Every time I see a commercial for Fixadent^® or Polident^® I think, "Thank goodness!" The procedure was simple and comparatively pain free. This was definitely worth it!"

My Implant Experience (January 16, 2000)

Kenneth H. Wessel: (click to send email)

I hope this information will help other people who are considering getting an implant. About a year ago, I needed a tooth extracted in the lower ride side. Although the missing tooth didn't show when I spoke with people, it was very annoying trying to chew on that side. So I began chewing on the left (duh). Unfortunately, I soon realized that I had a better sense of taste chewing on the right, so left chewing was not as pleasant.

Finally, after a year, I decided to get the implant. The idea of a bridge was very unappealing to me. One reason is that it would require "destroying" the 2 adjoining teeth, which would need to be ground down and capped and used to support the bridge. The bridge method may also have required root canal on the adjoining 2 teeth. I'd like to keep the teeth I have, not grind them away. So I opted for the implant.

Financially, the implant would cost more than the bridge. Still, I didn't want my good teeth ruined and having the bridge in my mouth seemed annoying and unnatural. So I still preferred the natural quality of the implant.

Back to the implant. It took me a year of being bothered by the missing tooth, mainly when eating, to finally get the nerve to do it. So I made the appointment and the day arrived. I was only a little nervous. The extraction the year earlier was more stressful. The implant was something I decided I really wanted, so this helped get my nerve up. I expected it would improve my quality of life, and this finally got me in the dental chair.

First, Christine, the dental assistant, took an impression of my teeth (the mixture they put in your mouth that forms a rubbery mold of your teeth). This wasn't bad...tasted like mild bubble gum. It peeled off easily, so it was painless.

Christine took an x-ray to help the Doctor decide exactly where to drill. Dr. Gian-Grasso applied a gel anesthetic to numb the area he was going to inject. A computer actually decided how much anesthesia to pump through the needle. I never saw this before. I hardly felt a thing, only 1 or 2 little twinges. I noticed that Dr. G and the surgical assistant, Denise, were very attentive to my comfort. Oh, I did get nitrous oxide (gas) to help take the edge off a little, but I was conscious and aware of everything going on.

When I was sufficiently numb, the Doctor prepared the area and began the drilling process into the jawbone. I figured this could be uncomfortable and expected the worst. Well, the drill sounded like one you would have in your basement, not the air drill sound we all hate in dental offices! As quickly as the drilling started, Dr. G stopped it and took a quick x-ray. He was making sure he was in exactly the spot he wanted. Then a little more drilling, and a thorough rinsing of the area. Now I opened my eyes for the first time! The titanium post implant was being screwed into my jawbone with a little ratchet wrench like you get in Sears. Except this one is special and is a very finely made torque wrench, so the Doctor knows precisely how tight to screw in the implant.

Next, the temporary abutment had to go on the implant. The temporary abutment looks like the head of a screw, once it's in place. This sits just above the gum line..maybe a sixteenth of an inch, if that. It's screwed right onto the implanted post and gently tightened with the torque wrench. An x-ray was taken, revealing that the abutment was not seated perfectly flat against the jawbone. A slight adjustment was performed with a fine grinding wheel made for this purpose. It fits around the post and grinds a perfectly flat little surface very easily. I didn't feel a thing, and it took just seconds. Of course, more irrigation and washing the area out, then the Doctor put the abutment back in, took another x-ray, and voila! We had a nice flat fit.

At this point, another impression (mold) of the area was taken. This will be used by the computer to analyze all the surrounding teeth and the space available for the new tooth to fit. After 2 months of healing, the restorative Dentist will glue or screw the ceramic tooth onto a permanent abutment. The computer takes precise measurements from the mold and then a custom abutment and tooth will be made to fit the area perfectly.

I should mention that both Christine and Denise were regularly asking me how I was doing, and Dr. G also gave me a signal to use if I felt anything. I never felt a thing though! It was very reassuring, knowing they had my comfort so very much in the forefront of their minds as the surgery proceeded.

Afterwards, I drove to work. The procedure had taken about an hour. Some of the time was just waiting for the anesthesia to kick in, for x-rays, and for the mold being taken. The actual surgery I estimate at 35 minutes. It was quick and efficient. I was happy that it moved along very nicely, and I never felt uncomfortable being in the chair.

After leaving the office, the only discomfort I had that day was a slight headache, which I attribute to the anesthesia. Often when getting novacaine (or whatever is in the needle) I get a headache later in the day. By the evening I was fine. I had almost no discomfort in the implant area at all. There was a little soreness in the gum tissue around the implant, but nothing to speak of. In the following days, I had virtually no pain nor discomfort at all! I was surprised, as I expected discomfort during the healing process. The few stitches dissolved on their own, and didn't require removal.

It has now been a month since the procedure, and I still feel great! I'm very pleased that the recovery was so easy. In another month I'll have the permanent abutment and tooth attached to the implanted post. Based on how easy it's been so far, I imagine this will be more of the same. My regular dentist will handle this final restoration. Soon I'll be chewing on the right side again, and the adjoining teeth will be intact and healthy! I'm glad I decided on the implant. Had I known how easy it would have been, I would have had it done even sooner.

My Implant Experience (continued) (May 20, 2000)

Kenneth H. Wessel:

I had the permanent abutment put on a month ago. This involved my restorative dentist (Harry Randel, DMD) unscrewing the temporary abutment (just the top part of the implant, not the entire post) and screwing on the new, permanent abutment. There was no discomfort whatsoever. Dr. Randel took a new impression (a rubbery mold) of the area, so that the best fitting crown could be made. Two weeks later, the new crown (I chose a solid gold one which was best suited to my grinding and clenching) was set into position. A little fitting was necessary, which Dr. Randel did by grinding the crown a bit before placing it into my mouth. It was then glued onto the abutment. A little more adjustment was done to fit my bite, and it was done!

After more than a year without a tooth, I quickly enjoyed chewing on the right side of my mouth again. I'm never aware of the implant at all. It's exactly like my regular teeth. I just floss and brush as usual. I hope my other teeth remain healthy, but if not, I'd surely choose another implant rather than a crown and bridge.