Dental implant - is it worth it???!

Dental implant - is it worth it???

I was told this morning that after filings, a root canal, and several crowns that my upper second molar (15) can not be saved anymore. I have had a realtively healthy mouth except for this tooth, but I am congenitally missing my upper first molars so the loss of this tooth would leave me molarless on the top left.
Is that really an issue? The only option I have been given is an implant that would require both bone grafting and a sinus lift as well as cost me $6000 out of pocket (that is with some help from insurance) and take a year and a half to complete. When you add up the time, money, and risk, I'm not sure that I really need that tooth. While neither the dentist or the periodontist brought up a bridge, everything I read indicates that I would have to damage two perfectly health teeth to do that, so I don't see any other options. Anyone out there have any advice? Right know I have not had the tooth extracted yet and the perio says I can go several months with a temporary on

From what you are saying a bridge would not be an option for you. With your tooth being a molar (15) and with you missing number (14) there is no option for a bridge that would be a lasting solution. Sometimes dentists will crown the existing tooth, and then put a fake tooth in front of or behind it. This type of two unit bridge is called a cantilever bridge and is not usually rec'd for molars because of the tremendous pressure that is put on them. With this type of bridge they would have to crown number 13 and put a fake tooth in the place of fifteen. Since you are missing number fourteen is number fifteen right next to thirteen? I am assuming that it is since you never had number fourteen so I would assume that number fifteen moved into fourteen's place. Now to the implant. Yes it is prob. worth it. Only you can decide that however if you don't put an implant in this place your other teeth will shift on the upper. Also the molar on the bottom that "matches" and meets number fifteen (18 or 19 depending on how your mouth is) will eventually "supererupt" because there is not any tooth occluding it keeping it in. People don't realize this, but if you don't have matching, meeting teeth on the top and bottom, then these teeth that don't have a "mate" to occlude against will eventually keep growing in and possibly fall out. This does not happen overnight, it takes some time depending on your mouth. I have two implants (#2 and 20) and I love them. I have had no problems. I did not have to have a sinus lift for the upper, however I am in a small minority. If you don't want to invest in an implant yet, ask about a partial for this tooth, or possibly a space maintainer to buy you some time and a chance to save your money. Personally I would try the implant, but only you can answer if that is the right choice. Good luck. On a side not if you are a smoker, or do not take good care of your teeth than an implant may not be the choice for you. They have a fifty percent failure rate in heavy smokers, and people with a history of not taking care of their teeth. However this does not sound like you, as you have invested so much in this one tooth.