My teeth are starting to fall like dominoes. At my age and considering the expense, implants aren't happening. The dentist suggests a partial bridge for the lower molars left and right.

Some I've talked to have had no luck with the partials. Particularly my cousin who had a nightmare experience. A windfall allowed her to spring for implants, at least on one side so far and she no longer has to eat like a rabbit. Good for her.

Thoughts on partial bridges?

I've had a lower for years. Four bottom-front teeth and one lower-left. It's about to go back to add an element to replace a back lower-right that was just extracted.

My experience has been about like wearing eyeglasses and hearing aids: Not ideal, but tolerable.

It probably mostly depends upon how well your dentist does the impressions and how well the lab fabricates the results.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

My experience has been about like wearing eyeglasses and hearing aids: Not ideal, but tolerable.

Same experience here.
Lower teeth on both sides of my jaw.
Implants were discussed but after knowing 2 people that had problems, I passed.

I couldn't tell the difference between mine and my natural teeth, neither can Mrs. Flash.

OTOH, we had great Dentists (two different ones).

quote:

Originally posted by joatmonv:
Implants were discussed but after knowing 2 people that had problems, I passed.

We discussed them, for me, too.

First problem, in my case: I've suffered significant periodontal disease for years. So there's been bone loss. My periodontist was fairly certain bone grafting would have been required prior to placing implant posts.

Thus: Merely four elements, on the top, would have cost $16,000 to $20,000. And that was in addition to the cost of pulling the teeth that needed to be pulled, a full perio scaling, etc., etc.

Nope.

So, after the next tooth gets pulled I'll also end up with a partial on top.

yay.

quote:

Thoughts on partial bridges?

I have had a fixed bridge, upper canine-to-canine, for over 20 years now. No issues, not all that different from having healthy intact original teeth. The key, as told to me by my dentist, is to use solid anchor teeth, and more than one of them, preferably at each end of the bridge. If you still have a couple of good healthy teeth at the ends of the gap, I'd say go ahead, if these teeth are marginal too, get your gingivitis cleared up first.

My need was caused by a youthful encounter with a concrete curb that broke the momentum of a head-over on my bicycle. Knocked my incisors flat up against the roof of my mouth. pushed them back in place with my tongue. One of them healed in place just fine, the other not so much. 30 years later, the dead tooth fell out, root rotted from the bottom up.

When I had a partial bridge installed, the dentist said that it should last for 25 years. I just had it re-done, after 27 years. The replacement seems to be just fine and at age 85, I don't think it will need to last for another 25 years.

I’m in the process of getting one at present.

I nixed implants too, my previous dentist pushed those and crowns, high profit services. But more importantly I wasn’t too wild about having posts put into my jaw.

Implants are amazing. Get the right endodontist!

My $0.02 pesos

In a perfect world I would have went with implants. But since they’re not free, I choose a partial. Upper teeth, 3 on right, 2 on left. There’s a learning curve as far as getting used to them. They look a lot better than no teeth. It’s also not normal for a metal partial arch in the roof of your mouth. And you must be gentle when biting down on something hard. All in all, a lot better than the bill hilly look.
I ended up going to Case Western Dental School and having it done. The work is done by an almost graduated Dental student and supervised by a Dentist preceptor. They had already passed their boards but couldn’t call themselves a Dentist til they graduated.
The positives were price. $600 for partial, $300 for a crown. Negatives were an hour drive with numerous trips for each step of the procedures. But my time isn’t worth much and they always tried to accommodate my schedule.
I could never find anyone with a good reputation who would take my Advantage plan dental. This was my best choice.
I never knew a crown only lasted around 12 years. I had 6 that failed very close together. I didn’t have many choices after that.

Thanks so much for everyone's experiences. Talking to my cousin had me pretty down. I don't think she pursued the problems with her bridge because she came into the means to get the implants. Feeling a lot better about it all and even a little optimistic things will get better. (note toothy smile)

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by joatmonv:
Implants were discussed but after knowing 2 people that had problems, I passed.

We discussed them, for me, too.

First problem, in my case: I've suffered significant periodontal disease for years. So there's been bone loss. My periodontist was fairly certain bone grafting would have been required prior to placing implant posts.

Thus: Merely four elements, on the top, would have cost $16,000 to $20,000. And that was in addition to the cost of pulling the teeth that needed to be pulled, a full perio scaling, etc., etc.

Nope.

So, after the next tooth gets pulled I'll also end up with a partial on top.

yay.

My cost after insurance for four wisdom teeth and one molar extraction with bone graft and one implant is near $10k.

I have 4 implants right now, getting ready for the 5th later this year. A good oral surgeon makes for success. Mine are almost 10 years old now. Feels like real teeth, of course I bought dental insurance for the company that covers implants knowing that I would need them.
My dad at 87 with dentures had 4 implants installed and his dentures lock onto those. Do not be afraid of them and you can finance them now if you need to. Also the costs have gone way down since they first started doing them.

I've had a partial upper for molars for well over 10 years, and it's had canines added to it since then.

On the RV forum I frequent I read about a lot of people going to Mexico for dental.
Either a border town near Yuma or a vacation spot.
I have never read of a problem. Dental offices are stated as "state of the art".
Going to Rocky Point and getting dental work and enjoying the ocean seems like a great time.

In my opinion an implant is better than a bridge. It is beyond stupid that dental insurance is willing to pay for a bridge, which damages the teeth on both sides of the bridge, but the will not pay for an implant. That is my insurance anyways, which is pretty damn good insurance. It is close to $3-5K per tooth for an implant. Luckily for me I have only needed one so far.

Did the partials about 35 years ago. Never got used to them (upper and lower), zero comfort levels.

Past year has included removal of my remaining upper teeth and a new denture. Very difficult transition period which I am still working through after 9 months.

The first hurdle is learning how to go through daily life with a hockey puck in your mouth. Learning how to chew all over again, without chewing your lips, cheeks, and tongue. Dealing with gag reflex several times every day. Oddly enough, I had to learn how to spit all over again. Finally, I am now learning how to whistle again, so I think I am just about ready to accept the new realities.

I've had cataract surgery with new lenses inserted last year. I went from 20-200 to 20-30 uncorrected, the total bill was $28k+, all covered by Medicare etc.

I'm starting on bridges, extractions of teeth first, root canal, then construction. All told that will be over $7k with only $1.5k covered. The rest is out of pocket, no Medicare.

I'm not sure they are price gouging compared to the removal of natural lenses by ultrasonic needle and insertion of a new polymer lens thru the same. It rolls up for minimal invasive care. Dentists, not so much.

Good clean teeth with no decay are the most likely source of health status, so extractions and root canals are the biggest impact. I could still see well enough to drive - or so I thought, but the constant drain on health with bad teeth is worth getting fixed.

The problem is what would the real consumer price be had no insurance been involved? Compare cataracts to lasik and the investment in equipment and training there. I was entertaining $2,500 for both eyes at one time and attending the sales pitch just to enter into getting it done, FREE, if I won.

Anyway, so much for this years IRS refund, and hopefully it won't take until October like last year.