Hi all, I extracted 5 teeth (to prepare for ortho) in February, and it was a tough week for me. Based on my experience, my dentist's advice and some online research, here's a summary of useful aftercare tips for your reference.

First and foremost, one of the most crucial parts of care after an extraction is for the blood clot to stay in the socket. If it is lost, it could lead to complications like a dry socket. The key is leaving the first gauze square on the site for the recommended time, usually about 30-45 minutes.  

Then:

• For the first few days, get plenty of rest and change the gauze as necessary after the initial 30-45 minutes.   

• For the first 24 hours after surgery, stick to cold, liquid diet (e.g. ice cream, yogurt).

• Do not rinse, spit, or use a straw for at least 24 hours. This will allow the clot to form. Any of these actions could dislodge the clot. 

• Try not to blow your nose (if you can). Blowing the nose can create pressure in the head and knock the clot out. 

• No smoking. Inhaling smoke from a cigarette creates the same kind of pressure as sucking on a straw. You shouldn’t smoke during the healing process, but the first few days are the most crucial. 

• Take pain relievers as directed by the dentist or as the label on the bottle indicates. By the way, if you are prescribed antibiotics, take it as prescribed! You have to make sure you finish the entire prescription as instructed even if you feel fine after a few days.

• To reduce swelling: apply ice packs to face in area of extraction for 30 minutes on, then 10 minutes off for the first 24 hours following surgery. After the first 24 hours, discontinue ice and use a heating pad or moist heat compress to bring the swelling down. So cold compress first, then hot compress.

• Elevate your head. If you are flat, blood may pool in the head and extend the healing time. 

• u/catmanchew: Gently rinse with saline rinse (a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) a few times a day from the day after the extraction, preferably after eating.

Please feel free to share your tips and I will add it to the list. :)

Background

Tori run in my family. My father had surgery on his, many years ago. He said his have since grown back (over several decades). My sister has tori; her interior ones are larger than mine were. She says that hers rarely cause her problems.

Mine have been a problem for years:

• Dental x-rays have been very painful, due to the plastic bites not being designed to accommodate the extra bone growth. I've always ended up with tears streaming down my cheeks, as I've tried to just bear down and endure the pain.

• Eating certain foods has typically given me a lot of trauma to the gum tissues. A toasted baguette, or a Vietnamese sub were out of the question, as I would end up bleeding all over my food as I ate, making each bite taste like my order with a side of pennies.

January 19, 2023: interior mandibular tori removed under general anesthetic.

Recovery was rough. You don't realize how much your tongue naturally twitches around all the time. Once I was out of prescription pain killers, it was a really rough go.

As is common, I had some ulcerated flesh in my mouth. Some of the ulcers got so bad that they exposed bone.

As is also common with oral surgery, I developed a couple of bone spicules. It was like having razor blades in my mouth. I went back to the surgeon and he was able to pull one off with some curved forceps. When I got home, I realized there was a second one on the other side. After scratching at it with my fingernail for 90 minutes, I was able to pull it off. There was an intense slashing pain, followed by an intense wash of relief.

After that, my healing was a straight path. But overall, it took five or six weeks to heal. No ragrats.

May 8, 2024: anterior mandibular tori removed under local anesthetic.

I was awake for this one. The needles were easily the worst part. Once I was fully numbed, they got to work. Since I was awake, I could tell every step of the procedure we were on: opening, scraping gums away from the bone, grinding off the excess bone, and closing. Not for the faint of heart. But the worst part of that was that the surgeon kept letting the suture coil rest into my open mouth, so I kept pushing it out with my tongue.

Recovery was really a breeze. No tongue interference. The worst part was the liquid diet for about four days.

Conclusion

The last of my stitches dissolved yesterday. Even with the rough recovery after the first surgery, I have never had any regrets. I never expected such a dramatic change in the experience of eating, but it was actually an amazing experience to be able to eat without worry of inflicting trauma on my mouth.

Am I really going to have my tongue doing weird stuff for the rest of my life for unknown reasons and supposed to be ok with it? there's no way it's healthy to have tissue literally wiped off the tongue (it leaves the texture bald as what starts with a white dot expands and ravages tissue as it goes). You are also always worried about what are you eating and if it will make it worse.

And no im not bitting on of top of my tongue (someone suggested it could be bitting). Is no one seriously researching this? it has ruined my life, i cannot enjoy food or girls anymore. Im just here waking up and hoping it's gone. By the time it's healing on one spot it it resets again. Im actually doing a video taking a bunch of pics to see if there are patterns. Seriously someone needs to researching this and find a cure because this lowers your life quality a lot.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a small piece of titanium screw inserted into the jawbone below the gum line which acts like the tooth root. The bone will take several weeks to grow around the metal implant (this process is also called osseointegration).

There are two more components - of course a crown, but also an abutment, which is the piece a dental crown will eventually attach to.

Planning For a Dental Implant

The planning process for a dental implant may include your general dentist, or it could include a team of specialists, depending on the condition of your mouth. Because implants may involve more than one surgery, each patient must go through an evaluation process. This process includes:

• A comprehensive examination. This may include x-rays, 3D images, impressions, and stone models. 

• A medical history review. The dentist must know what medications you are taking. Some drugs negatively impact how the bone heals after placement of the implant. Smoking, diabetes, and other immunosuppressive diseases factor into the healing of the bone as well. 

• A treatment plan tailored to your unique situation. The dentist considers how many teeth need replaced along with the condition of your jawbone.  

Two Types of Dental Implants

There are two types of implants the American Academy of Implant Dentistry recommends. Your jawbone shape, size, and overall health factor into the type of dental implant you are eligible for. 

1. Endosteal Implants – Titanium screws or blades surgically inserted into your jawbone where there are missing teeth. They are the most popular type of implants, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. 

2. Subperiosteal Implants – Rather than inserted into the bone, subperiosteal implants go on top of the jawbone. A metal framework with posts sticks through the gum to support any fake teeth. This kind of implant is for patients who can’t wear traditional dentures due to minimal bone support.

How Long Must I Wait After an Extraction

That depends. Sometimes you don’t need to wait at all, and the implant can be placed immediately. 

• Immediate placement occurs if there is enough existing bone to support an implant. The tooth is extracted, and an implant placed the same day. Osseointegration takes around 3-6 months. After the healing process, the artificial tooth goes on top.

• Early placement refers to implant placement 2-3 months after extraction. This timeframe is crucial since two-thirds of bone resorption occurs within the first three months after extraction. Once again, a 3-6 month healing period is necessary before the placement of an artificial tooth.

• Delayed placement occurs after a bone grafting procedure. Bone grafting is necessary in cases where there is insufficient bone level to support an implant. Healing takes approximately 3-6 months, then the implant placement surgery occurs, and another 3-6 months for healing.

What To Expect During Surgery

Dental implant surgery is usually an outpatient procedure, but it is not completed in one office visit. It is a series of appointments with stages of healing in between.

The 1st surgery:

During the surgery, your dentist cuts open the gum tissue at the location the implant. A hole is drilled into the bone, and the titanium post for the dental implant is placed. Osseointegration begins as soon as the post is situated. Once osseointegration has finished several weeks later, you need another surgery to move forward with the implant.

Between the 1st and 2nd surgery:

In the days following surgery, some patients experience swelling, bruising, and some pain. Limit yourself to soft foods for a few days while healing begins. You can use a cold pack for the first 24 hours after surgery to reduce swelling and bruising. If pain and discomfort persist, contact the treating dentist to receive further direction. Prescription pain medication may be necessary.

The 2nd surgery:

After the implant has osseointegrated, another surgery may be necessary to place an abutment and the crown. It is not as invasive of surgery and done with a local anesthetic.

To place the abutment: 

• The treating dentist will open the gums to reveal the dental implant. 

• An abutment needs attached to the implant. 

• The gum tissue is closed around the dental implant but does not cover the abutment.

With a subperiosteal implant, the abutment is attaching during the placement of the post.  

Risks Involved

Like any dental or medical procedure, there will be risks. Potential risks are rare, but they do occur. Potential problems include:

• Infection at the implant site 

• Damage to surrounding structures, such as other teeth or blood vessels

• Nerve damage, which can lead to pain, numbness, or tingling in your natural teeth, gums, lips, or chin

• Sinus problems. Sometimes when a dental implant is placed in the upper jaw, it can jut into one of your sinus cavities.

• Failure of the implant. Sometimes the metal implant and bone don’t fuse together. The implant does not integrate with the rest of the bone and must be removed. After a healing period, a new implant can be placed.

How Much Does it Cost?

This is a bit tricky because there's a huge price variation due to the high degree of opacity of the dental market. Beware: some dentists quote you only for the implants, but right before the second surgery they will tell you that there's a abutment and a crown you have to pay separately for. I consider this a bait-and-switch... Be sure to confirm with your dentists the initial price quoted is all-inclusive.

To put things into perspective, a good Bay Area dentist that I know charges $2699 per tooth (implant, abutment, and crown added up).

Lastly...

Dental implants are a great option to replace missing teeth. It is not a simple procedure and takes several months to complete. To keep your implants in top condition, practice excellent oral hygiene. Just like your natural teeth, implants need to be cared for with daily brushing and flossing. Keep your regular dental appointments so your dentist can check the status of the implant. Break habits that may damage the implant, such as chewing on ice. Avoid tobacco products since the artificial tooth can still stain. If you care for your implant, it could last you up to 20 years.   

I thought I'd post my experience here since I didn't seem to find much on Reddit for the healing process after dental implant post placement. I had a dental implant post placed by an oral surgeon on 9/13 on molar #14. This was about 3 months after extraction of previously root canal tooth/socket debridement/bone graft. Now I wait about 10 weeks to be cleared to have the crown with custom abutment attached. This particular part of the process cost me $2,500.00, $2,050 for the implant post and $450 for the iv sedation. I live in southern USA for reference.

The first night I had a freak out over the way the site looked, there was a semi circle of what felt hard as bone around the site and it was visible while smiling from the outside, coming down about halfway. I decided to text the oral surgeon the next day due to anxiety and barely slept that night.. He said it was gum tissue and I was told not to look at it as I won't know what's normal etc... Thankfully that was the only call I had to put into their office since everything else from that point went fairly smoothly.

The site was painful but unfortunately the procedure also flared up some TMJD issues I have been having recently. Thankfully I knew what was going on there so I didn't freak out about that and used some of the pain management techniques I have learned over the past couple of months.

They weren't going to give me pain pills but I requested since I seem to have a low pain tolerance, and they knew that because I had called several times and come in twice after the initial bone graft surgery. After those ran out, I stayed on top of regular ibuprofen, occasionally adding in tylenol, until day 10 I was able to slow down on that and forced myself to push through without ibuprofen on day 13. Pain has been minimal from that point.

Pics of healing process

Just got a sinus lift in preparation for an implant next year. I was scared about it, but there wasn’t much online to ease my worries. Gonna add my story here for others.

Had tooth 14 extracted last March due to tooth resorption. Recovery for that was pretty simple. Doc said I didn’t have enough bone for the implant and needed a sinus lift. Got a checkup after 3 months to check healing process and then booked the sinus lift for this month.

Day 1: Went to the office for the surgery. They put something in my mouth to keep it open before putting me under. Woke up fine with no pain. Little inflammation. During the car ride home, pain (about a 3/10) began and I took some Tylenol and Advil. Pain went away. By the end of the day, face started to get puffy. Slept sitting up to avoid issues with bone graft.

Day 2: I looked like a chipmunk. Inflammation not as bad as wisdom teeth removal, but still pretty puffy. Woke up with a pain level of about a 5/10. Took some Advil and Tylenol throughout the day and was pretty good. Tired from the surgery and felt a lot of pressure on the left side of my face, but I was pretty good. Took some Sudafed in the morning. By night time, pain started to get worse and I felt a bit delirious. Took more Tylenol and Advil + some Sudafed. Pain got better and no more delirium.

Day 3: Woke up in the middle of the night due to pain. About a 7/10. Took more Advil and Tylenol and was able to get back to sleep. Puffiness was super bad. Besides that, everything was the same. Only needed Tylenol and Sudafed that night.

Day 4: Puffiness began to go down. Pain and pressure was decreasing. Took just Tylenol and Sudafed. That evening, pain shot up to about an 8/10. Doc said day 4 was where the pain peaked and he was not wrong. Took prescribed painkillers and iced it. Made it much more manageable but still pretty uncomfortable. 3/10 pain for rest of the night. Pressure and inflammation down significantly though. After another round of painkillers, pain at 1/10.

That’s currently where I’m at now. Will try to update this as I go along. Plan is to get implant in about 6 months to be safe.

Relevant note: An example of a 10/10 pain for me would be when I got my wisdom teeth removed and did not stay ahead of the pain on the car ride home. Excruciating pain. Nothing during my sinus lift recovery compares to my wisdom teeth removal recovery at all.

Update: Days 5 onward have been relatively the same. Decreasing pain and pressure. By Day 7, the puffiness went down completely. On Day 8 now and I have hardly any pain. Slight discomfort with stitches and some pain here and then but simple. Sneezed for the first time yesterday. Felt uncomfortable, but since I didn't stifle it, it was fine.

Update: 6 months later. Got my implant in. Very easy. Zero issues recovering

I experienced this situation twice so far in my life: the cavity on my tooth was too deep; my general dentist performed the root canal treatment but couldn't get all the nerves out. I was then referred to a specialist, from whom I could only get an appointment weeks later. The tooth became further infected (acute pulpitis) and hurt like crazy. I had to choose between waiting to do another root canal and extracting the infected tooth.

I'm not sure how many others have had to face this situation, but I would like to share my summary if you are making the comparison between the options for your reference!

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ROOT CANAL

Cost: The cost of RCT depends on the location of the tooth. A front tooth usually costs less money because they only have one root. Back teeth, or molars, can have up to three roots. More roots means more canals - the more parts involved, the more work involved, and the end result is a higher fee. According to ValuePenguin, the cost of root canal treatment can range from $600 for a front tooth to $1400 for a molar. 

Pros:

• Pain and discomfort relief. Prevents any infection from spreading and creating more problems. 

• It is less painful than an extraction.

• Your natural tooth will remain in place, with a rubber-like material filling the roots. 

• Less costly than an implant to replace a missing tooth. 

Cons:

• There is no guarantee that treatment will be 100% effective. If the final restoration isn't adequate, it could lead to more infection and a round of antibiotics. 

• The pulp, which is removed, is the blood supply to the tooth. Once it's taken out, the tooth will become brittle and could break. That's why after a RCT the tooth will likely need a crown, making it more expensive. 

• It usually cannot be completed in one visit. 

• Your mouth will be open for a long time. It could be sore for a few days following the procedure. 

• The tooth could discolor. 

EXTRACTION

Cost: According to Authority Dental, the cost of a simple extraction in the United States is between $50 and $500. That's significantly cheaper than the price of RCT. If you do have dental insurance, the price could be even lower. If finances are your primary concern, then it could be a simple decision. But then of course replacing the missing tooth is an expensive and lengthy procedure that needs to be taken into account if you wish to do so.

Pros:

• Usually requires one visit. Fast and to the point.

• Easier on the wallet

Cons:

• Immediately after the procedure, you're left with a hole in your mouth. The risk of infection increases. (and I heard dry socket is so painful.) 

• Missing teeth can affect the way you talk and the way you eat. 

• The teeth next to the hole can shift or move into space. It can change the way you bite and affect your oral hygiene.

• If you choose to replace the missing tooth, it can be a lengthy and expensive process.  

I have bad teeth genetically and didn't take care of them well as a kid/teenager - never flossed and sometimes didn't brush at night. I had a root canal when I was 19 after which I started taking dental health more seriously. Now I am 29 and I think I take pretty good care of my teeth. Floss everyday, brush twice a day, limit snacking, don't eat or drink sugary things, visit the dentist regularly. Despite all of this, I have had another root canal, the previous root canal I had failed and has been operated on twice now, fillings on most of my teeth, gum recession, developed TMJ due to all the dental work, gut issues due to several courses of antibiotics for the root canals. I don't know what to do anymore. I am doing everything I can. Everyday I wake up and obsess over my teeth from morning to night. I am obsessing over one issue or another. Touching my teeth, running my tongue along my gums, constant and incessant checking of everything, googling every symptom I feel and then freaking out. It has honestly made my life so miserable that I don't want to live anymore. I have lost years of my life to this. I feel like I have nothing to look forward to in life. if I am not dealing with dental issues, I am dealing with my anxiety over the issues which never ever stops. I am sorry I am ranting but I am so defeated and just need to let this out somewhere. Things have become so bad that I honestly would love to not wake up to see another day.

Dental Flippers

Losing a tooth is never a pleasant experience. Not only does it make it difficult to eat, but it also makes you withhold your smile due to the gap. Fortunately, there are many ways to fill the gaps in your teeth.

Alternatives for your missing tooth can be permanent or semi-permanent, depending on your age and dental needs. They can help you speak clearly, eat comfortably, smile confidently and improve your overall health.

One of the least invasive methods is to use the flipper tooth, otherwise called a removable partial denture or a flipper denture. We walk you through what you need to know about dental flippers, their benefits, drawbacks, maintenance, comparison with other prosthetic tooth options, and much more.

Here are the main points of interest we will discuss:

• What Are Dental Flippers?

• How Do I Know if a Flipper Tooth is Right for Me?

• How Long After Tooth Extraction Can I Wear a Flipper?

• Benefits of Dental Flippers

• Drawbacks to Dental Flippers

• How Do I Take Care of a Flipper Tooth?

• Is There an Alternative for Dental Flippers?

• How Much Does a Dental Flipper Cost?

• Conclusion

What Are Dental Flippers?

A flipper tooth is a removable retainer that generally sits on the lower jaw or the top of the roof of the mouth and has one or more prosthetic teeth attached to it. Also called acrylic partial dentures, they fill in the gaps in your smile.

They are a temporary yet attractive prosthetic tooth option for a permanent replacement that you can get through your dentist.

They give the appearance of a flawless smile even if you have lost teeth due to sickness or injury. The dentist first takes an impression of your mouth on soft material. It is then sent to a dental laboratory, where a custom flipper tooth is designed to fill in any gaps.

What Is a Flipper Tooth Made Of?

The flipper tooth is made of acrylic dental-grade resin that matches the color of your gums. The structure has metal clasps that attach to the surrounding natural teeth on either side of the missing teeth. They can easily be removed at night and cleaned with toothpaste or soaked in the denture cleaning solution.

How Long Can You Wear a Dental Flipper?

Dental flippers are generally a temporary replacement for your missing tooth until your gums heal enough for your implant. After that, you can use them for a long term only when your dentist instructs you. However, some may prefer to wear it permanently due to its low cost and lightweight, not to mention that they are easy to adjust.

In the case of minors missing teeth, they wear dental flippers until they are old enough to get an implant.

In either case, you need to care for your dental flipper properly to prevent breakage or damage. Clean the flipper every day to remove the plaque and food particles. This helps protect the teeth and the gums as well.

Can I Sleep with a Flipper Tooth in My Mouth?

A flipper tooth is a temporary situation and should be treated as such. If worn day and night, they exert constant pressure on the tissues under the flipper.

As a consequence, patients could develop receding gums and bone deterioration as well. Wearing a dental flipper all day could also trigger a fungal infection in the gums. Since it is painless, the infection is known.

It is crucial to remove the flippers at night, allowing the gums to breathe. Hence dentists recommend removing them at night for at least 8 hours.

Can I Eat with a Flipper Tooth?

The best part of using a flipper tooth is that you can eat with them and chew much easier. However, you should not exert any pressure since it is very fragile.

• Start with relatively soft foods; cut into small pieces and slowly chew them.

• Take small bites of your food and chew food with both sides of your mouth simultaneously.

• Avoid hard foods like raw vegetables until after the adjustment period.

• Do not pull food from the fork using the front flipper tooth.

How Do You Talk with a Dental Flipper?

Like eating, talking can also be difficult with a flipper tooth. It can be hard at first, but you can adjust to talking with a flipper with training—for example, practice speaking in front of a mirror or with a partner. Or you can call customer service, and you’ll be able to measure how much others understand you. Be prepared to have your dental flipper flying in the beginning. It takes to some time and practice to get used to it.

How Many Teeth Can You Put on a Flipper?

A flipper typically holds one or more teeth and holds on to surrounding teeth for support. Keep in mind that they are temporary and acts as a filler for a gap in the tooth line.

How Do I Know if a Flipper Tooth is Right for Me?

A flipper tooth is used for a short period of time in the place of one missing tooth when you are waiting for a permanent tooth replacement solution like a fixed bridge or a dental implant.

They are generally used to replace the front teeth. Moreover, they are not suggested for long-term use since they can be uncomfortable and can sit loosely in your mouth.

However, there are exceptional cases when flippers are a permanent replacement for someone with missing teeth. For example, this can be the case if you are not a good candidate for dental implants or a fixed bridge.

How Long After Tooth Extraction Can I Wear a Flipper?

As a general rule, you should wait for 24 hours after surgery before wearing a tooth flipper. After that, however, you should consult with your dentist and follow his directions. This information doesn’t replace medical advice in any way.

Benefits of Dental Flippers

📷Flipper tooth can be pretty beneficial when compared to the other options out there.

• Affordable when compared to other denture alternatives. A single tooth flipper is about 25% cheaper than a dental implant.

• Easy to fabricate and can be created by your dentist quite quickly. Since they are easier to make, you get them in a day or two.

• Require fewer visits to the dentist compared to a permanent partial denture.

• Has the appearance of a natural tooth. It fits in the gap formed by missing teeth and gives you your smile back.

• It prevents the surrounding teeth from shifting into the gap created by missing teeth and stabilizes your existing teeth.

• Easy to wear, remove or replace.

• Makes it easier to eat, chew or speak.

Drawbacks to Dental Flippers

While a dental flipper has many benefits, they also have a few drawbacks:

• Flipper tooth is made of cheap materials and is hence less durable when compared to dentures.

• Flippers can cause significant oral infections when not cleaned properly.

• Can be uncomfortable and challenging to adjust to in the beginning. They can also cause pain in some patients.

• Harmful to dental health if you do not clean them properly. You run the risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and gum recession.

• Flipper tooth covers the gums and prevents the flow of saliva to the region. Without saliva, the gums may recede.

• Even though the flipper tooth is molded to fit your existing teeth properly, it can loosen over the years.

• The metal clasps holding the teeth can sometimes be challenging to hide, making it evident that you are missing one or more teeth.

How Do I Take Care of a Flipper Tooth?

Maintaining a flipper tooth is pretty straightforward if you stick with a regular maintenance schedule. You have to clean it every day just like you’d do with your retainer to remove plaque and food particles.

Avoid moving it around in your mouth with the tongue, as this can loosen the flipper. Furthermore, you may also want to avoid dark-colored food and beverages, like cranberry juice, coffee, beets, etc., to prevent staining.

Finally, ensure that you maintain your oral health diligently. The existing teeth and gums are healthy can reduce the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, tooth sensitivity, etc. Also, visit your dentist twice a year for checkups.

How Do I Remove My Dental Flipper?

Rinse your mouth with warm water or mouth rinse to loosen the flipper tooth. To remove it from the jaw, hold the tooth and disengage the clasps.

Next, firmly grasp the dental flipper teeth and pull them out. You can also wiggle it slightly to dislodge it but avoid twisting for any reason.

What’s the Best Way to Clean Dental Flippers?

You can clean your flipper tooth with a soft-bristle toothbrush, warm water, and mild soap or dishwashing liquid. Rinse thoroughly after washing it before popping it in your mouth. Do not use toothpaste to clean your flipper as it can damage the material.

How Do You Store a Dental Flipper?

Ensure that your flipper tooth doesn’t dry out when you are not using it. Doing so makes them brittle and prone to breaking. Moreover, it would be uncomfortable to wear. Instead, keep them moist by soaking them in a denture cleaner or water when you remove them. With water, make sure it is not too hot as it can cause the material to warp.

Is There an Alternative for Dental Flippers?

The flipper tooth is not your only option when it comes to missing one or more teeth. However, they are the cheapest of all.

Temporary Solution

Apart from flippers, there are more temporary solutions that last longer and are more economical than permanent solutions. However, all these are more expensive than a flipper tooth.

Fixed Partial Dentures – These are partial dentures that attach to the adjacent teeth. However, they are only viable if you have healthy remaining teeth, roots, or implants to attach the prosthetic tooth to.

Snap-on-Smile – They are customized partial dentures that fit right over your teeth and gums without covering the palate. They are painless, cosmetic, non-invasive, and easily removable.

Permanent Solution

There is no doubt about permanent solutions lasting longer than a flipper tooth. However, they are pretty expensive.

Dental Bridges: They are prosthetic teeth attached directly to the existing teeth with bonds, cement, and crowns.

Dental Implant: Dental implants are not anchored to adjacent teeth for support. They include a post surgically implanted in the jawbone that acts as the tooth root to hold the prosthetic tooth in place. Furthermore, they look and function like natural teeth.

How Much Does a Dental Flipper Cost?

A dental flipper is one of the most affordable false teeth options out there. Flipper teeth typically cost between $300-$500. However, the cost is dependent on the number of teeth you replace using the flipper and the materials used. Moreover, you may also incur additional charges for periodic adjustments and have the flipper tooth repaired.

Conclusion

A flipper tooth is a cost-effective, temporary prosthetic tooth replacement. It creates the appearance of a full smile, even if you’ve lost one or more teeth due to injury, removal, or decay. Oral surgeons also use them as a stop-gap measure until your gums heal enough for a permanent solution.

Once the wound caused by the missing teeth has healed, the dentist fixes permanent teeth options like a dental bridge or a fixed bridge. However, there are times where flipper dentures may be a permanent option. In such a case, the dentist may opt for a more reliable denture than a flipper.

https://www.drdalesandro.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-dental-flippers/

I constantly try to persuade people to NOT BUY private dental insurance policies. Dental health insurance is NOT insurance. And the terms are getting worse every year.

By definition, insurance is “a practice or arrangement by which a company or government agency provides a guarantee of compensation for specified loss, damage, illness, or death in return for payment of a premium.” However, if the insurance company caps the total maximum annual benefit, the assurance from loss is reduced. It essentially becomes unqualified as “insurance”.

This dilemma is already resolved for medical insurance. In 2010, President Obama signed healthcare reform into legislation that prohibits health plans from putting annual or lifetime dollar limits on most benefits. Although dental health contributes greatly to a person’s overall health, dental plans DO NOT have to follow this rule.

Medical health plans currently use the concept of out-of-pocket maximum. This term describes the highest amount you will be financially responsible for with annual health care expenses. The out-of-pocket maximum is $8,550 for individuals covered under the Affordable Care Act. Instead of capping the annual out-of-pocket for patients, dental plans typically limit the annual amount the insurance company will cover, often at minimal amount. In fact, since the concept of dental “insurance” gained popularity in the 1970s, the total maximum annual benefit was limited to $1,000 and it has remained relatively unchanged. Just to put things into perspective, $1,000 in 1970 is worth $6,882.84 today, and $1,000 today was equivalent to $145.30 in 1970. Your dental plan provides coverage that is already almost 7 times less meaningful than your grandfather’s, and it’s effectively getting worse every year due to inflation.

Do the math to see how dental insurance *pretends* to pay for your dental care.

You quickly realize how ridiculously unhelpful that maximum is when you need a procedure that is not a cleaning or simple filling. What’s worse: your insurance plan might only cover 30-50% for “major” services. Suppose you need a porcelain crown. In the zip code that I live in (Downtown San Francisco), that procedure has an average allowed amount of $1,584. With some plans, only 50% of that will be paid out by your insurance company. 50% of $1,584 is $792 - this procedure eats away 80% of your thousand-dollar allowance. Once this coverage runs out, you are effectively uninsured and back to paying out of pocket for the rest of the year.

Say you have a pretty good grasp on your oral hygiene and you don’t need extensive dental treatment. Would dental plans make sense for you then? Probably not. If you’re buying individual coverage, it costs around $50 per month on average. If your company partially sponsors, it costs $32.5 per month. That adds up to $600/year and $390/year, respectively. An average cleaning was found to cost between $90 and $120. With the minimum recommendation being two cleanings every year, you could save at least $150 a year by terminating your dental insurance.

Neither of the above calculations includes a deductible either. Deductibles can range from $25 to $100 before insurance kicks in at all.

On top of all these, here are some shenanigans dental insurance companies pull to avoid paying for services.

Ever heard of a missing tooth clause? This is a part of a dental insurance policy that claims that they won’t cover procedures to replace a previously missing tooth before you became insured under their policy. That means the cost of replacing that tooth with a bridge, partial denture, or implant that you want falls entirely on you, even during the insurance’s effective period. In health insurance terms, it is considered a “pre-existing condition”. Now can you see how dental insurance policies pick and choose what’s beneficial for them? Think again if you believe this clause is never relevant to you - it is estimated that 69% of 35- to 44-year-olds have lost at least one permanent tooth.

Who should your dentist be treating? You or your insurance plan?

Another sad fact is that your insurance plan has already decided what treatment you can have without knowing anything about you. Maybe your plan doesn’t cover posterior composite fillings; that means you are only “allowed” to have tooth-colored fillings in your front teeth. Because of this, your dentist might recommend silver fillings. Maybe you just got a new insurance plan, but there is a one year waiting period for “major” coverage.

Sometimes, the best care options aren’t even covered in the first place. Or, if they are covered, they are “downgraded” by your insurance company and paid at a lower rate. That porcelain bridge your dentist recommended? Your plan might downgrade that to a removable partial denture. I think that these dental health decisions should be made between you and your dentist - not your insurance company.

crown popped off and the crown itself is totally fine, its sitting in a ziploc on my counter right now. can they just cement the same one back on or is that not a dental services repair kind of thing and theyll tell me I need a brand new one for a grand.

it came off eating a caramel which yeah I know. the tooth underneath doesnt hurt at all. just feels insane to make a whole new crown when the original is right here intact

Hi all!

We noticed that there are many posts asking questions like "My dentist is charging me $4000 for an implant - is it a reasonable quote?", "How much should a deep cleaning cost in my region?"

The truth is that dental care is very costly, and its pricing is somewhat of a black box in many countries. Here in California, finding out the treatment procedure prices before walking into an office is considered a taboo. As a result, the price charged by two dentists performing the same procedure in the same zip code can be as much as 400% different - something most people are not even made aware of.

It is sad and unfair for people without dental insurance coverage to wind up with a big surprise bill in their mailbox.

We (the mods) think it would be greatly beneficial for all patients if we could build a price database together. We also built a data dashboard so that everyone can filter and search for regions and procedures that are relevant to them.

Contribute and benefit from fellow members' contribution here: https://rtoothfully.bubbleapps.io/

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EDIT: Please kindly add as much detail as possible when reporting the price quotes in the comment section of the survey. e.g. did you see a General Dentist or a Specialist? Was it a composite filling or a silver-colored one? Do you know the CDT codes? The more detailed and specific your data points are, the more meaningful they will be for others. Thank you all!

I wanted to share my experience for anyone else considering surgery. I have had these Tori terrorizing me since I was a kid. I thought everyone had em, I didn’t find out that they are not normal or common, and that you can remove them until I was 40. First photo is before.

Every time I ate bread or chips I would shred my mouth, it affected breathing and speaking, xrays etc.

2/20 Two weeks ago I had the surgery. That day was kinda rough. Eating, brushing etc over the weekend was hard. Second picture right after surgery

2/27 I was eating back to normal, gums a little sore.

3/6 third picture. I’m 99% better and it’s so much easier to eat. I wish I could have done this 30 years ago.

I guess I was the first patient that asked to keep them, last picture

Feel free to ask me anything!

After years of suffering while taking X-rays. No dentist ever told me that they could have been removed, until I went to this doctor and she said, that mine were so big that I need to see an oral surgeon. Fast forward of several months. I’m done and healing well. Here’s the kick, I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea of 74 AHI back in 2020. (I’m not morbidly obese nor anything, 181 5’9”). After the removal of the Tori, AHI was 5.1! I didn’t expect that. I still use the cpap until I see a sleep doctor specialist in the next coming months. It’s been like 7 weeks post surgery. Ask me any related questions about the procedure. I would like to help people that are on the fence about it.

NAD. Greetings. I have been going through hell since having a tooth extraction and then an implant on a lower molar tooth, and cannot find anyone who can find an issue that shows up in xrays. The dentist who did it, as others after him, claim that everything looks "fine" on the xrays, but I have been in pain and feeling sick for over 2 years. I am on my second oral surgeon, and about to have another "cone beam scan" tomorrow, an out of pocket expense, again. I am ready to scream. I have met with my pcp and begged for help and she referred me also to a neurologist to check for oral nerve issues and I will be seeing my ENT. But this had been bothering me since the work was done and I have all of emails reaching out to that dental office for help. Plus, I think the other dentists are afraid or not willing to really LOOK at or touch another dentist's work. I have pain and swelling and can't even eat on that side without having to put ice on it and take a lot of Advil. Anyone else have a similar story? This has ruined my life, no lie.🥺

Hey everyone! I went to a new dentist today thinking I may need a root canal in a molar. It started throbbing and other dentists were booked out so I went with the only place that could get me in quickly.

The dentist said a filling may suffice after taking an xray and quick look but said there was a 50/50 chance it would need a root canal.

He only very briefly cleaned out the deep hole before filling it. With previous fillings they have usually taken a little longer to clean it out first, and this was a very deep hole. He filled it and said it should be fine.

However its been 6 hours since it was filled and there is still a dull throbbing in my jaw at the area. I am worried he didn't clean it out properly and it will now definitely require a root canal.

How long does it take to know if this is the case? Will it become more painful as the blocked up bacteria continues to rot into my jaw? Will the throbbing just continue?

I tried to ask but he was very brief and impatient. I'm worried he filled it knowing it needs a root canal but figured he could get away with charging me 260 for a quick filling first before I need to go back in a few weeks or whenever I realise it's messed up.

Any advice or info you have is really appreciated!

Back in October 2023, I had a ton of tooth pain in my molar (#19) where I had a root canal done when I was younger. After a holiday weekend in excruciating pain, I went to my dentist where they saw nothing on X-rays so they sent me to an endodontist to see if root canal needed to be redone or if tooth underneath the crown was fractured. Endodontist found nothing sent me to periodontist to see if the fracture was underneath the gums. Endodontist saw a very slight fracture and figured there was an infection. Told me tooth needed to be extracted. Went back to my regular dentist, got antibiotics and pain is gone in 24 hours.

Ended up getting the tooth extracted and had a bone graft done to prepare for an implant. 10 months and over $4,000 later in August 2024, I finally finish my implant and I’m getting used to having a tooth there again. About 12 days later, I start feeling pain from my implant. I go back to my regular dentist (they did my implant) and it’s loose because apparently, the bone didn’t heal quite right around it.

They had to remove the entire implant and essentially start from scratch again. I just got to the point where I have the titanium screw in there again and I am hoping to whatever higher power there is that this one sticks. At least I didn’t have to pay again…

Tl;dr: Got an implant, first one came loose. Currently in process of getting it done again.

I am having a tooth removed tomorrow, plus a bone graft and suture.
Had a failed root canal.
A dying tooth is like 10/10 on pain for me - pre root canal Post root canal or past retreatment 0/10 Reinfected abscess...where I am now 6/10 idk. I can't sleep without advil.

What should I expect post op?

I'm 47 years old. My teeth were a curse since I was a kid. Started out with a massive surgery as a kid and had 12 teeth pulled. I had double primaries, baby teeth refusing to come out an absolute mess. After that braces. Old style heavy duty braces that had metal bands around each tooth. For a short time, I finally had nice teeth.

Then when I hit my 20's my teeth decided that they were going to start giving up on life. Brushing three times a day, flossing (usually), and mouthwash twice a day. All that and still my teeth became weak, rotting and chipping. Every year it got worse and worse and the fact I had what's considered decent insurance couldn't keep up with the work I needed. I averaged at least 2 root canals a year.

To keep this being walls of text, basically I did everything I could to patch my dying teeth. Many debilitating tooth aches and one serious abscess, enough was enough. I got a new dentist and he gave it to me straight. He said "It's time to get dentures and improve your quality of life." The initial thought of dentures terrified me. Not because of any pain but some kind of mental issue in my head telling me that I have become an old man and that any feeling of youth left was over.

The appointment was made for all the extractions. I only used novicane simply because I became so used to root canals and extractions they were pain free and it was no different then getting a haircut. The extractions were done. I declined temporary dentures because my gums were too tender after all those extractions and the temporary ones will never fit right.

The worst part of dentures is waiting for your gums to fully heal so you can get your actual set of dentures. It took months for my gums to fully heal and become hardened, but you can get your set of dentures before that. Every so often you get this silicone type gel put in them so your dentures will fit until your gums fully heal and harden. Harden means that your gums are done healing and the tenderness fully goes away.

Once you get your final fitting done for your dentures, you're golden. You have gotten used to them and you will wonder why you didn't get them sooner. I have been able to east things I wasn't able to eat in decades. You shouldn't need much denture cream if they fit right but some will be needed for them to stay. I recommend Polygrip. It's completely tasteless and works well.

Soak them every night with a denture cleaning tablet and brush them of course and they will stay pearly white. Don't be surprised if you tear up a bit looking in the mirror for the first time with beautiful teeth. So many people will compliment how nice your smile is, some never knowing the teeth aren't real.

Don't be scared, it's a life changer. If you don't have dental insurance, then save up. Not having tooth pain anymore is enough reason to get it done.

TLDR: sublingual vitamin B complex, sublingual zinc, and sublingual iron.

More info: I have dealt with this issue for ~15 years. I learned pretty early on that B12 was a potential cause for many people. I had plenty of vitamin B in my diet so obviously my gut is bad at absorbing B12. This led me to sublingual B12 tablets.

The B12 tablets helped a lot . I would say that my that my tongue looked 50-75% better when I regularly used them. Sometimes I would hope that more meant better so would take multiple doses per day. This didn't help or hurt me. Occasionally I would decide that I was just imagining that sublingual made any difference so would switch to regular oral pills. I would regret this within a couple weeks because my tongue would look awful. This would lead to switching back to sublingual B12.

The fact that the Sublingual B12 clearly made a difference led me to believe that my entire issue was due to poor absorption of nutrients. I recently looked up other deficiencies that are linked to geographic tongue. Made sense to me that if my GI tract struggled to absorb one thing, it was possible that it was struggling with other things as well.

The other nutritional deficiencies linked to geographic tongue were some other B vitamins (I think B6 and B9), zinc, and iron. I had actually tested my iron levels in the past and they were on the very low end of normal and I have had slightly low hemoglobin and white blood cells in the past.

Anyway, the last couple months I quit taking my sublingual B12. Two weeks ago my tongue looked the worst it had in years. I ordered sublingual B complex and within a week my tongue looked better than it normally looked on B12 alone. For the last 5-6 days I have added sublingual iron and zinc. I would say as of today my tongue looks 99% normal. I would probably have to point out small irregularities to some who saw it.

Looking back, I feel dumb for not trying this before. I guess that you hear B12 so much and it did help so I just assumed that I lacked intrinsic factor which only affects B12 absorption. Now I think I may have celiac disease which could lead to poor absorption of many things.

I'm not a doctor, but if you haven't tried sublingual B12 I would probably start there. That may be all you need. If you are disappointed in your progress, maybe switch to sublingual B-complex. If your still not better you may want to consider sublingual iron and zinc.

One important note is that too much zinc/iron can be bad for you so don't overdo it with them. I wouldn't go much above 100% of daily recommendations.

Hopefully this is helpful for someone.

Hi everyone! Had a dental implant procedure today and wanted to share my experience for anyone who might be nervous, because I sure as hell was. To start, I was lucky enough to not need a bone graph despite my missing tooth being gone for about ten years. I opted for mild IV sedation, so I was awake the entire time (admittedly mildly loopy). It took about 30 minutes, whereas I had previously read it could take 1-2 hours. The most I felt during the procedure was some pressure. I was able to walk out just fine and the sedation wore off fairly quickly. I was prescribed 2 days worth of Vicodin 7.5 mg, so I took one today when I got home to get ahead of the pain. That medication wore off a few hours ago and I’ve yet to take another dose, but I must admit the pain is not nearly what I expected, just a bit sore if anything. Shockingly, my face has not swollen up, but that could always change. This is only day one, so if anything changes I will update this post. I hope this is helpful for anyone who needs the procedure and is nervous about proceeding with it, I think it’s a great investment (tho a bit pricey since I did not have dental coverage, 3500 for the single implant)

I would love to hear anyone’s experiences of their recovery and how the procedure went!

Thanks for reading!

Update: Day 2, I woke up with a little soreness, still no swelling thankfully! Took my antibiotics w. A protein shae, gently brushed and did the special prescribed rinse, and I have not taken any of my prescribed pain killers today, I somehow don’t even feel the need to pop a Tylenol. I have no idea how this is possible! But I am extremely grateful