Implant for Impacted Canine Treatment. Help!

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#1 Post by **ollielloyd** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:16 pm

Hey,

So many of you may have read my impacted canine story...

Basically. There's been little movement for over 1 year... I'm sick of having a gap that seems HUGE in my mouth!! I cant see the tooth magically appearing soon,and personally have lost self confidence over this. I hate smiling or opening my mouth because of not only my braces but the huge gaping whole in my mouth! Not nice.

I'm researching what implants I can get? Costs, and any known surgeons in the UK? How does anyone think I should suggest this to my Orthodontist? Both myself and my parents are sick of this ongoing treatment for over 3 years, with little change at a big cost.

I'm cautious about an implant, but if someone can help me decide...just for and against thatd be great.

Also, what is the procedure FOR implants? How are they installed? How long does it take? Average costs?

Thanks everyone,

Ollie

#2 Post by **ollielloyd** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:14 pm

Yeah thanks for the info. I'm literally so depressed about the state of my mouth. Sometimes I just want to break down it get so bad. I have a GIANT gap...no tooth is near....no tooth is poking though the gum...i cant even see it PUSHING on the gum!! I dont even feel pressure...just a huge,huge gap.

I don't know what to do....

#3 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:35 am

My boss had an implant done on one of his lower incisors. He had probably the worst case scenario--bone loss, so bone needed to be taken from elsewhere and packed into the socket. It was a long process, but the result was fabulous and everything worked perfectly. Hard decision--good luck.

#4 Post by **elpi** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:43 am

There are quite a few practices in the UK offering implants these days, my old dentist in Norwich advertised themselves as an implant centre though I only went to them for the regular dentistry stuff! It wouldn't hurt to get a professional opinion from the sound of it, even if it just helps clear up the options available. Good luck

Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:54 am

I would think they would have to get rid of the impacted tooth that is there in order to implant something into the bone. But of course I'm not a professional.

If I were you I would get a second opinion on the impacted canine situation. I think having your own teeth is far more desirable to implants. I think there is probably more they can do to get your impacted canines to move. It may be something simple like making the space a little wider for them, or as in my case drilling away a little bit of bone that was in their way. Also in my case (and I know all cases are different), my orthodontist had me in every single week to tighten up the string that was pulling on that tooth.

I would be frustrated too if I was in your position. That is a long time to wait.

#6 Post by **born2bbrace** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:56 am

Ollielloyd,

I got a molar implant earlier this year. It went well. There was some discomfort after the screw was put in place, but no real pain or prolong pain at all during or after the procedure. I had to wait 3 months for the screw to settle and then the abutment was put on and a crown was made and glued onto the abutment. It was a success and one I do not regret at all. It feels and work like the real thing, and a much better option than getting a bridge. My implant is sturdy too. The only downside I can see is that insurance will cover bridge, but not implants cause they consider it to be cosmetic. That's in the US though.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Did your ortho extract a tooth to create the gap? I also have an impact canine (lower) and told my ortho I did not want to extract any teeth unless it's absolutely necessary. Fortunately, he's not into extracting either. The plan is to make space. My ortho wants to do the exposure surgery as soon as there's a big enough gap. He wants to make sure the tooth will come up before he opens more space because if the tooth doesn't come out then we'll extract the impacted tooth and close the space back up. Is that an option for you? I like this plan because it's more cost effective then getting another implant (my implant was $1400 US dollar). I've only been in braces for 2 weeks so I'm still hopeful. I heard that the tooth can be fused to the bone, but my oral surgeon said the outcome is usually good if you're under 40 so I hope he's right. Did your ortho put a brace on the impacted tooth to help guide it out? Mine will do that when we get to it. I think that would help a lot. So if you haven't already, talk to your ortho about options. I am surprise that he/she let you sit this long with no result. That sounds negligent to me.

Good luck! Keep us posted and your hopes up.

#7 Post by **holly0841** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:40 pm

Ollie, I have read up on your story as I am going through the process as well. I just got my braces on on March 11th and they are now creating space for my two impacted canines to be pulled down. (Baby teeth pulled out) This is probably not gonna happen since I am 34 but they are hopeful they will move down into position. If they dont i will have them extracted and do a bridge. I have looked into the implants and am scared to death to have something screwed into my jawbone. I know this is now common practice though. I feel for you and can tell how frustrated you are. Hang in there, I hope it will all work out. BTW your teeth look great to me! I really cant tell you have the gap unless I am really looking hard at it.

#8 Post by **fluffybottom** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:27 pm

I'm in a similar boat: I have an impacted upper-left canine. I just had 3d x-rays so the orthodontist will be able to see the precise location of the tooth; I have a phone appointment on April 1st to discuss what can/should be done. My options are:

1: Expose it and pull it down into place
2: Extraction and get an implant
3: Leave it where it is and get a bridge

I'm hoping for option 1 but if that is not possible, this is how things were explained to me. In order to be able to get an implant, the impacted tooth would need to be removed. X-raying the exact position is not only to see if it can be brought down but also if it is a good candidate for extraction if it can't be pulled into place. There are various reasons why it wouldn't be able to be removed such the kind of damage extraction can cause to the roof of the mouth, sinuses, if it's fused to the bone, etc.

So if you want to get an implant, talk to your orthodontist about whether or not you can have the impacted tooth extracted. Otherwise, you'll have to go with a bridge (or refuel the hope that it can be pulled down into place).

#9 Post by **Shawnie** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:30 am

Hi Ollie -

I can feel your pain. I had two impacted canines. We were able to successfully get one down, but the other one just wouldn't move. I had two exposure surgeries, the initial one and then one more to luxate the tooth, but still it would not rotate around.

My Ortho was the one who finally said we had done everything and it was time to just have that tooth extracted. He really had done everything. I also had to mini implants placed to use as anchorage so that my other teeth would not be negatively affected by all the pulling. Previously the front four had started to fair out, this is why they wanted to use the mini implants vs the archwire to do the pulling. I had kept my baby teeth in, just in case this happened so I will keep the baby tooth as long as I can and then if it were to fall out some day then I would get an implant. My oral surgeon says it could last 25 years before it falls out.

Don't let my story discourage you though - there have been many successful people her on archwired who got their canines down. I think when you and your ortho agree that you have done all that you can then you will have to make your decision. I wish you the best of luck! Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions, I'd be glad to help.

Take Care,
Shawnie

#10 Post by **ollielloyd** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:56 pm

Thanks for all the replies.

I really, really hope it can come down. Not only because I've spent so much money, but also because the idea of a fake tooth scares me a little.

I'm going to go ahead with the operation if my ortho recommends it, and if there is no movement within a month or so after that, seriously look into implants!

Thanks about the gaps Holly! It's so incredibly annoying when all your teeth are generally sound,and ONE is not! Not fair on the others