Are dental implants my only option?

[Satori]

I need to have #19 & #20 pulled since they were open root canals that fractured and can not be saved. My Wisdom teeth were pulled last year so I'll have 1 remaining molar to chew with I need the 2nd to last molar on the other side pulled as well thanks to decay because I've been putting it off because AFTER the root canal the dentist told me I needed gum surgery to the tune of $800 I don't have. Yes my teeth are horrible thanks to this bone loss issue it makes them decay quickly.

Anyway, dentist doesn't want to give me old people teeth, whatchamacallit, dentures! and says I'll have to have implants to the tune of $2500 each so 3 x $2500 = $7500 and I have to get them started about 30 days after the teeth are pulled and best of all I can do it all on credit! yeah, like I can afford a $200 mo payment. If I could afford $200 more we wouldn't be living in this tiny place!

So, what are my options? I need to be able to chew and I cant afford implants.

[Shiloh]

Are dental implants my only option?

-YEs, but since money is an issue, and you have to wait for the bones after the teeth are pulled - I think its six months? Get the dental posts put in ASAP after that - you can buy the teeth when you can afford them.

But you cannot afford to loose jaw bone, space etc - trust me on jaw surgery #4/. If its the bottom it can push your jaw to one side or the other - hello tmj headaches.....if its the top your palate can actually errode over time....turning 'soft' and causing snoring issues etc.

Never mind chewing on one side - so your muscles will only be used on one side? It wouldn't be pretty eventually.

Honestly the implants are pretty cheap for him, tell him your situation, and what you can afford a month...and how long it would take you. We just negotiated my car transmission - 1k off, and up to 16 months interest free
Really if you say no he's out the money (and for the screw/post/tooth its a killing they make You can find out how much they cost online call a dental supply place...

Call a dental school in your state/province. Call your insurance to see if its done in hospital how much they might cover.

[applejuice]

I had dental implants put in eleven years after having a tooth pulled. The implant has been in a year already. No problem. It took that long though for me to get on top of my expenses. $

Why can't he put in a bridge? I do not understand...

[Satori]

Originally Posted by applejuice

Why can't he put in a bridge? I do not understand...

Thats why i'm asking, I don't know my options or whats available and he seems stuck on the most expensive option only.

[tayndrewsmama]

I know this is little old, but I thought I would respond anyways. First question, have you made any decisions yet? I think he's stuck on the implants because they make him more money than any other option. I just went in and had to have a molar pulled. The teeth around are perfectly fine, but the dentist was pushing the implant big time. $3000 and insurance doesn't cover a dime. I told him that was simply not an option. We do not have that kind of money. Not to mention that if we did, and something went wrong with it later, insurance still wouldn't pay for anything. Are you opposed to a partial denture if you have to? I don't know much about bridges, yet, but it doesn't sound like that will work too well for you. I don't know what teeth are numbered 19 and 20. Where is the remaining molar? I say tell your dentist what you want and if he doesn't want to do it, find another dentist who will.

[DesireeH]

They are doing this to my DH too. We cant afford it so dh just has a half broken tooth currently. They said $2400 for an implant and it has to be paid upfront all at once (insurance wont cover it either.) Umm, HELLO!!!!!! Dh said it doesnt hurt him and its not visable when he talks/smiles so he is going to live with it until we can find another option. Maybe another dentist would be cheaper or something?

[JenniferH]

I had to have a tooth pulled last year because it was cracked and I couldn't afford a crown. It's #3 so it isn't visible and my teeth haven't moved at all. I'd like to get an implant eventually so I can have the wisdom tooth on that side (and all the others) pulled. Right now I have to focus on getting my teeth cleaned and the few tiny cavities I have filled AND getting my silver fillings replaced. Sigh.

It doesn't bother me but I have a big gap in the back of my mouth. Sometimes pointy food pokes my gum. :LOL

As for counting teeth, start on the upper right at your wisdom tooth, or where your wisdom tooth would be. That's #1.

Your two front teeth on top are #8 and #9.

I spent about $3,000 on my teeth last year alone. I had an extraction, a bleach and two root canals. FUN! We really couldn't afford it, but at least we were able to do a low monthly payment plan.

It would take about $20,000 to put my teeth in the condition I want them, which includes getting braces and getting 3 of my teeth replaced with implants (2 on the front that had to have root canals). I also have to have my 4 wisdom teeth extracted. They don't look bad now, but I'm really funny about my teeth. I want them to look perfect and they just don't. Mostly they are crooked and I have slight overbite.

I have a long history with dentists and orthodontists and I just want my teeth to LOOK like they've had the amount of money spent on them that they have. I'm guessing at least $10 K that my parents spent, not to mention what I've spent. I had braces, but the ortho told me I didn't have wisdom teeth. HA. Then I had this thing that I had to wear at night that moved my lower jaw forward. No telling how much that cost.

I really need to go work for a dentist so I can get the work done at a discount. :LOL

Whoah, that was a bit longer than I expected!