Advice on a dentist to fit a dental implant

10Wbulb

I use a NHS dentist, who I understand do not usually pay for a dental implant. Any advice on choosing a good dentist to fit an implan in Bristolt? How about BUPA?

I broke a wisdom tooth late Friday afternoon, and am seeing the dentist tomorrow, Monday morning, so haven't had much time to think about it, so any advice will be gratefully received.

ibizafan_2

I wouldn’t have thought there was much point replacing a wisdom tooth to be honest. I had one taken out a few months ago after an abscess and have never missed it.

10Wbulb

ibizafan wrote: »

I wouldn’t have thought there was much point replacing a wisdom tooth to be honest. I had one taken out a few months ago after an abscess and have never missed it.

Thanks, the adjacent tooth was removed years ago, so chewing that side will not be very efficient and I tend to chew that side because I have had trouble using the other side of my mouth.

Toothsmith

A wisdom tooth wouldn't usually be replaced. Of course, it would all depend on the other teeth around it, and indeed if it is actually a wisdom tooth! I've had patients describe all sorts of things as 'wisdom teeth' that weren't!

It doesn't matter whether your dentist is NHS or private. All dentists should have a good idea of the specialists operating in your local area, and if an implant was indicated, then the advice of your own dentist as to who to see to get it done would be the most valuable.

Obviously, though, implants are not available on the NHS

Toothsmith

10Wbulb wrote: »

Thanks, the adjacent tooth was removed years ago, so chewing that side will not be very efficient and I tend to chew that side because I have had trouble using the other side of my mouth.

We crossed posts here. If this is the case, then putting an implant into the space where the 'gap' was would probably be more functional than replacing the lost 'wisdom tooth'.

But, of course, you don't know that tooth needs to go yet, and it will be for the dentists who can see you to come up with the proper plan

10Wbulb

Toothsmith wrote: »

We crossed posts here. If this is the case, then putting an implant into the space where the 'gap' was would probably be more functional than replacing the lost 'wisdom tooth'.

But, of course, you don't know that tooth needs to go yet, and it will be for the dentists who can see you to come up with the proper plan

Thanks very much. I like the idea of "filling" the old gap.

Actually, the break feels like a slither attached by the root, so I was wondering if it's possible that that can be removed and the tooth repaired or better crowned? I'm not in any pain and so I assume that it is not infected.

Toothsmith

Your dentist is the only one who can tell you that

10Wbulb

Toothsmith wrote: »

Your dentist is the only one who can tell you that

Thanks for your reply. It was indeed just a tiny slither of tooth, mostly amalgam, and my dentist just cut it off through the roots attached to it. So hopefully the gum will heal up over it, she said that she will decide what to do during my next appointment at the end of February.

I asked about a crown and she said "we don't crown wisdom teeth", she's foreign, and her English is not perfect so I didn't press her. Consequently, I wonder if that's the policy of that NHS practice, or would a private practice do it?

brook2jack

Wisdom teeth are essentially useless teeth . They also have perculiar anatomy and can be very difficult to access properly to prepare adaquately for a crown . Hence if there is a problem with them they are more usually taken out rather than heroic measures taken to try to save them.

10Wbulb

brook2jack wrote: »

Wisdom teeth are essentially useless teeth.

Are you saying that we don't really chew on the wisdom teeth?

Toothsmith

Not that much. And the amount of plaque they can collect, (as its hard to clean effectively back there) means they often cause more harm than good to overall oral health.

But this is 'in general'. All mouths are different, and so wisdom teeth can be more useful to some people (if several other molars are missing, for example) than for others.