Re: Another question about Implants

From: Sky (starkravin_at_aol.com)
Date: 08/04/04 

Date: 4 Aug 2004 14:46:59 -0700

I have recently been diagnosed by a periodontist with periodontal
disease. I am facing the loss of many teeth, and both partial dentures
and implants have been discussed.

The periodonist gave me 2 options, 1st recommendation was to pull my
whole upper, even tho my 6 teeth can be saved now(both my eye teeth
and all 4 of my bi-cupids). He said that because he can't say how long
these would last, it would be cheaper for me in the long run because
if one failed I would have to replace them all.

The 2nd option is pull my front incisors make an implant bridge, keep
both eye teeth and bi-cupids. Replace the molars. This option would
involve 4 implants, so it be more affordable to me. The peri then sent
me to a prostadontist who said if I lost one of the remaining teeth
down the line, he would have to remake the whole thing. So his most
recommanded treatment would be to pull the whole top, because he can't
say how long they will last. But I don't understand why the whole
thing would have to be remade as the front and back molars would not
be attached. I don't see why If I lost one or two down the line I
couldn't just put in a single implant. Option1 would be over 20grand
more then option2. I still don't have all the figures so could be more
and I'm not sure I could afford to do this all at this time. Option 2
my be the only way I could keep myself out of a denture, and save for
any further treatment.
 
As far as I can tell their great Dr's and I trust his opinion, but the
problem with this team is they don't seem to be communicateing with
one another and kept deferring me back and fourth to get my answers.
There have also been differences of opinions which have left me with
more questions and more confusion. I wrote this peri over a week ago
as I wanted to get things cleared up and he hasn't returned my email
as of yet. This kinda upsets me to. To be fair both these Dr's have
spent a great deal of time with me, but being new to this, and in
shock over it I didn't know what questions to even ask.

So I decided to go for a 2nd opinion. I went to a guy who specializes
in implants. He said the only way he would do them is to pull the
whole top. If I couldn't afford it now, he would pull the front and
put in a partcial and just keep cleaning the rest.

I have a dental phobia to begin with, along with a terrible gag reflex
so I am scared of what I am facing. I knew nothing about implants up
until 2 months ago, I only knew one person who had them, and over the
years one by one fell out. Had she had pulled them all she would have
had to have a denture instead of partcials. So pulling them all scares
me more incase they fail. The 1st prost. understood this. The 2nd guy
said if I pull the whole top I have a 99% chance they will take, now I
never heard those odds.

To cut a long story short I'm confused, and scared as I feel pressured
to decide soon as one of my front teeth is loose and it could go. I'm
thinking a 3rd opinion might be a good idea and noticed you said you
knew good Dr's on Long Island. I thought maybe you could recommend
another, I'm in the Babylon/Deer park area.
Thank you.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Another question about Implants
    ... I am facing the loss of many teeth, ... > involve 4 implants, so it be more affordable to me. ... > recommanded treatment would be to pull the whole top, ... > had to have a denture instead of partcials. ...
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