Was at the dentist earlier to have a specialist look at my gums and teeth. Long story short, I have to have gum surgery plus bone grafting in two areas where bone loss is severe. Cost for each area is $1200 for the gum surgery part and $500 for the bone grafting in which the dentistist will have to use some sort of "matrix" from a donor to fill in the space where bone used to be. There is a third area that just requires gum surgery. I'm looking at $4600 total.

I don't care about pain at this point but rather the cost. I have no dental insurance so this will be out of pocket. Fortunately I was offered a payment plan through this dental credit card company from the office. There is no interest as long as the minimum is paid within 12 months, which I can do. In fact, I can pay the total cost in cash, but I don't want to do that with other bills to pay.

Anyone had this procedure done? How wa sthe pain during and after the procedure? How much did it cost? I'm in California. Don't know if it would be cheaper elsewhere.

Man, I'm just bummed about this. I was expecting the news anyway, as years ago my dentist had suggested gum surgery...I didn't do it and now I need bone grafting.

*sigh* The past few days I've been teasing myself by looking at Craigslist for prices on Porsches 914 and other 2-seaters and also reading about them online. Is a 914 worth it...maybe a 3rd gen MR2 (prices are cheap for them here it seems) or a Honda Del Sol for a fun daily driver. Foprget about that now.

$4600, financed over time, from a medical professional you trust in an area of your body that is

LESS THAN 3 INCHES FROM YOUR BRAIN

is a gift.

Money or health?

I wish all decisions were so straight-forward.

Be well.

.

My wife had to have an implant. The implant failed due to inadequate bone mass. They did a bone graft with cadaver bone. She did not have any issue with the graft and it has been several years now. She has yet to go back for the implant. The first one went really bad. Had an infection and it really hurt for a while after they took it out. I guss she is a bit gun shy right now.

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Like a fool, I got bridges on both lower sides of my mouth - late 70s and then late 80s.. I wish to hell I'd had some good counseling as it was a mistake, IMO. The next to the back molar was missing on both sides - at different times - and it was annoying so (smacks forehead) the dentist ground down the relatively good teeth on each side and fixed a bridge. The second one failed after a few years and one of the teeth decayed too far to save and the other snapped off what was worth keeping when the bridge came off owing to only being fastened on one end. I didn't get implants soon enough on that side and lost too much bone. The other side, I didn't waste any time. Within a few weeks of losing the forward tooth, I got two implants. The back took stump was still viable amazingly enough.

It's worked out great. I need to look into the possibility of more bone on the other side. One dentist told me of a procedure where they break the bone sideways and attach a sort of support that will keep pulling the two sides apart as it heals, as newly added knitted bone material is quite strong. Not sure if it's a widely used or respected procedure as I can't find anything about it, not a good sign in itself. Sounded intriguing at any rate.

I'm big on the implant route. I'd be a candidate for a lower set of false teeth or partial false bridge without them. I hear the partials usually end up in people's desk drawer.

I'll look forward to hearing how this turns out. I don't want removable false teeth in my life if I can arrange it.

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I have no experience with this, but it certainly sounds like something deserving encouragement and wishing best of luck with it.

Hang tough!

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Two of my buddies did this. It took months from start to finish. Both got a fake tooth, which somehow is screwed into the bone grafted area. They actually use a torque-like wrench when they cranked in the tooth. Both of my buddies said they are happy with it.

My wife had this done and it worked just fine but make sure your Dentist is experienced in the procedure and that you have a 24 hr contact # or Hospital reference set up if there is an issue.

On my side I had 2 horizontal impacted wisdom teeth extracted and they used HCR mixed with human bone to fill the holes (looked like Panama Canal according to DDS). and have had no issues in 20 years.