All I wanted for Christmas was a new front tooth. Ten long months ago, on Waitangi Day, one of my front teeth snapped off. It had been crowned and then recrowned (due to a poor initial piece of dentistry) but had seemed perfectly solid. Alas, the peg inside was not.
I've gone through implant surgery, bleeding issues, gagged daily on my ghastly temporary tooth, faced my friends looking like the Wicked Witch of the West and so I have been keen to complete this lengthy, painful and expensive process.
Following discharge by the surgeon, I was then back in the hands of a dentist. I was told to come for an impression (mould) to be taken so that the new prosthetic tooth could be created. That should be easy I thought. Sigh! Will I never learn?
As I sat back in 'the chair' the dentist told me I would need local anaesthesia. Heh? I was not happy as I find this really painful, even though it may be necessary, but this time I wouldn't work out why it might be necessary. The healing cap would be removed, a long screw inserted into the implant while the mould was made and then everything reversed. No surgery was required. I felt every one of those injections all around the screw/implant socket, leg-trembling stuff. Taking off the cap and popping in a screw was easy. I was told the mould would take a while and the dentist would be jamming it in place and then holding onto it, my mouth would fill with impression and I would want to gag. "Please don't move or gag, just concentrate on even breathing to get through it," said the dentist.
It seems this sort of impression is more complicated than that needed to create a standard crown. The dentist inspected the end result and declared it useless - there was an air bubble. We'd have to start again.
I was starting to gag and cough this time, towards the end of the process. Then the lower jaw was moulded to get my 'bite' right. Xrays were taken and the moulds sent off the prosthetics laboratory where my new ceramic tooth would be made. The dentist informed me I would need to go to the lab and have them colour-match to the rest of my teeth. My painful gums and socket did exactly that the following day.
The dental technician was nice and knowlegeable. He showed me my moulds and explained the work is very technical and must be precise to the last micron. Every step of the implant process must be precise. Just the right amount of space needs to be on either side of the tooth to allow flossing, it must be at the right angle and the tooth needs the correct alignment with its neighbours. My bite is very close so I will effectively be biting on the location of the screw and socket. Because of this, the sexy veneer could only be applied to the front of my tooth.
The day came when my new tooth could be fitted. More nasty needles. The cap was removed again and the new tooth and screw were inserted, Considerable pressure was applied to secure everything in the socket. It was uncomfortable but this faded within 30mins. I was told my gum would turn white [which it did] but would gradually return to pink. The tooth colour was good and it fills the space well. I cannot say it looks exactly like my original tooth at age 17 before a Christchurch dentist massacred it. The gumline is not the same, the angle isn't either and there's a back section that annoys my tongue as it juts out further into my mouth than my natural teeth or crowns.
However, it is permanent, I can eat what I want, I will not be gagging on a partial plate and I no longer look like a witch. I will be able to eat normally in front of others. I will also be able to go back to singing. Having this 'almost normal' option is likely to be the best way to protect my current and future heart health.
Right now my gum and socket are pretty sore but that will subside. This is an horrendously long and expensive process and, for me, has not been without pain and trauma. It is not for the faint-of-heart but if you are a long-term planner and persistent it can be a good option.
For info on earlier posts detailing the beginning of this process check out posts for the past 4-5 months.
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