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I don’t know how to tell my dentist dental implants are too expensive.

August 27, 2021 by Brian Sartin

My whole life I have been plagued with cavities. Now my teeth are so weak that some of them are broken. So I have crowns and bridges all over. The latest bad news at my lest check up was that the tooth that was holding one of the dental bridges has broke off. So, the dentist decided to extract the root and shave off a portion of the dental bridge. Now he is pitching dental implants. But when I heard how expensive they were, I just don’t know how to tell him they aren’t in my budget. I don’t want him to think I’m cheap, but I have put so much money into my oral health and feel so defeated. Do I have any other options at this point than dental implants. I’m on a fixed income and don’t want to finance something like this.

-Bart in Michigan

Bart,

It’s unfortunate to hear that you have been frustrated over the years with problems with your teeth. It’s likely that your dentist’s recommendation is for the optimal treatment to replace a missing tooth, which would be dental implants. But that doesn’t mean that is your only option. There are other more affordable dental implant options, or you may be able to incorporate a single implant to better support your dental bridge. Or another more affordable treatment is a partial denture.

You should not feel embarrassed or feel like your dentist will judge you if you cannot afford a treatment. So, don’t let any preconceived ideas make you feel forced or trapped into dental implants. Be open and honest with your dentist. Tell him that you would like to sit down and discuss your other options to replace your missing tooth.

If for some reason you are feeling pressured or guilty about this, then maybe it’s time to find a new dentist. Trust is the most important part of dentistry. You need to trust that your dentist has your best interests in mind. And if you cannot afford dental implants, you need to be able to talk through that with your doctor. Good luck. Hopefully this has reinforced the fact that you do have options. Thank you for your question.

 

 

Filed Under: Affordable Dental Implants, blog, Dental Implants Tagged With: affordable dental implant dentist, affordable dental implant options, affordable implant dentist, dental bridge, dental implant, dental implant options, dental implants, implant dentist, implant dentistry, partial denture

Affordable dental implants made my smile ugly.

August 25, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I took advantage of a commercial offer I saw on television for affordable dental implants. I did my research and all the reviews I came across seemed to be okay. I had two teeth that needed to be replaced on the bottom and the estimate I got from the implant dentist included the surgery and placement of the posts, abutments and the porcelain crowns. He had me get the teeth extracted at the initial appointment and then said I really needed “bone beads,” which were to aide in my healing. Well, fast forward six months and the bone beads weren’t covered by insurance and now he’s trying to tell me that I need to have my gums treated before the final restorations can be done. Did I mention, I still don’t have teeth! This affordable dental implants deal is turning out to be way more expensive than I anticipated. Was it a mistake to have the teeth removed? My smile is ruined and I feel like I’m just getting jerked around. Do you have any advice on what I should do next?

-Jeff in Nevada

Jeff,

Thank you for reaching out with your question. First off, sorry you are having a negative experience with your affordable dental implants. The biggest concern of your story is that fact that the cause for your teeth needed to be removed, doesn’t sound like it was ever addressed. This is highly concerning. If your teeth failed because of periodontal disease, then you wouldn’t have been a dental implants candidate in the first place. The periodontal disease should have been taken care of first. So, the fact that the implant dentist is suggesting “gum treatments” at this time, is a red flag. You will never know now if those teeth that were extracted, really could have been salvaged.

At this point, it would be in your best interest to consult with another implant dentist. Explain the situation up to this point and get an independent opinion about how to proceed. Another huge concern is the fact that you weren’t given temporary teeth. You should not have to walk around hiding your smile for months on end! Under normal circumstances, a dental flipper or a removable partial denture is recommended to fill the empty space. This also prevents any drifting of the surrounding teeth and would help you feel better from an aesthetics perspective. But, it’s time to cut your losses and find a reputable implant dentist in your area. Look for one that has extensive training and credentials in implant dentistry. Ask about their experience, success rate and to see examples of before and after photographs of work they have personally done.

Again, sorry this has turned into a dental implant horror story. Best of luck as you get this figured out.

Filed Under: Affordable Dental Implants, blog, Dental Implants Tagged With: affordable dental implants, affordable implant dentist, cheap dental implants, cheap implant dentist, dental implant, dental implant failure, dental implant horror stories, dental implant horror story, dental implants, finding an implant dentist, finding the best implant dentist, implant dentist, implant dentistry, partial denture, removable partial denture

Snapped Two Teeth Off Near Gumline- Dental Implants Only Option?

August 15, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I’ve been holding off on going to the dentist because I’m afraid dental implants are my only option and I already know I can’t handle all that treatment. About a month ago, I was playing softball and I took a spill. I broke two lower teeth, sort of near the front, but the teeth broke off almost all the way at my gums. I have no idea how it doesn’t hurt, but I really don’t feel anything unless I eat something I shouldn’t on that side. I’m tempted to just leave well enough alone, since I’m not up for lengthy appointments that I’d need to endure for dental implants and it doesn’t hurt, but I just thought I’d check in and see what other options are available.

Thanks in advance for the help,

Ron in Arizona

Dear Ron,

There is a myriad of options in your case, and it’s probably not a good idea to wait too long. It’s surprising that you’re not in pain, but even if the nerves were dead before your accident, you’re still at a very high risk of developing an infection.  If there isn’t enough tooth left to place porcelain crowns on the teeth, the root and remaining tooth structure should be removed very soon.

As far as replacement options go, you could probably have a dental bridge done there. Though they usually only replace a single tooth, they can replace two adjacent ones as well. You could also consider a partial denture.

You didn’t really get into why dental implants put you off.  They’re generally the best choice because they help slow the bone loss that naturally occurs when you’re missing a tooth, plus they are strong and durable. The amount of time spent in the chair per visit is on par with the amount of time you might spend for a crown, though the process, itself, is lengthier. If anxiety is stopping you from getting dental implants, you may want to look for an office that does sedation dentistry as well, so you can be sure you’ll stay comfortable and relaxed throughout the procedure.

Your best bet right now is to get in for an exam, though, before those teeth have a chance to flare up.  You can talk to the dentist about which options are right for you while you’re in. It’s possible, though not likely based on your description, that you can still have crowns done. If you still won’t consider dental implants, a bridge or partial denture are your next best options.

Filed Under: blog, Dental Implants Tagged With: dental bridge, dental implant, dental implants, implant dentist, implant dentistry, missing several teeth, missing teeth, partial denture, porcelain crown, replace broken teeth, replace missing teeth

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