healthy teeth when fitting the bridge. Did I complain about the length of time this took?...yes! Did I hate having to give up crunchy foods for 2 plus years?...yes! Am I sad that I can never bite into an apple again?...somewhat! Did I hate having to wear a flipper and be toothless in public?...YES! But..was it all worth it in the end?...YES! YES! YES! please feel free to contact me via email if you want additional info good luck! Amy

Cost of dental implants

Feb 2003

I have recently been quoted a price of about $2400 for dental implant surgery for a single tooth. This is just for the implant surgery itself and doesn't include the cost of the implant- supported crown, or the temporary tooth, or x-rays etc.( Of course none of this is covered by my insurance.) Has anyone who has had experience with implants tell me if this is a reasonable amount? Thanks!

I had dental implant surgery on my lower right molar about four years ago and it cost me $2,000. So I do believe the price you have been quoted is probably true to form. The Periodontist I went to was able to pass some of the fees along to insurance based on some bone problems that he discovered in my jaw. Unfortunately, the balance was charged to me. However, the office was able to put me on a payment plan and I made my payments on a monthly basis to their office. It was very reasonable. I would be happy to give you his name and number if you would like to give him a visit. They are very sympathatic about the fact that this NECCESSARY surgery is tragically not covered by insurance. By the way, my first implant failed, (probably because they discovered that I grind my teeth at night) and this Periodontist replaced the fist implant a year later at no charge to me or my health plan! He is absolutly wonderful! Julie

Hi, I paid $2,000 for my dental implant. Yes, this does not include the crown and such. Expensive but oh so worth it. Dr. Kwan on Telegraph -- wonderful dentist. Lisa

It sounds like $2,400 for the cost of one implant placement is on the higher end but keep in mind that most insurance companies don't cover dental implants. You may want to get a consultation from another specialist to compare treatment options. I would recommend Dr. Scott Keith, who is specialized in dental implants and served on faculty at Harvard before establishing his practice in SF and Walnut Creek. The phone number is (415) 776- 4040 to reach either office. Lori

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