Seriously, i just had the first stage of my dental implant "installed" and it was a very easy and relatively painless precedure. I was really worrying about it. I have had a root canal (never again!) and a crown put on another tooth complete with the grinding down of the tooth (also not terribly enjoyable) and so i was pretty much dreading this procedure, but it is defintely the least painful dental procedure I ever had done.
A little background, I had a tooth extracted about a year ago, after the above mentioned root canal failed to save the tooth. So the dentist suggested I replace the tooth with a dental implant.
Warning: Those of you faint of heart probably should not read on as I describe the procedure.
What they do is cut away your gum and actually drill a hole in the bone where the tooth use dto be. Of course they use novacain but you are wide awake during the procedure. They actually drill the hole about 4 or 5 times with increasingly larger guage drill bits. Then they screw a titanium anchor, rather similar to a concrete or wall anchor if you will. They cap it and sew the gum back together to let it heal for 2 weeks. I just had the stitches removed last Monday and am now in phase two as they allow the bone to graft onto the anchor. After about 4 months they will open it up again and take off the cap and screw a post into the anchor which is threaded. The dentist then installs a crown onto that post. Voila! New tooth!
Can't wait to be able to chew food on my right side again!
So when I am finished with phase two, I willl be sure to update you all as to the status of phase three!
Anyone else here ever have this done?
The only down side to it that insurance does not cover it. and it ain't cheap. Luckiy I have a section 125 flex spending account at work and I knew i was going to have this procedure done, so i had them withhold the amount from my pay pre taxes.
ken k
