Ohhhhhhh

I'm in the process of getting a dental implant to replace a false tooth on a plate for a tooth that's been missing since I was a kid.

I was told I had to get a bone graft first because there wasn't enough bone in the area for them to put the actual implant into. So they took bone from my jaw and put it into the new area about 8 weeks ago.

It's all been going really well, but last weekend I noticed some bone (where the bone graft went to) was sticking through my gum! The amount of bone poking out has gotten bigger over the week, but the surgeon isn't in until tomorrow so I can't get a consultation with him until then.

I went in today to see his assistant, and she said it's definitely bone poking out, and they may "just redo" the operation. It cost us $4000 for the last one (with good dental insurance!!), I had to go under general aneasthetic (which I hate), it was painful, it was uncomfortable, and I couldn't wear my false tooth for a 5 weeks, and because it's one of my top front teeth, I am horribly self conscious with a huge gap there! As well as that, I had to have heaps of stitches in that gap at the front of my mouth, and at the back of my mouth where they took the bone from, and it was just really unpleasant

I don't want to have to go through it all again, and I definitely don't want to pay another $4000!!!! We have money in savings, but what if this operation doesn't work either??? That's $8000 down the drain, and I'll still need further work done!!! We can't afford to throw away that sort of money.

I'll know more tomorrow, but for the rest of today, I guess I'll just stress...

I know its going to be painful!! I hope they don't charge you as much for the second time around since they already have the bone there or can they not reuse that?

I don't know... My body seems to be rejecting that bone for some reason

Well, good news. It was only a small flake of bone that had managed to break off somehow. So he just pulled it out with a pair of pliers.

Yes, he literally came at me with a pair of pliers in his hand. I freaked out, jumped a mile, got as far away as him as I could and asked what the @#%* he was planning to do with the pliers.

I asked if it was going to hurt, and rather than saying yes or no, he offered to give me some numbing gel. By this stage I was still freaking out but realised I had no choice, so he numbed it up a bit, then pulled it out.

It certainly wasn't anywhere near as bad as I expected, and I'm glad to know the whole operation hasn't failed, but I swear I'll be having nightmares for weeks.

God i know what that face looks like when the Dr. comes at you with what is literally a pair of pliers! I work in a dental office and cant tell you how many time i have seen patients turn ghost white...even once pass out! The best advice i can give you is if you are hurting is to take Ibprofuen. (motrin) up to 4 an hour ( 800 mg ) feel better soon!!

Jaclyn

I actually feel absolutely fine. The chunk of bone had been working its way out for a week, so was pretty much out anyway so it seems.

I'm now glad I wasn't able to see him earlier when it was a little more embedded

Originally Posted by sarahp

I actually feel absolutely fine. The chunk of bone had been working its way out for a week, so was pretty much out anyway so it seems.

I'm now glad I wasn't able to see him earlier when it was a little more embedded

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No kidding! You'd think he'd have carefully explained what he was planning to do, before he came at you with the pliers.