This week, I am starting gruelling dental treatment to fill a gap where a tooth was removed during the Covid pandemic. I find it hard to chew on that side and sought out a local specialist dentist who does implants. He has glowing reviews on his website. He took a CT scan of my mouth and did measurements and declared that he didn't feel confident doing an implant, as there is not enough bone density to insert an implant that would otherwise come into contact with a nerve within millimetres of it. Even if he injected artificial bone to augment the bone density, he still feels the implant would fail and cause me 18-months of painful treatment that would fail. He is THE MAN to do implants and even lectures on the subject at University College London, so, if he says it is not possible, then I believe him. He could have just taken my money and done a bad job, but was at least honest. He suggested a bridge would solve the problem more than adequately, so I am starting that treatment on Tuesday. The implant would have cost £4,900. The bridge is costing £4,800. My usual dentist charges £2,400 for a bridge so I asked why the difference. His reply is that he is more skilled in doing bridges and has studied long and hard to get the best techniques. He said, "it's like the difference between having your leg amputated by a General Practitioner or an Orthopaedic Surgeon. Who would do the better job?" I get what he means and have been persuaded to go for the expensive option. I hope it lasts and will see me out, anyway. I don't go on any expensive holidays (or in some years ANY holidays) so I might as well make good use of my savings. The first appointment on Tuesday is scheduled for two and a half hours. The second appointment three weeks later for an hour. So by May I should be in possession of gnashers to die for.
For many decades, I have had an Easter tree - a custom I picked up when I lived in Germany, but which has caught on here more recently too. Each year I add to the decorations and this year bought six clip-on birds to add to the bunny rabbits, chicks and eggs. I decorated it yesterday in advance of next weekend. If you look closely you can count seven birds, six of them clip-ons. Happy Easter everybody!
13 comments:
Good luck with the gnashers!
You'll be able to eat more Easter eggs...😉
It was a hard-shelled one that made me lose my tooth in the first place :(
It will be worth it and you will have a dazzling smile,
I hope so. The main reason is that food seems to jab (pardon the pun) my gum and so it is painful to eat on that side.
That’s an eye watering amount to pay for dental work, fingers crossed he is as good as he says he is.
I'm expecting 24 carat diamond teeth!
Anything that needs doing concerning our teeth seems to be hugely expensive and takes up much time. But of course it is also very important, and when our teeth can't do their job properly, it's big loss of quality of life, not to mention other health issues related to or resulting from teeth problems.
I hope yours will soon all be sorted!
Love your Easter tree. We always had one when I was growing up, in a large copper vase in a corner of the living room. But when my Dad became more and more unsteady on his feet, my Mum stopped putting anything up that could be problematic for him to navigate. I can't remember whether she brought the custom back after his death in 2022... probably not, since it's now her turn to be glad for everything that's NOT in the way when she moves around in her flat.
I look at it this way.... without teeth you can't eat and without eating you cannot survive, so teeth are very important and well worth the money. Maybe you could have your own Easter tree and put it on a high shelf so it doesn't get knocked over.
I would easily be able to place an Easter tree in my flat on the floor without it being knocked over, but it wouldn't make sense - I'm not home over the holiday. As usual, I split it between my family and O.K.'s, and afterwards I'll be back at work.
You are right about the importance of teeth!
Implants!! I have had two now, one about 15 years ago which cost $2500 plus $2000 for a crown. Most recent implant about 3 years ago was $6500, plus $3000 for the crown. Australian $. The alternative was a tooth on a plate which I tried for the first one for a while but I got nervous about losing it, both teeth I have broken are the ones either side of the front two, my worst nightmare was the thought of not having front teeth. Good luck with your bridgework. I always think that whoever was responsible for “making us” did a dreadful job on teeth. Marie, Melbourne, Australia
A "bridge"? In terms of dentistry, I didn't know what that meant so I had to Google it... "A tooth bridge (or dental bridge) is a fixed, non-removable dental restoration that replaces one or more missing teeth by anchoring a false tooth (pontic) to adjacent natural teeth or implants. By bridging the gap, it restores chewing function, prevents surrounding teeth from shifting, and maintains facial structure."
I applaud you for using spare money to have this job done Addy. It will also help to pay for the dentist's new car.
I agree with your last sentence. Babies and toddlers go through so much pain as their teeth come through only to lose them a few years later for their adult teeth. Then as adults, the suffering does not stop!
I am surprised you had never heard of a dental bridge. I was in that dental chair for my first appointment yesterday. It took 3.25 hours in all and I staggered out. That was just the first appointment to fit a temporary bridge. It was all highly computerised too. Neither the dentist, the nurse or I had a break in all that time. The next appointment to fit the final permanent bridge (once it has been made to spec) is about an hour.
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