Do I really need a titanium tooth implant? If you lose you back lower tooth, will the rest fall out?

Question

I had my 31 tooth pulled last month and my dentist is pushing me to get a titanium screwed in implant. It is the last tooth on lower jaw. The one on the other side needs to be pulled as well. The implants are expensive. The base is running me about 1200 and the crown will be about the same (my insurance will cover the crown but it maxes out at a 1000).

I am wondering if I even need it. I am eating just fine without it. I have been reading that a full lower teeth replacement only includes 24 teeth which is what I would have left after the two bottom are pulled.

He showed me this video he has where it shows the remaining teeth you have falling out like dominos if you don't get this. Does this really happen or is this a rare case?

I am seeing the specialist for a consult today, but I am sure he will say the same thing. Sometimes, I think some dentist are more salesman that dentist (atleast that is how I feel about mine).

Answer 1

I think your right about the salesmen thing. It's all about how much money they can make. People are just getting plain crazy when it comes to teeth today. They have to be bright white and perfectly straight! That does not look natural! Look at the older moveis when I grew up with like Jodie Foster in them as a teen, she had crooked teeth! And she was a star! I honestly cannot see paying so much for ONE tooth! I mean, here's a good question to ask your dentist, for that price, can he guarentee that that tooth will be in your head should you grow old and die? Just think, if you had to spend that much on each tooth, you could have a new car or alot of a house paid for! I don't know, I just can't see paying those prices for teeth. If you just get them pulled alittle at at time, you could eventually get false teeth and be done with dentists forever! That is why they want to do all the work! Cause they want you coming back over and over again. If you get false teeth, your done and they know it! I only know one person who is old and has their own teeth. All other old people I know have false. I had a tooth pulled 2 years ago and its the one next to the back one. So I have a gap in the back. The teeth on either side have not moved yet. They are still in the same place. Plus my wisdom were pulled when they first came in and the other teeth never moved. The way I look at it, if you can talk, chew food and do not look totally deformed with your teeth, your fine! My kids have "slightly" crooked teeth and want braces. I won't get them. They can talk, chew food and look perfectly fine with the ever so slightly crooked teeth. Well, I know I can get riled up over this topic. But that's my opinion. Hope I gave you something to think about. Good luck on what you decide and remember to ask your dentist if it will last for life. I have and they won't answer.

Answer 2

i can assure you that there is no need to sell dentistry. if you don't buy, there is a line out the door 10 people long that all WANT to get something done. your dentist is only doing what any ethical dentist would do and that's present ideal treatment. i did an implant on my grandmother and my mother in law if that tells you anything. you can bet that those 2 ladies are pretty important to me and i would only do what was best for them. it's actually considered malpractice to present less than ideal treatment.

i have to say though that you are right about getting along ok without a second molar. yes, over a period of years you will end up losing the upper second molar if you don't replace the missing one but if you don't miss it then neither would I.

one thing is for sure though...if i lose a tooth, i'm only replacing it with an implant.

Answer 3

If you do not replace the missing tooth with something, the surrounding teeth will move to take up the available space. Now the teeth are out of alignment