Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Tooth implant

Hi all. I was wondering if anyone has gone through the tooth implant procedure. What was the process like? I hear it's about $4,000 or so here in Canada.

It was straightforward, painless and the results were fantastic.

You first have to be evaluated by a periodontist. Take x-rays. They need to make sure you have solid bone to screw the base in place.

You then get the base implanted and have to wait 6-8 weeks to let the bone heal around the implant. A temporary cap is put over the implant external piece.

The last stage is screwing the cap onto the base. The periodontist and your dentist have to coordinate appointments. You go to the periodontist which he make the decision if the implant is set. He then remove the temporary cap and sends you directly to the dentist. The dentist fits and then sets the cap in place.

Thanks for the information. I especially like the part about it being painless....

in the middle of it right now. yes, expensive. but decided it would be worth it, as it will be nearly permanent and just like having a real tooth there.

for me, the extraction and bone graft did hurt, but that's because i had a root canal in the tooth prior, so the tooth was fused to the bone and they had to remove all the bone in the front of the remaining tooth to get the tooth out. all that bone removal is what was so painful is my understanding.

took tramadol for the first day or two, then did without as the next day wasn't so bad, but then the next day was very hard, but decided to try to do without the tramadol as i wanted to get back to my LDN ASAP. they wanted to prescribe something stronger for the pain, but being on LDN really limited me.

i had it done on a wednesday, took that day and the next two days off of work due to pain. by the end of the weekend, the worst of the pain had subsided.

i suggest taking the pain meds for a few days.

and make sure you take the antibiotics. certainly don't want an infection. the amoxicillin really messed up my bowels for those ten days. but i took my probiotics and ate lots of yogurt for about 2 weeks and my bowels settled within a few days of stopping the antibiotics. and the antiseptic rinse they prescribe.

i was on a soft / liquid diet for about a month. that's how long it took before the gaping hole was mostly healed over. but again, that's because of so much bone removal to get the tooth out. if you don't have a root canal in the tooth already, life should be much simpler for you.

had to go in to the periodontist a month after the extraction / bone graft to have the rest of the stitches removed and have it checked out. had to then go to the dentist for a quick impression. will be going to the periodontist for a CT scan and another impression the end of this week. then some time in the fall will have the impression (and possibly the sinus cavity bone grafted (if needed)) and then after that heals, back to the dentist for the crown over it. started the process at the end of may and will take through about thanksgiving or longer to complete.

so far, the only thing that hurt was the extraction / removal of bone / bone graft. and the bowel disruption by the antibiotics wasn't too pleasant. but, its amazing what can be puree'd with a hand blender. found the diet through the month of june was easy.

hope the impression itself (and sinus cavity bone graft) is less painful.......

my mom had that done last year and the periodontist told her to take 2000mg of vitamin C every day for 3 months prior and post to the procedure to build her bone density up in her jaw. it worked, she saw on the xray how much brighter white (stronger) her bone was from the vitamin C. that kind of got me researching into the supplements like a crazy woman.

good luck to you!

Hi Tim,
I had it done a couple of years ago now and haven't regretted it for one single day! The recovery was not too fun, but truly it was worth it.
Good Luck

wondering how long i can expect the recovery of the sinus bone graft and implant itself to take? appointment for CT scan and impressions on friday and assuming they'll set up the appointment for the sinus bone graft and implant then. need to know as it will be in the middle of teaching and need to plan around it, if its anything like the first part. maybe they will let me wait the 10 weeks til thanksgiving break? though i know there is a window in which it must be done.

is the second recovery as tough as the first?

Hi Sue,
For myself, they did the extraction, which ended up being a surgical one I think because of the AS because like you, the tooth had fused to the bone. They also did a bone graph on the same day as the extraction and placed the implant. I didn't have to go back for any further bone graphing, thankfully! I think the implant and temporary post cap were left on for 8 months before they did the impression for the crown. Which tooth is it that you are having replaced?
I wish you luck, I know that once it is done you won't regret the decision in the least!
Jil