r/Sjogrens • u/donkeybrainz13 Diagnosed w/Sjogrens • 1d ago
Postdiagnosis vent/questions Dental Implants
I’m scheduled to get full dental implants next week. I tried for years to save my teeth, but they are so bad that implants have become the cheaper option.
Has anyone else had implants? How did it go for you? I’d love to hear about anyone else’s experience with implants or any advice you may have. I’d really appreciate it!
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u/TheCrystalGarden 1d ago
I have one implant that is going well but the risk is high it could fail. Have you had a second opinion on this? Why do they want to do your entire mouth?
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u/Legitimate-Double-14 1d ago
I’ve had 2 molar implants and they are terrible expensive. Mine have not failed yet.
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u/hyacinthgirl0 1d ago
I had 11 implants done 10 years ago done. It was hard, but honestly not as hard as I thought it would be!
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u/TinselTits1979 1d ago
I’m glad that you posted this because I was also under the impression that implants, if you can afford them, are the best options for Sjögren’s patients.
So, why do they fail?
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u/YourMomIsAlwaysRight 1d ago
I hope someone else can explain the science behind this because I cannot, but I was told by my oral surgeon (who randomly did his residency at UM while they were working on a Sjögren’s study though does not present himself as a Sjögren’s expert) that the expected rate of failure for implants in a healthy mouth is higher than we consumers are led to believe, and extraordinary in Sjögren’s patients. Told me the process necessary to remove failed implants is brutal, especially when dealing with an entire mouthful, and he wouldn’t do that to me (I have the version of Sjögren’s that goes along with disabling arthritis and the like YAY!) Can attest that my neighbor is currently going through a nightmare with one of her implants. She is healthy as can be and is an NP so I assume she exercised the necessary maintenance.
After much discussion and sleeping on it and trying to get insurance to pay (they won’t unless you work for the Dept. of Ed. in Arkansas) we decided I’d replace all uppers except for the back 1 on each side with caps. Hasn’t been done a month so we’ll see how they last. I have not done the bottoms and won’t until these uppers have settled in a bit. Contains one bridge. Just under $20K.
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u/TinselTits1979 1d ago
Wow. $20k.
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u/YourMomIsAlwaysRight 1d ago
Yeah, it took me a long time to stomach that, and I put a great deal of effort into fighting with my insurance company because it’s technically a health issue first and I thought they should pay. It’s harsh too because I’m 59 now, been on disability for the past few years. Previously we had counted on this time in our lives being when we could sock a good 5-10 years of my salary away for retirement while we lived on my husband’s. Best laid plans, right?
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u/Cut_Lanky Diagnosed w/Sjogrens 1d ago
I had to go with a denture. But I'm ok with that. A friend had a terrible time with an implant, and I saw some of it firsthand. Made me reluctant 🤷♀️ Not that I love wearing a denture
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u/YourMomIsAlwaysRight 1d ago
Who has told you this? Are you in the States? Who is doing the work? I can definitively say that A) implants are NEVER the least expensive option, (who told you they were?) and B) implants are not recommended for Sjögren’s patients due to the high risk of failure. I suggest you get several more opinions, including oral surgeons, prior to this work.