I get where you’re coming from—waiting for that “medically ready” moment feels endless and a little unfair. I actually went through something similar when I lost one of my front teeth as a teen. My ortho and dentist both said no to an implant until my jaw stopped growing, and I remember feeling like it was just this black hole of waiting. The hand/wrist X-ray thing came up for me too, but even then, they said it’s not 100% perfect at predicting when you’re done growing. I spent a lot of time second-guessing if I should just push for the implant anyway, but in the end I waited… mostly out of fear of messing it up permanently.
About the flipper—yeah, total pain. Mine felt like a mouthguard at first and I definitely didn’t want to talk with it in. Eating was basically impossible unless it was soup or something super soft. I broke mine twice just taking it out, so I get being paranoid about losing or snapping it. Honestly, the only reason I stuck with it was because the gap made me way more self-conscious than the flipper itself.
Insurance is just… ugh. Mine flat-out refused to cover the implant, and only gave partial coverage for the flipper after two appeals and a ton of paperwork. It felt like a full-time job. I ended up saving for years to cover the implant once I finally got the green light.
One thing my dentist did mention is that waiting too long without a retainer or spacer can let your teeth shift, especially if it’s in a visible spot. But if you’ve got a retainer with a fake tooth holding space, you’re probably doing what you can. Mine worked out okay—no major shifting—but I was really diligent about wearing it (even though it was annoying).
It’s wild how much stress a single missing tooth can cause. Looking back, I’m glad I waited for the implant, even though it felt endless at the time. If it helps, the anxiety does fade once you’re past this stage, even if it doesn’t feel like it now.
That waiting game is brutal, I totally get it. Did you ever feel like your dentist or ortho was really listening to how much the whole process was affecting you? I remember feeling like my concerns about self-esteem and daily hassles with the flipper were kind of brushed aside at times. Curious if you felt supported or if you had to really advocate for yourself to get answers.
I totally get where you’re coming from with feeling dismissed. There were times I felt like my dentist was just rushing through the info and not really asking how I was coping, especially since the flipper was a pain and made me super self-conscious. Did you ever have to push to get clear answers about costs or insurance? For me, I had to bring up finances every single visit or they’d just gloss over it, which got old fast. Sometimes I wonder if they realize how much the waiting and the extra expenses mess with your day-to-day.
Sometimes I wonder if they realize how much the waiting and the extra expenses mess with your day-to-day.
That part really hits home for me. I always feel like I’m waiting for someone to just be straight with me about timelines and what’s actually necessary. When I lost my molar last year, the dentist mentioned an implant right away, but never really explained if there was a reason to rush it. I kept asking, “Is it bad if I wait a few months?” and got these vague answers, like, “It’s better not to wait too long.” But what does that even mean? Is a couple months okay, or am I risking something major?
About the costs, it’s the same story here. It’s like pulling teeth (pun intended) to get clear numbers. I’d ask, “How much will the total be with insurance?” and they’d just say, “We’ll submit it and see.” That makes me so anxious, because I want to know what I’m signing up for. The flipper was supposed to be a “temporary” fix, but it dragged on for months, and honestly, I hated wearing it. I felt embarrassed talking or even eating in public. Did you ever feel like you were being rushed into the next step just so they could move on to the next patient?
I keep wondering, if you wait longer between losing a tooth and getting an implant, does it really make things worse? I’ve heard stuff about bone loss, but then some people say it’s not a huge deal if it’s just a few months. Has anyone actually been told by their dentist that waiting a bit is okay, or do they always push for the fastest route? I just wish someone would lay out the pros and cons without making it feel like a sales pitch.
I kept asking, “Is it bad if I wait a few months?” and got these vague answers, like, “It’s better not to wait too long.” But what does that even mean?
That’s exactly how I felt when I was told I’d “want to move quickly.” It’s so frustrating not getting a straight answer. In my case, I waited about four months before starting the implant process and honestly, my dentist said it was fine for that timeframe. She explained bone loss can happen over time but a few months isn’t usually a disaster—just means maybe a little more prep later. It definitely felt more like a suggestion than an urgent thing. The money stuff is wild too... like you said, who wants a surprise bill?
