Joined May 2004
L6: Expert
Forum Thread
Dental Advice
February 11, 2026 at
12:49 PM
Hi
Any dentists out there? Sorry, I am not sure what the proper term is... oral surgeon?
Here is the situation... in time order...
1. A molar cracked open. My dentist looked at it and said he could do an implant to replace it. Most others would not, he said, the tooth was small and had been crammed in tight between my wisdom tooth and the molar in front.
2. Went to an oral surgeon, who removed the rest of that molar and put in an implant post (?). Went back to the dentist, and he shaved a bit of the tooth in front to make the 1/8 inch spacing he needed. Was supposed to wait a couple of weeks to let everything heal before putting in the crown.
3. Life happened. Family member got sick, things got crazy at work... I didn't go back for awhile. Kept putting it off, to be honest. I was eating fine, no issues.
4. One day, eating a peanut M and M, I felt and heard a CRACK. Dangit, the wisdom tooth broke off. Most of it was gone. Dentist said no, it can't be saved. We can put in an implant there too. Rushed to get on the oral surgeon's calendar... He removed the rest of the wisdom tooth and put in a second implant.
5. Life happened again. Covid shut downs were announced like a day after. Yes, it was March 2020 at this point. Around April 2020, the second implant, the one for the wisdom tooth, fell out! I woke up one morning and it was gone! I don't know if I swallowed it, or it fell out and ... who knows. At the time, the oral surgeon was still seeing patients but with maximum social distancing (only a few per day, nobody in the waiting room, etc). I got in and he said... well... I owe you an implant.
6. My dentist retired, after 40 years. I saw a different dentist... several, in fact, and they were all like.. really? He thought he could fit in a crown? That first implant is SO close to your other tooth! They did not think they could do it. So I left it all alone. For almost six years now... I chew on that side too! The last two lower teeth are missing, but ... when I chew it feels normal. I dunno.
7. But its Feb 2026. I'm starting to feel pain there. I checked in the mirror and... the implant has moved? shifted? It is now TOUCHING the tooth in front. I don't know if that means it bent... or it stayed straight and shifted inside my gums? Haven't gotten an x-ray yet.
Apparently I grind my teeth. They are all very sharp! And smaller than they used to be. Bruxism, right? I need to find a dentist I can trust who is also competent. Who will also put up with me... I have horrible gag reflex and the only reason they were able to remove the remnants and install the implants was because I was under anesthesia.
Anyway, I would like to understand what I should do/would like to do... going in.
i. Should I ask for another implant to replace the one for the wisdom tooth?
ii. What can be done about the one that's still there? I imagine removing it is not easy?
iii Long term, what can be done by the grinding? Each dentist has said after they finish whatever, I SHOULD get a night guard. But we've never gotten to that point, so I still have no night guard. Not sure I could sleep that way regardless.
I am in my mid 50s now. Is my future... having ALL my teeth pulled and replaced with a full set of implants? Would I have a normal bite after that? I see all these movie stars with perfectly shaped, perfectly white teeth... that MUST be modern dentistry, right? Are those veneers? Implants?
Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.
PS - I am in NYC. Looking for a skilled, patient dentist who can help me. I know I am a terrible patient - I have an unreasonable fear of dentists... LOL
Any dentists out there? Sorry, I am not sure what the proper term is... oral surgeon?
Here is the situation... in time order...
1. A molar cracked open. My dentist looked at it and said he could do an implant to replace it. Most others would not, he said, the tooth was small and had been crammed in tight between my wisdom tooth and the molar in front.
2. Went to an oral surgeon, who removed the rest of that molar and put in an implant post (?). Went back to the dentist, and he shaved a bit of the tooth in front to make the 1/8 inch spacing he needed. Was supposed to wait a couple of weeks to let everything heal before putting in the crown.
3. Life happened. Family member got sick, things got crazy at work... I didn't go back for awhile. Kept putting it off, to be honest. I was eating fine, no issues.
4. One day, eating a peanut M and M, I felt and heard a CRACK. Dangit, the wisdom tooth broke off. Most of it was gone. Dentist said no, it can't be saved. We can put in an implant there too. Rushed to get on the oral surgeon's calendar... He removed the rest of the wisdom tooth and put in a second implant.
5. Life happened again. Covid shut downs were announced like a day after. Yes, it was March 2020 at this point. Around April 2020, the second implant, the one for the wisdom tooth, fell out! I woke up one morning and it was gone! I don't know if I swallowed it, or it fell out and ... who knows. At the time, the oral surgeon was still seeing patients but with maximum social distancing (only a few per day, nobody in the waiting room, etc). I got in and he said... well... I owe you an implant.
6. My dentist retired, after 40 years. I saw a different dentist... several, in fact, and they were all like.. really? He thought he could fit in a crown? That first implant is SO close to your other tooth! They did not think they could do it. So I left it all alone. For almost six years now... I chew on that side too! The last two lower teeth are missing, but ... when I chew it feels normal. I dunno.
7. But its Feb 2026. I'm starting to feel pain there. I checked in the mirror and... the implant has moved? shifted? It is now TOUCHING the tooth in front. I don't know if that means it bent... or it stayed straight and shifted inside my gums? Haven't gotten an x-ray yet.
Apparently I grind my teeth. They are all very sharp! And smaller than they used to be. Bruxism, right? I need to find a dentist I can trust who is also competent. Who will also put up with me... I have horrible gag reflex and the only reason they were able to remove the remnants and install the implants was because I was under anesthesia.
Anyway, I would like to understand what I should do/would like to do... going in.
i. Should I ask for another implant to replace the one for the wisdom tooth?
ii. What can be done about the one that's still there? I imagine removing it is not easy?
iii Long term, what can be done by the grinding? Each dentist has said after they finish whatever, I SHOULD get a night guard. But we've never gotten to that point, so I still have no night guard. Not sure I could sleep that way regardless.
I am in my mid 50s now. Is my future... having ALL my teeth pulled and replaced with a full set of implants? Would I have a normal bite after that? I see all these movie stars with perfectly shaped, perfectly white teeth... that MUST be modern dentistry, right? Are those veneers? Implants?
Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.
PS - I am in NYC. Looking for a skilled, patient dentist who can help me. I know I am a terrible patient - I have an unreasonable fear of dentists... LOL
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Any dentists out there? Sorry, I am not sure what the proper term is... oral surgeon?
Here is the situation... in time order...
1. A molar cracked open. My dentist looked at it and said he could do an implant to replace it. Most others would not, he said, the tooth was small and had been crammed in tight between my wisdom tooth and the molar in front.
2. Went to an oral surgeon, who removed the rest of that molar and put in an implant post (?). Went back to the dentist, and he shaved a bit of the tooth in front to make the 1/8 inch spacing he needed. Was supposed to wait a couple of weeks to let everything heal before putting in the crown.
3. Life happened. Family member got sick, things got crazy at work... I didn't go back for awhile. Kept putting it off, to be honest. I was eating fine, no issues.
4. One day, eating a peanut M and M, I felt and heard a CRACK. Dangit, the wisdom tooth broke off. Most of it was gone. Dentist said no, it can't be saved. We can put in an implant there too. Rushed to get on the oral surgeon's calendar... He removed the rest of the wisdom tooth and put in a second implant.
5. Life happened again. Covid shut downs were announced like a day after. Yes, it was March 2020 at this point. Around April 2020, the second implant, the one for the wisdom tooth, fell out! I woke up one morning and it was gone! I don't know if I swallowed it, or it fell out and ... who knows. At the time, the oral surgeon was still seeing patients but with maximum social distancing (only a few per day, nobody in the waiting room, etc). I got in and he said... well... I owe you an implant.
6. My dentist retired, after 40 years. I saw a different dentist... several, in fact, and they were all like.. really? He thought he could fit in a crown? That first implant is SO close to your other tooth! They did not think they could do it. So I left it all alone. For almost six years now... I chew on that side too! The last two lower teeth are missing, but ... when I chew it feels normal. I dunno.
7. But its Feb 2026. I'm starting to feel pain there. I checked in the mirror and... the implant has moved? shifted? It is now TOUCHING the tooth in front. I don't know if that means it bent... or it stayed straight and shifted inside my gums? Haven't gotten an x-ray yet.
Apparently I grind my teeth. They are all very sharp! And smaller than they used to be. Bruxism, right? I need to find a dentist I can trust who is also competent. Who will also put up with me... I have horrible gag reflex and the only reason they were able to remove the remnants and install the implants was because I was under anesthesia.
Anyway, I would like to understand what I should do/would like to do... going in.
i. Should I ask for another implant to replace the one for the wisdom tooth?
ii. What can be done about the one that's still there? I imagine removing it is not easy?
iii Long term, what can be done by the grinding? Each dentist has said after they finish whatever, I SHOULD get a night guard. But we've never gotten to that point, so I still have no night guard. Not sure I could sleep that way regardless.
I am in my mid 50s now. Is my future... having ALL my teeth pulled and replaced with a full set of implants? Would I have a normal bite after that? I see all these movie stars with perfectly shaped, perfectly white teeth... that MUST be modern dentistry, right? Are those veneers? Implants?
Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.
PS - I am in NYC. Looking for a skilled, patient dentist who can help me. I know I am a terrible patient - I have an unreasonable fear of dentists... LOL
New York Magazine / Top Doctors: Often publishes or partners for lists of top providers in the NYC region based on peer surveys. Westchester Magazine: Frequently runs a "Top Dentists" list specifically for the Westchester area, often featuring professionals serving the broader NYC metropolitan area.
American Board of [specialty]: Use the AB Diplomate Search to find practitioners who have achieved board certification, which is the highest level of recognition in the specialty.
American Academy of [specialty]: Their Find a specialist tool allows you to filter by location and member status.
American Dental Association (ADA): The ADA Find-a-Dentist tool lets you filter and search by zip code.
Verifying a New York License:
Once you find a specialist through the tools above, you can verify their active New York state license and check for any disciplinary actions using the NYSED Office of the Professions Verification Search.
Any dentists out there? Sorry, I am not sure what the proper term is... oral surgeon?
I have an unreasonable fear of dentists... LOL
I'm not a dentist, but\ my advice is to remove that implant post that shifted, let it heal, and call it a day. It's not like your front teeth are missing, man. You can live without these faraway teeth, just be lighter on nuts and use the other side if you must.
As for grinding, there are psychological training technic to wear off of that habit, search for it.
Worst two events were the molar removal and implanting the permanent post. I would strongly recommend total anesthesia for that.
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(to the op I have no advice but wish you all the best for a quick resolution)
Any dentists out there? Sorry, I am not sure what the proper term is... oral surgeon?
Here is the situation... in time order...
1. A molar cracked open. My dentist looked at it and said he could do an implant to replace it. Most others would not, he said, the tooth was small and had been crammed in tight between my wisdom tooth and the molar in front.
2. Went to an oral surgeon, who removed the rest of that molar and put in an implant post (?). Went back to the dentist, and he shaved a bit of the tooth in front to make the 1/8 inch spacing he needed. Was supposed to wait a couple of weeks to let everything heal before putting in the crown.
3. Life happened. Family member got sick, things got crazy at work... I didn't go back for awhile. Kept putting it off, to be honest. I was eating fine, no issues.
4. One day, eating a peanut M and M, I felt and heard a CRACK. Dangit, the wisdom tooth broke off. Most of it was gone. Dentist said no, it can't be saved. We can put in an implant there too. Rushed to get on the oral surgeon's calendar... He removed the rest of the wisdom tooth and put in a second implant.
5. Life happened again. Covid shut downs were announced like a day after. Yes, it was March 2020 at this point. Around April 2020, the second implant, the one for the wisdom tooth, fell out! I woke up one morning and it was gone! I don't know if I swallowed it, or it fell out and ... who knows. At the time, the oral surgeon was still seeing patients but with maximum social distancing (only a few per day, nobody in the waiting room, etc). I got in and he said... well... I owe you an implant.
6. My dentist retired, after 40 years. I saw a different dentist... several, in fact, and they were all like.. really? He thought he could fit in a crown? That first implant is SO close to your other tooth! They did not think they could do it. So I left it all alone. For almost six years now... I chew on that side too! The last two lower teeth are missing, but ... when I chew it feels normal. I dunno.
7. But its Feb 2026. I'm starting to feel pain there. I checked in the mirror and... the implant has moved? shifted? It is now TOUCHING the tooth in front. I don't know if that means it bent... or it stayed straight and shifted inside my gums? Haven't gotten an x-ray yet.
Apparently I grind my teeth. They are all very sharp! And smaller than they used to be. Bruxism, right? I need to find a dentist I can trust who is also competent. Who will also put up with me... I have horrible gag reflex and the only reason they were able to remove the remnants and install the implants was because I was under anesthesia.
Anyway, I would like to understand what I should do/would like to do... going in.
i. Should I ask for another implant to replace the one for the wisdom tooth?
ii. What can be done about the one that's still there? I imagine removing it is not easy?
iii Long term, what can be done by the grinding? Each dentist has said after they finish whatever, I SHOULD get a night guard. But we've never gotten to that point, so I still have no night guard. Not sure I could sleep that way regardless.
I am in my mid 50s now. Is my future... having ALL my teeth pulled and replaced with a full set of implants? Would I have a normal bite after that? I see all these movie stars with perfectly shaped, perfectly white teeth... that MUST be modern dentistry, right? Are those veneers? Implants?
Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.
PS - I am in NYC. Looking for a skilled, patient dentist who can help me. I know I am a terrible patient - I have an unreasonable fear of dentists... LOL
I use Dentek brand ones with a plastic slide for sizing and two pads to keep the teeth spaced apart while you sleep.
https://www.walmart.com/browse/pe... 3AWalmart