Implant supported bridges to replace traditional failing bridges

[Gems]

This is very specific but I’m wondering if there are any people (especially female) aged around 40s in the Herts area that have had any similar experiences as myself and can offer some support/advice/dentist recommendations.

I have a full mouth of traditional dental bridges - two on the bottom which are now 20 years old and two on the top which are 16 years old. They don’t look awful but are now starting (over the last 3-4 years) to cause persistent issues with infections etc and are essentially failing due to issues with anchor teeth.

My bridge fitting experience 16 years ago was horrific - the swelling and bruising made me unrecognizable and the pain meant I couldnt even sip water for weeks - I lost stones in weight and never left my house! I went back and they eventually redid them admitting they’d left nerves exposed! It was truly terrifying and upsetting and I’ve been petrified and untrusting ever since.

I know I can’t keep putting my health at risk now and need to address my teeth issues once again (a lifelong upset) with implant solutions now. My questions to anyone who has been through something similar is:

1) do you have dentist recommendations especially for hugely nervous patients and would you recommend being put out?
2) how likely am I to have bone loss and therefore require grafting but also sinus lifts which have been mentioned and honestly how painful are these procedures?
3) how long are implant supported bridges honestly likely to last or will I be facing these issues every decade for the rest of my life?
4) what are likely costs in uk - I would have to finance everything with no savings to contribute but am scared to go abroad alone and have this tackled.

I know this is a lot but I’m desperate for some support and someone to talk me through it who is on the other side of this journey. To say that this is taking over my life is an understatement. I feel a financial drain on my beautiful family who I’ll be forever holding back financing this but also feel a freak/embarrassed and ugly and dread what this will look like in any healing phase - I could not conduct myself at work or generally with no teeth for any period of time. This is all because of a hereditary lack of adult teeth and no lack of oral care and hygiene. I feel so so seriously depressed by this not helped by the fact I’m sick again with yet another dental infection.

Thank you to anyone reading who can understand and over any words.

 

[letsconnect]

Hi @Gems, I can't help with being in the same area or the same situation. However, if Welwyn Garden City isn't too far away, I'd recommend setting up a consultation with Lincoln Hirst at Garden City Dental. He's superb with phobic patients and does implants, though I'm not sure if he might refer for more complex implant scenarios. You'd certainly be in good hands there, and get sound advice.

I'm not sure what the current waiting times are as they are two dentists down at the moment (through no fault of their own I should add). The second dentist at the practice, Kalpesh, is also great with nervous patients but I don't know off the top of my head if he does implants. You could ring them and find out . Make sure you mention that you're petrified - they love to help!

The website with the contact info is here: https://www.gardencitydental.co.uk/

Please keep us updated - I hope you'll be able to get the help and care you deserve

(P.S. I don't think you'll be able to get any meaningful answers regarding your dental situation online, because there tend to be so many different factors involved, and the only way to get answers that are actually relevant to your situation will be to see a competent dentist in person and get their advice.)