Dental Implants: Highlights and Horror Stories

Seeking the type of dental implants Sunbury locals rely on to last for a long time? Longevity of dental implants is commensurate with quality …

It’s hard to choose which to look at first.

All the great aspects of having functioning teeth and a smile worth smiling about? Or experiences that haven’t gone so well and all that comes with that.

It’s interesting. I don’t know that we look at accident statistics when we’re thinking of buying a car.

Maybe we do; and non-negotiable safety features are automatically part of the criteria. Who knows how we make decisions on anything, really; an average personal best can’t be more than 63%. How is a successful choice decided anyway? Does opting for a larger pizza count, because that’s dinner and breakfast covered? Or is it only life-changing decisions that are in the running … and the elusive ones? How are they even accounted for? Changing your mind about a route or timetable that meant you weren’t hit by a bus is both life-changing and unknowable.

Apparently the option that makes us feel less bad, is the decision we make. Much like a federal election.

Choosing dental implants is big step after all the regretful ones that ultimately lead us there. Not by design: by fear or finances or genetics or just plain unknowing. Nobody decides to compromise their looks, their health, and their finances because it’s a brilliant idea. Life gets in the way for some at the most inopportune moment, via means they never expected.

The loss of dental health, the subsequent procedures and having to reconcile the personal responsibility in the outcome is a lonely and unpleasant walk of shame nobody thought they’d take, or particularly wants to. There’s gratitude in the improved materials and techniques. Shock-volts at the cost; and having to seriously contemplate how high a price health and self-worth actually have. Reaching the implant stage is all those confronting, scary, challenging decisions done.

Or maybe not yet.

After the self-berating and the emotional grab-bag arrives just after the first dental appointment with the often quite unexpected news, a whole set of new skill areas emerges. The previously under-utilised and dormant arts of research, and time-sensitive scheduling and logistics all within budgetary constraints, suggests film producing not a completely absurd career change, except that it is.

The dance of dentistry damage-to-restoration moves from a box-step, to some often unchoreographed footwork where your feet are definitely not on solid ground, and your centre of gravity isn’t where it always was.

Offering info on the worst before the best seems manipulative somehow. As if the end point is supposed to be a resounding ‘YES!’ because the advantages are forefront in your mind, being that you even had the patience to read a ten-minute piece of human writing. Leaving the reported horror stories for last seems like a remote sport in convincing a reader of one thing, only to deflate them at the end. Like manifesting a lovely, happy red balloon just for it to meet a pearl-embellished hatpin.

Either way, someone is bound to be disappointed. Possibly more informed; but disappointed nonetheless. Or at least with an understanding that no matter the number of available TikToks with nothing but dazzling dentistry deed performed within the country or overseas, they’re not the whole story.

Even the whole story is unlikely to be the whole story. Risks are inherent during every stage; no matter how routine or low-on-the-scale of probability they’re considered. It’s all thrumming white noise amid the steep and exhausting learning curve, until it’s you.

A holistic dentist will tell you not to believe all the hype about dental implants. That they are customised as indistinguishable from your natural teeth, that the osseointegration of the posts stimulate and preserve bone loss. That you don’t need to invest a veritable fortune to restore use and pride in your dental health and aesthetics. Other dental clinics claim surgical times as short as 24-hours in which to be the recipient of functional, permanent, smile-worthy teeth.

Sometimes an implant isn’t the right thing to do. It’s not a simple case of missing-tooth-solved-by-implant; which could also serve as the dullest detective mystery every written.

To be a good candidate you have to have healthy jaw bone. Which you may not have, given that the bone loss of severe periodontitis results in tooth loss – and possibly the reason for the necessary tooth replacement.

Healthy bone presupposes a healthy person overall, and there are many aspects in that. Hype highlights the sanitised story of a screw being put into the bone of your jaw with a new tooth put on like a lovely top hat and it’s all done.

It’s not that simple. Nor should it be when it involves metal, surgery and inside your mouth.

Dental implants are screw-like tooth roots, surgically introduced into the jaw to fuse and begin its life as a permanent anchor for crowns, bridges or dentures. It’s done in multiple stages over several months. In the same way a foundation for a house is built, it can end up taking longer and things can go wrong.

Having unmanaged diabetes significantly impacts the healing speed and process, which increases the risk of infection. Immune system conditions, or undergoing chemotherapy also makes you more susceptible to infection and implant failure. Mild gum disease can be treated prior to the procedure, but periodontitis resulting in unhealthy gum tissue, jeopardises implant success.

Often, it designates candidacy for the process invalid. Sturdy bone quality is needed; in certain circumstances a bone graft may be an option.

Medications for osteoporosis can also lead to serious complications. As do sinus issues pose a challenge with perforation a possibility without precision placement of the implant. Decreased blood to the gums, impaired immune response, and the high risk of gum disease with smoking means that unless you give it up for good, a dental implant by one of our Sunbury dentists is not on your horizon.

Bruxism can lead to a loosening or fracture of the implant because of too much force being placed upon it.

For once, provided your bone health and overall health is good, being older is better. Implants do fail the longer they’ve been there, and younger patients are strongly encouraged to keep the offending tooth or teeth for as long as is functionally possible.

Even when it all seems a viable option unforeseen things can happen.

Patient reports on Reddit include, “I have all on four top and bottom. I had it done 3 years ago for $45k. I have had a lot of discomfort on and off with my bottom implants and am considering having them removed and getting dentures.”

“I got my top arch with 6 implants which was about $AU15k including iv sedation and bone grafting in Vietnam. Saved $AU40k doing it there.”

“Cost me $60k for All-on-4 top and bottom. Had I been younger (now in my 70’s) I would have considered overseas with a holiday included but at my age … “

Cheaper is not always better in the world of implants. The system quality, surgeon’s experience, planning process, bone health, aftercare, and the dental clinic’s ability to support you years later, all carry significant weight on the 10-to-15 year outcome.

Cost depends on the complexity of the case. Unlike most instances where technological improvements reduce the price, for implants it has actually increased. Failure can not be an option because the remedy is more invasive and more protracted than the original procedure.

Meticulous dental care exceeds that of looking after a natural tooth. Diligent flossing and water flossing, more cleaning, more maintenance, more regular dental appointments.

It’s a lot. And there’s more. But sometimes enough is enough to encourage some useful personal research from unbiased resources.

Sure there are dental implant success stories. Success stories are easy to find, challenging to validate, and part of the wondrous circus of consumerism in which we like to immerse and entertain ourselves.

For quality candidates, getting dental implants in Sunbury are as close as not having lost any teeth as you can get. They’re fixed, functional and frequently flashier than the forerunner. Just don’t dazzle yourself with the idea that it’s a bit like replacing the head on your toothbrush: simple, fast, and straightforward (after the swearing and tearing at impenetrable packaging). It’s an expensive, lengthy, multi-staged procedure that involves anaesthetics, incisions, sutures, painkillers and pain. Only you know if it’s worth it.

What we know it’s worth, is more than a cursory look at what having a dental implant actually means. And the suitable alternatives.

Highlight the horror stories because they’re real. Figure out if you could deal with them were any to actually happen. Truly understand what makes having an implant important to you, and what you’re prepared to risk, compromise or change in order to have it.

A caring dental professional’s focus isn’t simply on the issues with your oral health. Your medical history, lifestyle habits, finances, and available procedure and healing time are all taken into consideration amid the evaluation, discussions, x-rays, 3D scans and tears sometimes.

Which in themselves can be through highlight or horror. You know which of those you’re aiming for. Be well informed without thinking you’ve earned numerous search engine dental degrees. Be open to the experience and advice of qualified dental professionals because they do know more than you. Ask questions. Be curious, be confident and be courageous.

Whatever you decide.