Dental Implants - Single Upper Front Tooth

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  screensaver on 28/05/2022 - 02:54

  As always, shop around. Did you know that its possible to be allergic to the titanium alloy and ceramic might be a better alternative?

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    hasselbladsnapper on 28/05/2022 - 08:47

    Thanks - was unaware that titanium might be an issue!, and ceramic - is that a coating to a metal post or a pure ceramic fixing post, would they cack over time?.

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  EightImmortals on 28/05/2022 - 07:02

  I had a lower front molar done 3-4 years back, my dentist did it in the chair, cost about 3.5 - 4K from memory. No problems at all with it since then. I wouldn't go overseas and get the 'quick' job done. Especially if you have complications when back home and need to get it looked at asap. But by all means shop around your area and also ask around to find a dentist with a good reputation, there are some hacks out there.

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    hasselbladsnapper on 28/05/2022 - 09:07

    I have looked at the webpage of the Smile Group, if you are a member their cost is around $3000, which is what I would think is a fair price. I would expect as dental implants are more common these days that should lower prices. I cant imagine a medical grade titanium screw post would be more than $200.

    I understand the skill and overhead part of the cost but $8400 seems a bit over the top!.

    The replacement teeth are now easy to make in Ceramic with the "Cerac" process of 3D scans and robotic cutting from a blank of ceramic material.
    I have had around 8 ceramic insert plugs made to replace the old amalgum fillings of past years, they work so well and are not too expensive!.

    The implant scene reminds me of the real feral day's of used car salesmen - sorry chaps!. Thanks for your comment.

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      EightImmortals on 28/05/2022 - 09:39

      Yeah I think my dentist might be part of the smile group. Can you find one of them and get it done there?

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        hasselbladsnapper on 28/05/2022 - 12:18

        I suspect this will be the way to go, there are several Smile dentists in Adelaide, in part it's a question which is the best or with most experience.

        Still curious regarding why there are such large apparent price ranges, and have others found the implant process good or perhaps bad?.

        • 

          EightImmortals on 28/05/2022 - 14:04

          +1

          @hasselbladsnapper: Out of all the dental work I've ever had this was the least painful experience of any of them. Which was surprising considering what was involved.

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  zzzz99 on 28/05/2022 - 12:19

  +1

  Hey mate, a few points here and food for thought.

  An anterior implant is not a normal implant. There is much more room for error at the back of your mouth where only your dentist looks compared to the front which is seen by the public, professional colleagues, clients, family and friends and most importantly yourself.

  As much as you don't THINK you care about the aesthetics of the result, part of the criteria of a well-functioning implant is health of the soft tissue and bone around it. Both of which have a major influence on the final aesthetics of the restoration - even more so than the colour and shape of the crown.

  Also, I don't understand why you seem to think that just because Adelaide isn't a "high price city", dental work should be cheaper than say Sydney or Melbourne. A dentist in Adelaide is just as qualified as someone from those high price cities. Would you expect a plumber or electrician to be charging less for the exact same job just because they're located in Adelaide?

  But to answer your question: if you think the price is too high, get a quote from another dentist. But we warned - as with almost everything else in your life - you get what you pay for. A more competitive price often means cheaper materials, poorer skills, less planning, less attention to detail and things may get overlooked. Remember, this is a medical implant. It is going to be placed into your body. Would you be saying the same about a hip replacement or a prosthetic heart valve?

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    hasselbladsnapper on 28/05/2022 - 12:37

    Thanks a lot for your comment, I understand all that you are saying. From the cost perspective that is not my prime consideration, however it is hard for the public to determine who is excellent at what they do. Like many things in life, just paying a top tier price is still not always a guide to expertise.

    I have an expert general dentist, but he is now retired and I am loathe to bother him over my implant issue, he is now a keen fishing charter boat operator, he was glad to step away from dentistry.

    I am just trying to gain some key pointers as to what I should expect or look for. I do appreciate your words of wisdom, I suspect others will too - Thanks.

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      zzzz99 on 28/05/2022 - 16:28

      +1

      Very true - with highly skilled professions such as those in healthcare, it is often difficult for the public to gauge skill level and professional expertise.

      My best piece of advice is to find a dentist you trust. Young or old doesn't matter. I know plenty of young dentists who are at the forefront of the field because they have an admirable drive to learn, reflect and improve their skills. I also know many older dentists who are still using techniques from the 80s and 90s and refuse to learn modern and less invasive ways of doing things because they are set in their ways.

      Find a dentist who spends the time to explain absolutely everything to you. They should be able to answer all your questions with confidence and in a way that you are able to understand. Even if you ask them "Why is this treatment so expensive?" (which is a very valid question) - they should be able to justify their price.

      You can also ask them, whether they have done procedures such as this before and if they have any clinical photographs that they can show you. Clinicians who take photographic records and document their procedures are USUALLY more meticulous and have greater attention to detail (this is a generalisation and may not always be the case). And photographs speak a thousand times louder than words.

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  [Deactivated] on 28/05/2022 - 12:55

  Is it a central incisor or a lateral incisor?

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    hasselbladsnapper on 28/05/2022 - 13:47

    Greetings, yes it's a central incisor - I think it was a number 11 if that is standard numbering.

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      [Deactivated] on 28/05/2022 - 15:11

      +1

      My story won't be as relevant because it applies to a lateral incisor.
      Mine had a root canal many years ago and in late 2019, it snapped off at the gum.
      My dentist in Adelaide quoted around $5,000 for an implant which excluded removal of the roots by an oral surgeon.
      The cost was a bit of a shock but I was more concerned about how long the whole process would take.
      The dentist also talked about a dental bridge as an option with the cantilever type being about half the cost of an implant.
      In the end, I settled for a Maryland bridge at a cost of $1,200 because it could be done in two visits on the same day. The gap payment with Medibank Private extras was $350. The bridge was made in-house with the Cerec system and cemented to the abutting teeth. The downside was that it was a cosmetic solution only and I was warned not to chew on the bridge.
      Unfortunately, the bridge lasted less than 2 years due to repeated failure of the cement.
      I subsequently consulted another Adelaide dentist who told me that the Cerec Maryland bridge was doomed to failure because the wings were too small and cementing it to two abutting teeth was not ideal due to movement of the teeth.
      He suggested a Maryland bridge done the traditional way with an impression (as opposed to a 3D scan) and made by an outside dental technician. The bridge was made with a metal wing and cemented to the abutting canine tooth only. So far so good and the bridge seems to be very stable. Still, I don't chew on it because it is a cosmetic solution only. The other concern is that the roots of the original tooth may need to be removed in future if they decay.
      The cost was around $1,300 and the gap payment was $670 with my extras cover. All up the two bridges have cost me $1,020.
      I am wondering if a cantilever bridge is an option for you if the abutting lateral incisor is strong enough to support it. I believe that a cantilever bridge is stronger than a Maryland bridge and significantly cheaper than an implant. Talk to your dentist :)

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        hasselbladsnapper on 28/05/2022 - 17:15

        +1

        Gazza, thanks so much for your story, most interesting!. I had this discussion with the dentist, and asked about the possibility of some sort of bridge.

        The comment was bridges were not as good as an implant and there were issues regarding IF the bridge would last, it was suggested that failure was quite high on the cards due to the bonding factor.

        Your experience confirms his suggestion, and the titanium implant is indeed the way to go.

        The only task now is to find a competent implant dentist at possibly a sensible price.

        Bit like finding a good GP, word of mouth is often the best way of solving the situation.

        Your comment has been great, thanks for the time taken to relate your story, I'm sure others faced with the situation will gain a wonderful insight from your story!.

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          [Deactivated] on 28/05/2022 - 22:09

          @hasselbladsnapper: You're welcome and the best of luck with whichever procedure you choose.
          Two dentists I thoroughly recommend are Dr Grant Johnstone from Fullarton Park Dental (he tutored final year dental students at Adelaide Uni) and Dr Greg Miller from North Adelaide Dental who was voted SA's best dentist in a poll conducted by The Advertiser.

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            hasselbladsnapper on 29/05/2022 - 21:42

            +1

            @[Deactivated]: Greetings Gazza, have only just fired up the Pc tonight!. Very much appreciate your dentist information, I will follow up on your suggestion's.
            There is nothing like having real life comment on such matters.

            I had an abdominal operation a bit over a year ago and spent some time finding a highly skilled surgeon, the op went perfectly and none of the common risks or issues occured …my reaserch paid off!.

            So with the implant, I'm just trying to have a similar outcome like I had with my operation. My initial medical imaging lady cautioned me over ensuring selecting an expert surgeon as she had others that had botched operations which she had to image to define the problems!.

            Thanks so much for your help, OzBargain is such a great Community.