As if that meant something for regular doctors. Agree with all your post and would like to share a some anecdata in case it's good for anyone here someday.
When I was around 16 I lost a premolar (I had an extra one, that messed up the real one, both died and fell down), all dentists immediately suggested I get an implant. Reasons given where:
* Your face will deform (no, really) because of your missing tooth
* Your other teeth will start moving and will get misaligned and fall as well
* Your bone around that area will disappear and you'll need a bone graft and you could die
I read a bunch about that online and came to know that implants do massive damage to your mandible and that's not to be taken lightly. Average implant life, if all goes well, is ~20 years, then you have to do it again, each time you do it you weaken your mandible and palate bones significantly. Back then I thought, in 20 years I'll be in my 30s, nowhere near being old and I would start having issues with this for life. I decided not to get it, and guess what? I'm 37 now and have never had a single problem because of that, ever. Every single time I go to a dentist I get the same speech, over and over, "get an implant or you'll die, do you want me to book the appointment now?" "no, I just want some cleaning done, thanks". Dentists are as unscrupulous as it can get.
Almost the same exact situation. Broke my premolar in a swimming pool accident when I was teen and forgot about it. Turned 25 and every dentist wanted an implant saying my face will deform, jaw will deform in couple of years etc.
More than 15 years have passed and my jaw line is better than ever.
In canada, if the dentist find out you have private health insurance its a free for all loot. They even insist of x-ray every 6 months. Very infuriating.
As if that meant something for regular doctors. Agree with all your post and would like to share a some anecdata in case it's good for anyone here someday.
When I was around 16 I lost a premolar (I had an extra one, that messed up the real one, both died and fell down), all dentists immediately suggested I get an implant. Reasons given where:
* Your face will deform (no, really) because of your missing tooth
* Your other teeth will start moving and will get misaligned and fall as well
* Your bone around that area will disappear and you'll need a bone graft and you could die
I read a bunch about that online and came to know that implants do massive damage to your mandible and that's not to be taken lightly. Average implant life, if all goes well, is ~20 years, then you have to do it again, each time you do it you weaken your mandible and palate bones significantly. Back then I thought, in 20 years I'll be in my 30s, nowhere near being old and I would start having issues with this for life. I decided not to get it, and guess what? I'm 37 now and have never had a single problem because of that, ever. Every single time I go to a dentist I get the same speech, over and over, "get an implant or you'll die, do you want me to book the appointment now?" "no, I just want some cleaning done, thanks". Dentists are as unscrupulous as it can get.