Implant v Crown

Bicycle

I finally found a dentist in Limerick today and am now faced with having to either have the tooth removed and an implant or have root canal work and a crown.

Can anyone help me please with the pros and cons of both?

Am I right in thinking that a crown will cost about €1,500 but will only last for about 10-15 years whereas an implant will cost about €3,000 but will last for life.

So, cost benefit analysis would suggest that short term the crown is more cost-effective whereas long term the implant is more cost-effective.

Also, can I have an implant done in Limerick or will I have to go to Dublin?

I'm aware of the potential pitfalls of crowns but are there any potential pitfalls of implants?

Thanks in advance.

Run_to_da_hills

I had six roots done on two molars recently. You you retain a large portion of your old tooth including its roots with a crown. An implant is basically a false tooth and is totally invasive as it would involve drilling into the jaw bone. I would take the implant option as a last resort if the tooth was gone beyond repair.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

The implant itself, the screw put into the bone, will last a life time (probably but not certain) the crown attached to the implant has the same life span as a standard crown.

Bicycle

Thank you both. Very much appreciated.

There is a large portion of tooth gone (just the outer shell on one side) and the dentist I saw on Monday suggests that the nerve is dead as well.

Someone else I spoke to suggested that the Titanium? and bone bonding isn't always as successful as one is lead to believe.

And the issue is also complicated by the fact that I'm a nervous patient . And feel guilty because I'm such a ******* wimp.

So far the temp filling has behaved. Hoping to have a chat with my regular dentist on Monday.

Regards.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Bicycle wrote: »

Someone else I spoke to suggested that the Titanium? and bone bonding isn't always as successful as one is lead to believe.

The success rate of integration of the implant is about 90-95% which is better than any other dental treatment. Sure sometimes the implant does not take but this is definatly the exception rather than the rule. See here for more info http://www.specialistdentistry.ie/treatments-prosthodontics/treatments-dental-implants-01

Bicycle

Thanks Fitzgeme, very much appreciated.

Thats a good statistic!!

I'm meeting my dentist tomorrow morning for a consult. See what he recommends.

The dentist I saw over Christmas made the implant seem so.... easy and laid back lol!! Almost similar to to getting my hair coloured :p:p I believe its a little more complex

Watch Ryder

Bicycle wrote: »

Thanks Fitzgeme, very much appreciated.

Thats a good statistic!!

I'm meeting my dentist tomorrow morning for a consult. See what he recommends.

The dentist I saw over Christmas made the implant seem so.... easy and laid back lol!! Almost similar to to getting my hair coloured :p:p I believe its a little more complex

I had an implant done!

The only painful thing overall was the injection into the upper palate of the mouth and my wallet

I'll be making a thread based on my dental adventure in a sec. for you all to see what the lowdown is...

Bicycle

Watch Ryder,

Thanks!! Obviously a bit more complicated than getting my hair coloured :D:D

I spoke with my wonderfully relaxing dentist today who assured me that as usual I was neurotic and that of course he could do a crown and that he still believes there is life in the tooth and no need to do a root canal, but of course will organise one if his perception changes as he works on the tooth.

So, an hour in the chair tomorrow, another hour the following week and another short visit the following fortnight.

Yes, I am somewhat apprehensive, but not overtly so.

Thanks again everyone for your help and support during a difficult and rather confusing time. :cool:

Dr. Greenthumb

I had a crown as one of my front teeth for around 9 years. Knocked it out a few times due to sports and other incidents finallt i broke the root and was forced to get either an implant or a bridge.

I went with the implant in the end and the actual chair time was grand (i'm not a nervous patient, i sometimes fall asleep, lol) and didn't feel a thing apart from the injection the previous poster mentioned.

It's a process that take a few months due to letting the bone heal etc and I hads a false tooth that i had to take out at night and put in to a glass of water at night (not kidding!).

Overall it turned out well except for one thing. Due to the root coming out the bone between my removed tooth and the tooth beside didn't stay as it naturally would due to there being no tooth beside it while the gum and bone was healing. This meant the natural gumline receded somewhat over that tooth. Not really noticeable and maybe i was more susceptible to it than others but it's worthwhile asking the question if your gum will recede.

Watch Ryder

Mine has done this a bit.
Dr Drill says the gum will cover up the gap now the implant is in but mine hasn't yet...