quote:

Originally posted by irreverent:
I think there is someone in Minnesota that is involved in oral healthcare on this board. I can’t remember if he’s a dentist or orthodontist, but he would be someone I would listen to if he jumped into the convo.

That's me. I'm a retired orthodontist.

I'd definitely suggest going with an oral surgeon for initial placement of the implants. Either a general dentist or prosthodontist is needed to do the final crowns once everything is healed in place. I'd avoid same day places. Loading the implant too early increases the rate of failures.

In my 30 years of practice, I set up many spaces that were to be restored with implants and had a few go to foreign countries for the work. I wouldn't recommend it. I recall two from Mexico that were utter disasters. One came back with the implants placed at all kinds of goofy angles that made correctly shaped crowns nearly impossible. Another had a serious infection that resulted in significant bone loss requiring a graft.

An oral surgeon and general dentist that have previously worked together on cases is always a plus. They know what the other is looking for. Start with whichever you have a relationship with and ask them for help choosing the other.

My Dentist retired, Oral surgeon retired, received a letter a couple of weeks ago my GP is going to retire at the end of the year.
My Endodontist retired.
I afraid I'm being retired! Notice the teeth!
Endodontist daughter took over practice, maybe saved my life when I saw her for my last root canal.
I'll call and see if she will see me without a referral. I probably made several airplane payments for her father.
Sit in the chair and look at pictures from OshKosh.
Thanks for the replies. I'll figure it out. My procrastination needs to come to an end.

quote:

Originally posted by Schmelby:
Endodontist daughter took over practice, maybe saved my life when I saw her for my last root canal.
I'll call and see if she will see me without a referral.

An endodontist wouldn't typically be involved in implant cases where the teeth are being extracted, but would certainly know some names around town, be familiar with their work and give you a starting point.

I bailed on one half way and ~$2.5k thru, insurance fine print and some other life stuff got me, but known many who have. $0.02:

- $,$$$ You get hit on multiple levels; dentist, entemendologist, implant itself, temporary, crown etc.

- $1k+ spent at entemendologist is not a one and done lock. No guarantees, I had to go back for a second $1k visit

- Check your insurance; I was coached by my dentist: do first half in Dec and second half in Jan to max out benefits (My cheap/crappy dental plan had a per calendar year limit)

- If you can kick the can down the road a little, might be able to upgrade your dental plan to the "Platinum/Delux" version for the year and in the end come out on top. Check fine print carefully

- If you can and you have one, pump up your HSA, then the $ is pre-tax

- > $7.5k total per year (I think?) medical expenses become high enough to itemize versus standard deduction, so that and using HSA = ~15-20% off (So closer to highway robbery versus robbery + rape)

I love all dentists...just like lawyers!