x-ray Archives - Getting braces & implant at age 44

Last Tuesday (July 5th) I visited a new periodontist office. My last visit in May at another periodontist office ended-up with double feelings. She suggested to get a second periodontist appointment with focus on implants… I was able to schedule that appointment pretty quickly. That appointment happened last Tuesday.

Arriving quiet on time I ended up in the dentist chair. An assistant told me she would take some X-rays first. (I even didn’t see the perio yet!). Immediately I felt very nervous and didn’t want to get X-rays again. So I started explaining her that I already had many X-rays taken in the last few months. I asked her if she was able to see those pictures in my medical file, but for some reason she couldn’t fine any usable picture except from the pictures taken at my very first dentist appointment.

I was not able to convince her. She told me that they needed other pictures that are compatible with their medical systems. In my opinion this gave me a very strange an uncomfortable impression. So I had to get out of the chair and follow her. Again X-rays like those I had before at my first ortho appoitment. But I really had to go through with it. After taking the X-Ray the assistant invited me to get back to the chair. Then she took another kind of photo-machine and explained me she would take +7000 pictures (!) with a special device (some kind of toothbrush). Thank God this was not an X-ray device. It took 10 minutes to take the pictures ending up with a 3D rotating model of my teeth. Pretty cool! I think this was the only type of pictures I never experiences before! 😉

Then the assistant disappeared… and I had to wait for 20 long minutes! Again waiting, waiting, waiting. Remember? Finally the periodontist arrived and started examining my mouth. (Like my previous first perio appointment). She told me my gum, bone and teeth were pretty stabilized. I was happy to hear that. But then she added: “But I’m afraid the pocket around your tooth 21 is way too deep, the tooth is lost :(“

This moment was the first moment that I really felt I have to give up my tooth. She explained me what to expect from an implant. I even was able to explain her that I’m interested in some kind of extrusion procedure (As described here). I also explained about my crooked teeth and that I’m seriously considering getting braces IF I can combine it with a fake tooth and the extrusion procedure. After discussing the eventual procedure she told me she will get back with a pricing estimate.

In the meantime I received the estimate. Also the plan was included:

The implant procedure will cost me 1780€ (!). Extracting the tooth / putting the implant in place / temporary crown / some biological bone placement.
Also there might be some extra gum procedures needed depending on how easy my gum will heal. (+370€ optional).
Also finale check. (+80€).
The final crown should delivered & placed by my dentist. Don’t have price of the final crown yet. So it looks like this is going to be an expensive adventure 🙁

I have sent back an email asking about “where the braces treatment comes in” and who to contact now? The dentist? The periodontist? The orthodontist… Many questions for sure! So waiting for the response now. I think this story can go 2 ways:

Ortho / Perio / Dentist agree on the extrusion procedure with braces. This way I will benefit from fixing some crooked teeth, extrude tooth 21.
Ortho / Perio / Dentist don’t agree on the extrusion procedure with braces. Then I don’t think it will be worth to start a braces treatment. I that case my tooth will be extracted manually starting the implant procedure immediately.

Waiting for the email response and get some feedback from dentist. But one thing I know for sure: I have to give up my tooth and look into the implant procedure.

July 12, 2022November 23, 2022 by bracesat44

I’m back from the dentist! This was my 3rd opinion and I have the feeling it was a good visit. The dentist explained me about my dental health and how I should proceed to fix some things.

First, my front tooth. It looks like it is still not stabilized and I should look into it asap. I received a letter explaining the situation and to get a second root canal treatment. So this morning I immediately made an appointment with an endodontologist. This will happen on November 19th.

Second, I have some amalgam fillings in one of my molar teeth. It needs to be removed and replaced with a “composite” type of filling. The main reason is to prepare my mouth for “eventually” starting to wear braces. See below. So I already scheduled an appointment to replace the amalgam too (February 10th 2022).

Third, My crooked bottom teeth. The dentist told me that the gum and bone health is good. If I want to fix my bottom row/arch I can receive orthodontic treatment. She told me that my bottom teeth will continue to shift and things will get worse in the future. The treatment is not urgent, but if I want to do it I shouldn’t wait too long. I also asked if it is common to get braces at my age. She told me not to worry about wearing braces at my age. She suggested to keep the orthodontist appointment (May 2022) and to decide later on. It gives us an extra few months to fix the other issues mentioned above.

Forth, Sooner than expected I received a 3D scan of my mouth:

3D scan to get an overview of my dental situation
Front tooth 21 degrading. Bone loss.

But before I can go on I will need the endo-treatment again. Depending on that appoitment/treatment I will get a better picture on how to proceed. This situation brings me in a chicken and egg situation:

If I start wearing braces, the front tooth will automatically fall out because of the forces. So I will have to go for the implant.
If I don’t get the implant, the front tooth will degrade and will fall out in the next years. So I will have to go for the implant.
If I don’t start wearing braces, but I ask the dentist to remove the tooth, my implant will not look 100% nice. So I’ll need braces.

I really hate this situation. But it is what it is. Below I’m sharing you some pictures of my current teeth.

Amalgam filling (left tooth in photo) needs to be removed to prepare for (evantually) starting to wear braces.
Side view of my mouth.
Dead front tooth. Probably needs to be replaced with an implant.
Front view of my teeth. Here you can clearly see the bottom crooked teeth and my front tooth 21 that needs to be replaced with an implant.
Dead front tooth number 21.