Post: #1

Anyone ever get them done? What about with bone grafting as well?

Post: #2

Need one done for a missing upper incisor. Looking into getting it done in Eastern Europe as it's cheaper then back home,a lot cheaper. Have not had the scan yet so don't know if I'll need grafts done or not. Grafts sound nasty so I might just get a bridge if I need them.

Post: #3

I would not recommend getting implants done in E. Europe. There is some maintenance phase to them(Usually the first 9 months after implant placement). The implant is generally placed, then loaded with a crown later. If you immediate-load, the probability of failure increases from 1% lifetime to 20% lifetime.

Post: #4

Shop around. I place implants for 900-1000 buxs. CBCT(3-d scan) usually runs about 200 dollars. Shop around if the price is higher. The crown should be about 1k-1.5k.

Post: #5

To give a short summary. The implant is basically a titanium screw that bio-integrates into your jawbone. Ideally this takes 3-4 months on the lower, 6-months on the upper. If there is sufficient bone width and length to place this implant, bonegrafting is not needed. Surgery should run about 1hr start to finish, more on complicated cases.

After healing period, you uncover the implant, and place an abutment. This is a stump that connects to the implant. On top of this abutment, you place a crown.

Best analogy is like a tree. There is the root, the trunk, and everything else. Implant-root, trunk-abutment, everything else attaches to the trunk

Post: #6

Where do you live? Specialists charge 2x-3x for implants. Try to find a general dentist that can place it.

(10-07-2012 07:27 AM)Vorkuta Wrote:  Need one done for a missing upper incisor. Looking into getting it done in Eastern Europe as it's cheaper then back home,a lot cheaper. Have not had the scan yet so don't know if I'll need grafts done or not. Grafts sound nasty so I might just get a bridge if I need them.

Post: #7

What are the odds of success if a bone graft is needed?

I have spoken to a specialist and he said that along with a bone graft, perhaps placing only 1 implant would be done(missing 2 teeth, mandibular central incisors).

Seems like bone would be taken from the hip or jaw, if I recall correctly, then added along with "bone paste/powder" product.

This is all in Europe, but I imagine its similar across the world.

Post: #8

(10-08-2012 12:59 AM)DVY Wrote:  Where do you live? Specialists charge 2x-3x for implants. Try to find a general dentist that can place it.

I'm in the UK and implants cost a lot. I was quoted £4500 in my local implant centre. I can fly to Budapest and have it done for a fraction of that. Even with the two separate visits,flights,hotels etc. it still works out cheaper. I visited the implant centre in Budapest and it's more modern then my one here in the UK. I'd rather do it here for the reasons you mentioned but £4500 versus £1500 - it's a no brainer.

Are you a dentist DVY? If so can I ask what you think about a bridge versus an implant? Also I'm walking around with a hole where my tooth was,can I get a temporary bridge or something to hide the gap?

Post: #9

For temporary purposes you can get partial dentures which cover the space,most people don't notice it.

Its funny how this is a very cosmetic thing...but so serious at the same time. Losing teeth sucks, especially at early age.

Whenever I hear someone had their teeth knocked out, I can sympathize.

Post: #10

If its a small defect, bone from the hip is un-necessary. Hip bone is generally only used in large composite defects and/or as a money-suck( sucking money from patients). We use cadaver bone, which has been irradiated. Works v. well especially for adding width.

TBH, the specialist makes money from placing implants. Depending on your age and for general convenience, I would place a 5-6 unit bridge on the lower. Yes, its not ideal and you need to grind the adjacent teeth down, but in terms of time and convenience, it is imo a superior option. The mandibular incisors always have problems with bone width, and a smaller implant 2.0mm or 2.5mm can be placed, but longevity is lower.

If you wish to email the X-rays to me, I can take a quick look.

To sum up, bridge will likely last 10 years. Implants-??? especially with narrow mandibular anterior ridge. This should be determined on a case by case basis.

(10-08-2012 04:26 AM)Liger Wrote:  What are the odds of success if a bone graft is needed?

I have spoken to a specialist and he said that along with a bone graft, perhaps placing only 1 implant would be done(missing 2 teeth, mandibular central incisors).

Seems like bone would be taken from the hip or jaw, if I recall correctly, then added along with "bone paste/powder" product.

This is all in Europe, but I imagine its similar across the world.

Post: #11

If money is the main issue, check out your local dental school. They might be able to place implants for cheaper.

Yes, I am dentist.
1) Bridge- pros) faster(2-3 weeks), fairly predictable, every dentist does it. Cons) have to grind adjacent teeth
2) Implant- pros) fairly predictable if adequate bone width and length, dont have to grind adjacent teeth cons)- expensive, time consuming waiting for healing period (3-6 months)

Which tooth do you need an implant for? Front/Back, Upper/Lower?

(10-08-2012 05:14 AM)Vorkuta Wrote:  

(10-08-2012 12:59 AM)DVY Wrote:  Where do you live? Specialists charge 2x-3x for implants. Try to find a general dentist that can place it.

I'm in the UK and implants cost a lot. I was quoted £4500 in my local implant centre. I can fly to Budapest and have it done for a fraction of that. Even with the two separate visits,flights,hotels etc. it still works out cheaper. I visited the implant centre in Budapest and it's more modern then my one here in the UK. I'd rather do it here for the reasons you mentioned but £4500 versus £1500 - it's a no brainer.

Are you a dentist DVY? If so can I ask what you think about a bridge versus an implant? Also I'm walking around with a hole where my tooth was,can I get a temporary bridge or something to hide the gap?

Post: #12

If i was in your situation, and i was just one missing tooth, I would go for the bridge option. With the implant, you still need a "flipper", or a partial denture (this implies an additional cost as well).

Patient generally report similar satisfaction with bridges and implants. And considering the crazy prices they want to charge you, plus inconvenience of travel and making/using a partial denture.

Please do not let them sucker you into aesthetics crown( full porcelain-crowns or lithium disilicate). IMO, its a horrible option for men. Men have stronger jaws and bites, and break those aesthetic crowns very quickly.

Porcelain is similar to glass, so it is brittle. These new aesthetic crowns have only had about 5-10 years of data, and the % failure rate is much higher than porcelain fused to metal.

Go with the tried and true PFM (porcelain fused to metal substructure), or if you want to get the best option, get PFG, porcelain fused to gold. Gold is a near ideal material as it is bacteriostatic.

(10-08-2012 02:11 PM)DVY Wrote:  If money is the main issue, check out your local dental school. They might be able to place implants for cheaper.

Yes, I am dentist.
1) Bridge- pros) faster(2-3 weeks), fairly predictable, every dentist does it. Cons) have to grind adjacent teeth
2) Implant- pros) fairly predictable if adequate bone width and length, dont have to grind adjacent teeth cons)- expensive, time consuming waiting for healing period (3-6 months)

Which tooth do you need an implant for? Front/Back, Upper/Lower?

(10-08-2012 05:14 AM)Vorkuta Wrote:  

(10-08-2012 12:59 AM)DVY Wrote:  Where do you live? Specialists charge 2x-3x for implants. Try to find a general dentist that can place it.

I'm in the UK and implants cost a lot. I was quoted £4500 in my local implant centre. I can fly to Budapest and have it done for a fraction of that. Even with the two separate visits,flights,hotels etc. it still works out cheaper. I visited the implant centre in Budapest and it's more modern then my one here in the UK. I'd rather do it here for the reasons you mentioned but £4500 versus £1500 - it's a no brainer.

Are you a dentist DVY? If so can I ask what you think about a bridge versus an implant? Also I'm walking around with a hole where my tooth was,can I get a temporary bridge or something to hide the gap?

Post: #13

DVY,

I went to a dentist yesterday to ask about a bridge. They can do one that does not damage the teeth adjoining to my missing canine. They basically glue the bridge to the adjoining tooth.

Can I get your opinion on that technique,you recommend it? It seems better then damaging my other teeth to take the bridge.

Thanks.

Post: #14

Hmm...if it is what I think, not recommended. You need sufficient physical support (teeth as abutments). Bonding is very weak forces and will not hold up to heavy biting forces. Ask him what exactly he plans to do. Is he bonding an composite tooth to the adjacent teeth? Ive heard of this being done in the 1970s, but it is a tad out of fashion today. IMO, only context in which this would be advisable is in young children who haven't finished growing yet.

Heres my advice...ask your dentist what type of guarantee he will give you. Can he give you a 5 year warranty? If so, I would do it.

The best option is an implant, but if finances are a concern, I recommend a 3-unit bridge....either two premolars, canine hanging, or lateral-premolar. Or if you have a near perfect bite with your canine out of occlusion completely, you can swing a 2-unit hanging bridge....1 premolar crown, 1 hanging crown on canine. As a general rule, the bigger the roots of the teeth, the better the anchorage/support.

Also if possible, send me a PM with your age, X-rays, and detailed estimate with break-down of procedure.

Post: #15

DVY

What do most dentists think about "post and core" as an alternative to implants? Obviously only possible when the roots are still there, but I hear a lot these days about dentists wanting to extract teeth and put in implants. If a tooth is too far gone for a filling, but the roots are still there why not consider post and core with a crown? If for no other reason than it's cheaper than an implant. Also, I don't think a post and core requires than 6 month "settling in" period an implant usually requires.

PS: I may also need a dental implant. From my web research Moldova seems like the cheapest option. Even cheaper than Costa Rica (which seems like a good bet for Americans) and India (which I woudn't consider due to hygiene/sanitation reputation). I haven't seen much from Ukraine, but I'm guessing the prices there would be a bit higher than Moldova. As DVY mentioned, since you have this waiting period with implants you'll need at least 2 trips. Probably only cost-effective if you live in Europe, or travel there often.

Post: #16

The issue is how hopeless is the tooth. It really depends. Some general dentists are implant-happy, because they suck at RCT aspect of dentistry.

Implants are not a cure-all end-all, but that being said "custom" post and core has its applications, but only in specific case where their is sufficient root structure to justify this additional expense

But pretty much every RCT that I do, I add a pre-fabricated titanium post and core, before making the crown.

So like everything else, it depends.

(10-24-2012 01:41 PM)Bad Hussar Wrote:  DVY

What do most dentists think about "post and core" as an alternative to implants? Obviously only possible when the roots are still there, but I hear a lot these days about dentists wanting to extract teeth and put in implants. If a tooth is too far gone for a filling, but the roots are still there why not consider post and core with a crown? If for no other reason than it's cheaper than an implant. Also, I don't think a post and core requires than 6 month "settling in" period an implant usually requires.

PS: I may also need a dental implant. From my web research Moldova seems like the cheapest option. Even cheaper than Costa Rica (which seems like a good bet for Americans) and India (which I woudn't consider due to hygiene/sanitation reputation). I haven't seen much from Ukraine, but I'm guessing the prices there would be a bit higher than Moldova. As DVY mentioned, since you have this waiting period with implants you'll need at least 2 trips. Probably only cost-effective if you live in Europe, or travel there often.

Post: #17

Thanks for the replies and intel DVY. I've found a good place in the city I live doing them for £1000 ( implant and crown ) so I'm going to do it here all being well. I don't have X rays to send you unfortunately as I'd appreciate your opinion. Anyway,appointment on 20th of next month so if I have bone density ( and the price doesn't miraculously rise from the one advertised ) I'll go ahead with it soon after.

Bad Hussar: cheapest I found in Europe is in Belarus at a place called 'Dentko'. They charge $650 US for implant and crown. I had a consultation at 'Art Medic' in Budapest ( a friend had a lot of work done there ). Great practice and my friend's result are fantastic. A bit more expensive then in Belarus though.

Post: #18

(10-25-2012 09:05 AM)Vorkuta Wrote:  Thanks for the replies and intel DVY. I've found a good place in the city I live doing them for £1000 ( implant and crown ) so I'm going to do it here all being well. I don't have X rays to send you unfortunately as I'd appreciate your opinion. Anyway,appointment on 20th of next month so if I have bone density ( and the price doesn't miraculously rise from the one advertised ) I'll go ahead with it soon after.

Bad Hussar: cheapest I found in Europe is in Belarus at a place called 'Dentko'. They charge $650 US for implant and crown. I had a consultation at 'Art Medic' in Budapest ( a friend had a lot of work done there ). Great practice and my friend's result are fantastic. A bit more expensive then in Belarus though.

Belarus? Will check them out. I understand it is still a very closed off society. Would probably feel like a Westerner visiting the ex-USSR during the cold war.

$650 is a great price but I will probably get mine done, if needed, in South Africa, since that is were I am right now. I know the prices here are much cheaper than the USA or Western Europe, but finding out exactly what they are is proving very diffcult. No practice wants to give you any indication at all of a price without an extensive consultation. And that consultation is not all that cheap since it involves the dentists time and X-rays as well. So getting multiple quotes is going to cost a fortune. And in any event Dentists have some sort of proffesional code that prevents them from directly competing with each other. It's very complicated.

Post: #19

Get an x-ray done and get it put into email format by the dentist. Then send that email to prospective dental surgeries you might be interested in. They will quote you free of charge. DVY from this thread is a cool guy so I am sure he would give you his opinion if you sent them to him. I have used Art Medic in Budapest and they were really good,if I hadn't found a cheap place here in the UK I'd not hesitate to return to them. The thing with going abroad is you need to factor in two trips and stay a week on the first trip so costs mount.

Post: #20

I actually have really small teeth. Probably would have to have them all done eventually, since I grind at night. I do wear a mouth guard which I tend to update every 6-12 months. So hopefully I won't have to bridge all of my teeth anytime soon. Sounds like that would be at least 26,000 in Hungary!

Post: #21

Just had my implant surgery an hour back. It was actually pretty painless ( I'm expecting the pain to begin any time now ). They inject you with a pain killer in the jaw and then peel back your gum and drill into your jaw bone. It sounds horrendous and after watching You tube videos of the procedure I was nervous but it hurt less then when I had my teeth bleached. Now I need to wait about 4 months until they can fit a crown to it and I can start smiling again. Total cost will come to $1600 US which is great.

If anyone is considering the procedure but nervous about the surgery,don't worry about it,just get it done.

Post: #22

solid, I am glad it worked out. Make sure you tell him to cement w/temp-bond first. Usually, I cement it w/temp-bond w/ 1/2 vaseline first. That way it works for about 2 months.

Then you have to re-torque the screw( Usually i torque it twice before cementing the 1st time, but it sometimes loosens a little w/use) that connects to the abutment.

Don't know why, but in a few cases, if you just cement it permanent right away. The screw comes loose and its a big hassle to deal with. The end result is a shuttering crown and abutment that is poorly supported. Difficult to fix, you have to drill a hole in the crown, ehhh, not my favorite activity.

Post: #23

I'm thinking about having this procedure done my top row has spaces and looks rather sharp and all of my teeth are yellow.

I'm in the us too so I'm expecting it to be pricey.

Post: #24

I have one implant on the top row of my teeth. I was just born without the tooth so when I was younger my dentist spread my teeth apart with braces and then they put an implant in to make it look more symmetrical. From what I remember, the implant didnt take that long and I was awake the whole time.

Post: #25

I want to do this myself. I hate my teeth and want to replace them with technology. Anyone have opinions on the 4 into 1 or whatever they call it where they replace your whole top or bottom?