On 10/11/2015 7:03 AM, Gary wrote:
>
> I do get the impression that the implants are the next best thing to
> real. Do you find this to be true? I still have all my teeth (3 are
> crowned though). If I live long enough that will change eventually. I
> suppose people get used to dentures but it's a scary thought to me.
>
> Also with dentures, you would go for years with missing teeth before
> requiring a full denture unless you just get many good ones pulled too
> all at once. Partials sound like a pain to deal with (and scary too).
> The implants sound like a good alternative if you can afford them. At
> least with implants you can get one at a time as a real tooth needs to
> come out.
>
My middle brother unfortunately had really bad teeth, gums and bone
loss. He had dental insurance through work but *never* met his
deductible even though it seemed he was always having something done.
He got tired of it and decided to have ALL of his teeth pulled and
replaced with implants. Obviously not a covered by insurance thing.
This was about 15 years ago.

IIRC he borrowed against his 401K and Dad kicked in some money. He
negotiated a discount with the oral surgeon in exchange for updating her
web site.

He had to have cadaver bones implanted in his jaw to support the
implants because he had significant bone loss in his jaw. The entire
process took about a year (she didn't pull all his teeth at once) and
cost over $30,000. A couple of months after it was all done (lovely
smile!) one of the implants broke and he had to pay to have it replaced.

Implants are probably the next best thing to real teeth but they do
require maintenance and replacement from time to time. Worth it? You
decide.

Jill