I’ve gotten those same wishy-washy answers and it drives me nuts. I like numbers, not “sooner rather than later” or “don’t wait too long.” In my case, I waited about six months after losing a molar because I needed time to save up (and honestly, to psych myself up for the whole thing). My oral surgeon said as long as you don’t let it go for years, you’re usually okay. Sure, there might be a bit more bone loss and maybe they’ll have to do a graft, but it’s not like your jaw is going to disappear overnight.
The money side is a whole other beast. I swear, every time I thought I had the total figured out, another charge would pop up. X-rays, consults, “oh by the way you need this scan…” It’s almost like they want you to just give up and accept the mystery bill. Anyway, waiting a few months didn’t seem to cause me any big issues except maybe a bit more fuss with prep. If you need time to plan or save, I wouldn’t panic. Just don’t put it off for years—unless you’re really into dentures (not my thing).
I totally get wanting to wait and plan, but in my case, I waited almost a year after losing a lower molar, and honestly, I kind of regret it. The bone loss was more than they expected, so I needed a graft and that added months (and money) to the whole process. I wish my dentist had been a little more pushy about not waiting too long. If you can swing it sooner, it might save some headache down the line... but I know that’s not always realistic either. The surprise charges are the worst—been there, too.
Yeah, the surprise charges are brutal. I waited about 8 months before doing my implant and had a similar issue—bone shrunk more than anyone guessed, so I ended up with a sinus lift too. That was a whole new adventure... If I could go back, I'd probably just get it done sooner to save myself the hassle (and extra drilling). Still, I get that timing and money don’t always line up perfectly. It’s like dental roulette sometimes.
Ugh, “dental roulette” is exactly how it feels. I’m still in that anxious limbo where I keep googling worst-case scenarios, but hearing your story makes me think waiting might be riskier than I thought. My dentist warned about bone loss but I figured a few months wouldn’t matter much… now I’m rethinking that. The extra cost and surprise procedures sound rough. I guess there’s no perfect timing, but maybe sooner is less stressful in the long run?
Totally get the dental roulette vibe—been there, googled that. I waited a few months thinking it wouldn’t matter, but my x-rays showed some bone loss sneaking up on me. If I could do it again, I’d probably just bite the bullet sooner... less drama later, maybe?
