I totally get where you're coming from. My kid’s dentist brought up implants as an option down the road, but honestly, the whole process sounds pretty overwhelming (and expensive). I’m curious—did anyone here ever regret not going for implants, or did you end up feeling relieved you stuck with dentures?
“the whole process sounds pretty overwhelming (and expensive)”
I totally get that feeling. I was in the same boat—my dentist laid out the implant option and it sounded like a huge deal, both money-wise and recovery-wise. I ended up going with dentures because I just couldn't wrap my head around surgery and months of healing. Sometimes I do wonder if I made the right call, especially when I have to deal with the glue and the occasional sore spot. But honestly, seeing how my friend had to go back for adjustments after her implants, I’m kinda relieved I didn’t dive in. It’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all thing.
I went through the same mental gymnastics when I was weighing my options. On paper, implants sound like the gold standard, but then you see the price tag and the timeline and it’s a bit of a reality check. I actually sat down with a spreadsheet (yes, I’m that person) and tried to figure out the costs over ten years—repairs, replacements, all that stuff. Even then, dentures just made more sense for my budget, at least for now.
The glue situation is definitely a pain, and there are days when I wish I could just eat a sandwich without worrying if something’s going to shift. But then I hear about folks having to go back for implant tweaks or dealing with bone grafts, and I start feeling better about my decision. I guess for me it’s about minimizing surprises, especially expensive ones. Maybe someday if the prices come down or insurance gets less stingy, I’d reconsider... but for now, my denture cup and I are sticking together.
I totally get wanting to avoid big financial surprises—been there, crunched those numbers, and felt that anxiety. But honestly, for me, the constant worry about my dentures shifting or popping out in public just wore me down. I ended up going for a couple of implants on the bottom (couldn’t afford the whole mouth, but partial was doable with a payment plan). It wasn’t cheap, and yeah, the healing process was a pain, but the difference in stability is wild. I can eat apples again, and I don’t even think about glue or slipping anymore.
It’s true, there’s always a risk of extra procedures, but I realized I was spending so much on adhesives and relines that it started to add up too. Insurance barely helped, but I figured I’d rather pay a bit more upfront for peace of mind. Not saying it’s for everyone, but if you ever reconsider, even a few implants can make a world of difference. Just my two cents—sometimes the long-term comfort is worth the hassle and sticker shock.
It wasn’t cheap, and yeah, the healing process was a pain, but the difference in stability is wild. I can eat apples again, and I don’t even think about glue or slipping anymore.
That right there is honestly what I keep coming back to—just being able to bite into stuff without overthinking it. I’m still on the fence about implants though, partly because I’m pretty freaked out by the idea of surgery (even if it’s “just” dental). The financial side is a whole thing too, but I keep wondering if I’m making it worse by dragging my feet and sticking with regular dentures. Like, I’m not sure what’s more stressful: the surprise bills from implants, or the constant low-key anxiety that my dentures will betray me mid-conversation.
Did you have to do bone grafts or anything extra before getting the implants? That’s one part that’s been making me second-guess everything. My dentist said there’s a chance my jaw might not have enough bone left, which sounds like a whole other level of hassle (and expense). I get what you mean about the cost of adhesives and relines adding up, though. It’s honestly a little embarrassing how many tubes of that glue I’ve gone through in the last year. And it’s not even that reliable—sometimes I still get that weird “click” if I yawn or laugh too hard.
I guess what I’m really curious about is whether you felt like the pain and downtime were manageable, or if it was one of those things where you just kind of have to grit your teeth (pun intended) and hope it’s worth it on the other side. I’ve heard mixed stuff—some people say it’s no big deal, others say it knocked them flat for weeks. Did you have a lot of swelling or trouble eating during recovery?
Part of me thinks I should just bite the bullet (ugh, another teeth pun) and do it, but then I start spiraling about the “what ifs.” Still, hearing you say you can eat apples again without thinking about it… that’s tempting.
