Nervous about getting an implant

[happypuppy54]

HELP!!! I have extreme dental anxiety and phobia. I have been going to my dentist every 4 months for cleanings etc for 8 years per my suggestion. My dentist replaced an existing crown last year for "cosmetic reasons" he said ....it had a root canal and post and crown years ago. I was having no problems with it all. After the new crown was inserted problems developed! Crown fell out once. Recemented
A few months later crown and post fell out. Great. Bonded in this time.
Got a second opinion & dentist said an implant was a good idea
I am freaking out about this!
I don't do pain well. I read that implants fail. Second general dentist said he would do everything. Extraction. Bone graft and implant. He said he would insist on the bone graft! Me? Not confident. He said he has been doing implants 10 years.
I know an oral surgeon and she is fantastic. I don't want to offend the dentist but I think if I need an implant I should have it done by the oral surgeon who does many of them every day.
Do you really need a bone graft for an implant???
How much pain is really involved with the entire process? Why can't I get a temporary crown? He said no.
I am very upset about this and I don't know if I can go through it.
I saw my Endodontist last week She said she would do the root canal again as a retreat. I'm so confused and upset. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Everyone is saying that implants fail. Expect to be in pain for the rest of your life. Can someone please explain the process. Why can't I get a new post and crown? My endodontist said maybe you can ask for a bone graft and get a new post?
It's #12 tooth. Thank you for your help.

 

[MountainMama]

My implants were the easiest dental procedures I had done. I preferred the implant to root canals, extractions and anything else.

The bone graft is actually super simple. They extract the tooth and pack it with the grafting material and sew it shut. It is easier because you don’t have to worry about the clot or bleeding. Then you go back 4 months later and they place the implant. I had nitrous oxide with my procedures.

 

[happypuppy54]

Thank you for your reply. Were you in a lot of pain? My dentist said "Plan on being in pain for a year" because of the surgery for the extraction and the implant inserted. I'm a very nervous person when it comes to dentist. Did you have an oral surgeon do everything? My dentist said he can do it all. But I've read that implants fail after 4 years if not done properly. I don't understand why I need a bone graft but it's been mentioned.

 

[HeatherWasHere]

In pain for a year?! No. That would be totally abnormal. Search implants on this site to read people’s stories.

 

[drhirst]

Hey @happypuppy54,
My view is that if you are below about 50 years old, it is a front tooth and it original can be saved then you would be better off with redoing the root canal and keeping the tooth longer. That way the implant stands a better chance of lasting your lifetime. If and implant fails in a very visible area the new implant will need a lot of grafting to make it look good. So one point for keeping the tooth if you are under 50, one point for the implant if you are over 50.
I would say the success rate of implants is better that a post crown that keeps failing, so one point for the implant.
I do not recognise the predication that you will be pain for a year with the implant treatment but a rct will moslty be the least painful root. So one point for keeping the tooth.
Not having a temporary restoration makes it easier for the dentist but most very experienced implant dentists will be able to come up with something ... So one point for getting another opinion!
Best of luck

Lincoln

 

[happypuppy54]

Thank you for your reply. I'm over 50. It's #12. Endo said a retreat root canal is a good idea. If I get a retreat can I get a new post and crown? My dentist is pushing for an extraction. Then in a few months a bone graft. Then in a few months the implant is inserted. Then in a few months the final crown. Do I need a bone graft? Can't they put the bone graft in during the extraction process? I'm leaning towards an oral surgeon to do the extraction because it's a root canal tooth and isn't it possible that the tooth could shatter or break during the extraction???? My dentist seems to think he can do it all. What do you think?

 

[happypuppy54]

@MountainMama What type of surgery did you have to get your implants inserted? I've read there's 2 different procedures. Best one is stents are used with CT scan and only one procedure to drill into the jaw instead of cutting the gum in 2 places.
I've been trying to not read too much about it. There's one person on this group that has a lot of things to say about how painful it was for her.

 

[drhirst]

Hi @happypuppy54'
If your dentist is confident he can extract the tooth then the chances are he can, however, if you would feel more confident being referred to an oral surgeon then do it, it's your mouth after all.
Whether a graft can be done at the time of extraction depends on what the extraction site looks like and the preference in technique of the the dentist involved so I can not really answer that one for you.

 

[MountainMama]

@MountainMama What type of surgery did you have to get your implants inserted? I've read there's 2 different procedures. Best one is stents are used with CT scan and only one procedure to drill into the jaw instead of cutting the gum in 2 places.
I've been trying to not read too much about it. There's one person on this group that has a lot of things to say about how painful it was for her.

Sorry, just saw this. I am not sure about the two different procedures, but I have had two different types of implants, bone level and gum level. Both of them involved the extraction and grafting done at the same time, then the implant being placed months later, then the crown months after that. I have had all screw retained implants. The only one that was different was my front upper tooth, because the oral surgeon placed the implant and did the graft at the time of extraction. Then instead of doing a healing cap, he covered the implant with gum and opened it back up months later and placed the healing cap once it was ready for a crown.

I have had four implants and only one of them hurt after getting placed. It was intense but only hurt for about 12 hours. Looking back, I think I wasn’t keeping up with my medication, plus I had an ulcer previously and couldn’t take NSAIDs so I was taking Tylenol and tramadol, nothing stronger. I was waiting too long in between doses. The other implants were not painful much, and the healing time was quick for all of them. I also have atypical facial pain so my pain experience is not reliable.

 

[Maggs]

@MountainMama did you get implants after the AFP diagnosis? Or any other type of invasive dental work? I’ve been diagnosed with it and I’m terrified to get more work done.

 

[MountainMama]

I did get an implant after the diagnosis. Any work does make it worse but it is temporary.