Bridge or Implant????

[JudyJB]

I have an infected tooth that needs to be pulled on Monday and need some advice.

They gave me the option of a bridge or an implant. I chose the implant based on advice from a friend, but I am not committed to it. Cost, with a discount, is $4990 for the implant. I need to call tomorrow to get an estimate for the bridge, but I think it will be about half. Can I ask what you paid and what your estimate was for the implant?

I'd appreciate advice from anyone else on this decision. It is a back tooth, so will never be seen. They told me the work to do the bridge was very extensive on the two teeth on either side of the bridge, which sounded awful. It was several appointments and a lot of grinding, etc. They also said I would get a lot of food stuck in bridge.

I'd rather not go to Mexico, but I am not committed to this dentist, other than I really need the tooth pulled soon to get rid of the infection. (I have only gone to this dentist twice before--once for a cleaning and once for a cap. My son and his family go to this office, however, and have been satisfied.) I had it looked at in Napa the last week of May and was given two rounds on antibiotics, but the infection "bubble" is still there. This dentist gave me more antibiotics, and I am scheduled to get it pulled on Monday, July 19th.

[JudyJB]

Redetotry: Can you please answer a couple of questions?

You said it looked great. Can you be more specific? Can you see metal or how it is hooked to teeth next to it?

I am trying to read up to types of bridges. This article describes four types. https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-bridge Which did you have?

Also, if you had the type with caps on both teeth next to it, did they have to do a lot of grinding and putting on new caps? You said you had a temporary cap. When did they put on the permanent one and how long did it take?? Only one appt??

[snowball]

I haven't had either however I need one or the other probably will be a bridge as I can't afford the implant even down in Mexico....when I was asked about getting a bridge all that was mentioned was that it would be a time between when the tooth was pulled and when the bridge could be put in ... my dil's mother had implants done at a place in Casper Wy one of the schools as I understood it and there was a long time in between having her teeth pulled (I think it was a full month ) and like a year in between so perhaps more question's are needed... my tooth that was pulled was also a back one....
good luck in your research
sheila

[JudyJB]

Apparently they wait 4-6 months for jaw to heal after tooth is pulled to put base into bone and then wait another 4-6 months for bone to grow around it. Then finally they put on fake tooth. So it is almost a year.

I have some savings but I hate to spend that much money on a tooth when I might need it in a few years when I am really older.

[Redetotry]

Redetotry: Can you please answer a couple of questions?

You said it looked great. Can you be more specific? Can you see metal or how it is hooked to teeth next to it?

I am trying to read up to types of bridges. This article describes four types. https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-bridge Which did you have?

Also, if you had the type with caps on both teeth next to it, did they have to do a lot of grinding and putting on new caps? You said you had a temporary cap. When did they put on the permanent one and how long did it take?? Only one appt??

Yes, mine look absolutely normal. In one appointment he pulled the front tooth, ground down the teeth on either side, which didn't take long. After that he did impressions and went back and made the temporary bridge. It looked really good. I don't think I was there much over an hour. I asked for 'laughing gas which was wonderful I drove home after stopping at a farmers market the gas wears off pretty fast. There is no gap between my teeth and my gum line. The trick to that is to wait 4 weeks before they put in the permanent bridge in so your gum has time to heal and recede. They gave me the choice of having it put in after two weeks but the nurse whispered to me to pick 4 weeks and explained why. Since yours is a back tooth though you could probably be ok with the two week wait. I only had two appointments. Hope this helps.

[Irmi]

Judy, because all my teeth that remained were hanging by their roots, I chose to have full upper and lower implants. I had my teeth pulled and the implants were put in the same day. Because of the time consuming surgery, I was asleep and from start to finish was about 6 hours. I understand what you are having done and what I had done are on two different ends of the spectrum, but Steve & I both love the end results. I've had the implants for three years and my bones are growing around them just fine.

[retiredhappy]

Prior to my dentures, I had a bridge which was fastened to the teeth on either side of the missing one. Eventually over time, the bridge became loose and harmed one of the teeth it was attached to. It sounds to me like an implant would be a better and less harmful to your other teeth. I understand the higher cost but the bridge eventually ended up having to be removed and I ended up with dentures so the accumulative costs probably equals the implant. This was years ago, prior to implants so don't know if its relevant. I had to get dentures because by the time I needed them I had enough bone deterioration that implants weren't feasible. Just a thought, but since its a back tooth is it really necessary to do more than just pull it? I had a tooth pulled years ago and eventually the tooth next to it filled in the gap.

[Redetotry]

Redetotry: Can you please answer a couple of questions?

You said it looked great. Can you be more specific? Can you see metal or how it is hooked to teeth next to it?

I am trying to read up to types of bridges. This article describes four types. https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-bridge Which did you have?

Also, if you had the type with caps on both teeth next to it, did they have to do a lot of grinding and putting on new caps? You said you had a temporary cap. When did they put on the permanent one and how long did it take?? Only one appt??

Sorry I forgot to say how it is attached, there is no metal. It is all one piece and they just popped it onto the teeth on either side and glued it. If the dentist gets a good match to the color of your other teeth I don't think anyone could tell. I would talk to another dentist. Even with the temporary I could eat fine from the beginning. I just looked up the cost, I paid almost $1,000.00 but I have insurance.

[JudyJB]

Thanks, Irmi, but I can't imagine 6 hours of surgery! Wow. And Karen, you make some good points. I was told having teeth move was bad because it could cause bone loss, which is a negative to a bridge. I did some online research, and it said a bridge can cause bone lose over time, which is a good reason for an implant. The article I read said a bridge can also cause damage to the teeth it is attached to, so another negative.

As far as I know, all my other teeth are good and I have good bone in my jaw, although at my age, things might change. I also do not have osteoporosis, which is one question the dentist asked, which is a reason for the implant.

I can see how difficult it would be if the bridge did not work out and I had to have an implant eventually anyway. My mother had a bridge, but it was a three-tooth bridge and the teeth attached to other teeth by metal. She had to take it out every time she ate anything because of food getting stuck, but this does not seem to be a problem with newer ones, right?

Still more thinking, but I really appreciate hearing about your experiences.

[BirdbyBird]

I don't have any experience...yet....but several years ago I asked my Dental hygienist, which I have been going to for over 15 years, what her opinion of implants was. She did admit that they were more expensive but said that would be the route she would go if she lost a tooth, She gave many of the same pluses that others have mentioned.