Caught this article about how dental implants are becoming more popular for people who’ve lost teeth, and it got me thinking. The story mentioned that some folks are skipping dentures altogether now, but the price tag for implants is just… wow. Like, thousands per tooth? That’s wild. They also talked about new tech like 3D-printed bridges and even some stem cell stuff (which sounds a bit sci-fi to me, honestly).
I’m kinda torn. I lost a molar last year and my dentist really pushed for an implant, but my insurance barely covered anything. Ended up just leaving the gap for now, but I wonder if that’s gonna mess up my bite or whatever down the line.
Anyone else following these new developments? Would you go for an implant, or stick with the classic denture route—or just leave the gap? Curious what’s worked (or not) for people, especially with all these new options floating around.
The price of implants nearly made me spit out my coffee—thousands per tooth? I could buy a used car for that. I’ve had dentures for years now, and while they’re not perfect (don’t get me started on the time mine slipped during Thanksgiving dinner), they do the trick and didn’t bankrupt me. My dentist keeps mentioning implants too, but honestly, unless I win the lottery, I’m sticking with what I’ve got. That said, leaving a gap did mess up my bite a bit years ago—my teeth started drifting like they were looking for new real estate. If you can swing it, filling the gap somehow is probably worth it in the long run... but yeah, those sci-fi stem cell things sound like something out of Star Trek.
That price tag really is wild, right? My dentist gave me the implant spiel too, and I nearly asked if it came with a free vacation. I’ve had a partial for a few years—no, it’s not glamorous, but it gets me through pizza night and doesn’t drain my savings. The only real downside was when I forgot to pop it in before a Zoom call... awkward. My teeth did start shifting when I left a gap though, which made chewing a bit of an adventure. If insurance ever covers more of this stuff, maybe I’ll reconsider. Until then, I’ll stick with what works (most days).
That Zoom call moment cracked me up—been there, seen that. Out of curiosity, have you noticed any issues with the partial shifting or causing sore spots? Some folks swear by them, others can’t stand the feel. I always wonder if people actually get used to them long-term.
Out of curiosity, have you noticed any issues with the partial shifting or causing sore spots? Some folks swear by them, others can’t stand the feel.
My dentist also kept warning me about the risks of leaving a gap, like teeth drifting or jaw issues, but honestly the idea of an implant freaks me out. The surgery part especially—plus I’ve heard stories about them not taking or getting infected. Dentures seem less scary but I worry about them slipping or being uncomfortable. Has anyone actually regretted getting an implant, or is it mostly just the cost that’s the problem? I keep going back and forth on whether it’s worth the stress.
