Has anyone had tooth implants with hypothyroidism?

[Louwelsa]

I read someplace that you coiudn't have an implant with the Hypo? Was wondering if this is true. Thanks.

[Margo]

I had 4 implants done about 7 years ago. The procedure was long, and I suffered a lot of pain afterwards. However,all is fine now, and am so glad I had it done.

My thyroid was removed in 2003 due to cancer, and have struggled to get well, around the time of the implant surgery I was very poorly.

Hope this helps.

[Louwelsa in reply to Margo]

I appreciate your answer, I am on 2 grains of Armour thyroid and have been for many years.

[Kangagirl]

I was stable on levo when I had mine done, and didn't know anything about this, if it is so. I did a lot of research and visited different dentists until I found one I felt I could trust to know what they were doing, and you would hope a good dentist would be aware of any contraindications, now they ask you to fill in a medical form - but they may be as ignorant as doctors.

I had the 'All-on-Four', which is pretty hair raising as you have it all done at once - ie failing crowns/bridges out, 7mm of bone shaved of my bottom jaw to level it up, four implants put in (or at least the bottom part screwed into the bone) then later that day a temporary but fixed 10 tooth bridge put on. Then 3 -6 months before you get the final made to measure bridge. It was very harrowing and I cancelled twice before I got my act together, but I went for that raher than have to wear a denture for 6 months while they built up the bone where I had previously had other teeth taken out (I don't know if they still do this - different practices do different things)

I didn't have any sedation as it makes me feel ill (and I was driving - though staying overnight nearby, not driving home), and I had the non-adrenalin injection as the regular one makes me ill also. Maybe this has something to do with the thyroid.

I had to have a particular kind of CT scan beforehand to see if I had enough bone and if it was in good enough condition. Much to my surprise they said it was good.

I don't know anybody else who has had this - although plenty must have - it was fairly extreme as dental procedures go. If you are having a single implant I wouldn't have thought it would be a problem. But I can't emphasise enough how important it is to get a good dentist whom you feel you can trust - quiz them relentlessly to make sure they know what they're doing, and make sure they give you a written plan that you can understand.

It might not be necessary to be so picky if you're having just one, but I was petrified - I'm not far off dental phobic anyway. So it was important for me to find the right dentist for such an intrusive and gory procedure. Not necessarily the cheapest - mine was paid for by my late father in law bless him, or I wouldn't have been able to have it done at all.

If you're having any problems with medication (hopefully not) or have any other thyroid issues I don't know what the position would be. I don't think I could face it now since the levo bit me on the bum over a year ago and I've been struggling ever since. Hope this helps - good luck xx

[Louwelsa in reply to Kangagirl]

Thank you, I appreciate your input. I broke my two front teeth in an accident and the only route I have is an implant. I do not want a bridge and there is not that much difference in price. I have a plan from the dentist for a bridge for $7,000 . I take 2 grains of Armour thyroid and have for many years. I am allergic to all pain medications, so hopefully it will not be too painful. Thanks again.

[suzieh]

Yes I have had 2 - done 4 years ago - they are fantastic and look and feel like real teeth. Would definately recommend if you can afford it! (mine cost £4500 for 2) Much better than bridges or plates.

I was very scared before the work started as I had a broken tooth root left in my Jaw bone - this had to be drilled out before he couls start the implant work. None of it was a problem in the end..........

Previously, I had been really put off any dental work after one NHS dentist gave me a really bad experience - she told me I couldn't have the regular pain relief due to my taking Thyroxine - I had a really painful root canal treatment with her so after that moved to my current Private dentist - he is brilliant. He knows of my history and that I am on Thyroxine ----- I have never experienced any pain with him; I think he uses the regular pain relief. I do feel a bit hyped up during and after but at least no pain!! May be the drugs, or my dental anxiety but it soon passes (& I do know what causes it). Make sure your dentist knows you are on thyroxine and discuss it with him/her - have you had other dental treatment there without pain? If so the pain relief worked for you and it will work while doing the implant work. I didn't feel any pain at all during any of the procedures. I have been taking thyroxine for many years - dose has gone up and down according to blood tests etc. I was on 100mcg per day when I had them done. Hope this encourages and reassures you - good luck!

[Louwelsa in reply to suzieh]

Thanks so much. I am on 2 grains of Armour and have been for many years.

[Kangagirl in reply to Louwelsa]

Just putting my oar in here again. My implants are on the bottom jaw, and I think it is a bit more difficult for them to do it on the top due to the sinus cavities which they have to be careful about. But if yours are at the front that probably isn't an issue, and a good dentist should be able to do the work with no problem.

I had had crowns and bridges years ago before finally having the implants, and the only thing I would say in their favour is that the procedure is much less intrusive. In fact if I had had anything left to crown, I probably would have chosen that. I have found that crowns and bridges feel better to eat with because you seem to get more of a natural 'feel' than you do with implants - but again, if they are right at the front you probably won't be using them to chew with anyway. Mine did take a bit of getting used to because they filled the whole of my bottom jaw.

I looked and felt as though I had been hit round the face with a spade and had swelling and bruising for about 10 days, but again, what I had done was a big job, so it was to be expected. As I say, I made sure they knew I was intolerant to the anaesthetic they usually use - the one with adrenalin which apparently helps control the bleeding and the adrenalin gets it into your system quicker. I don't know what they used instead - they contacted my usual dentist to find out - but it was fine.

Just to refer to what suzieh says - I have root canal work done since being HypoT and have had no problem with the anaesthetic the private dentists use. I think you do get a lot more choice about what you have, and they listen to you more, as well as having more time to do a good job - my old NHS dentist used to do nothing but complain about how they never had time to do a decent job, and I suppose they have to use the cheapest materials and medications they can. Having said that, private prices can cause a sharp intake of breath!

Of course having the implants done wasn't what you would call a pleasant experience - I had two guys working on me for about 21/2 hours, as well as the nurse with the little hoover gadget sucking out the water and debris etc, but it was more uncomfortable than painful. My HypoT wasn't even mentioned at any time as being likely to make a difference.

I was afraid I would be in agony afterwards, considering what they had done, but although I did have a fair bit of pain and swelling it wasn't bad enough to have to take painkillers, which like you I find disagree with me, and was dreading. So with any luck you won't find it too bad with having two done. And they will at least look great!

When I think back to some of the butchery I was subjected to with NHS dentists, it's pretty miraculous what they can do now, even if it does cost. I always say that with human teeth, there is definitly a design fault - if only a new one would grow to take the place of the old ones, life would be much easier - and cheaper

[Louwelsa in reply to Kangagirl]

Thank you again, I appreciate your insights and will definitely remind the surgeon of my hypo issue . This was an accident in a store, so insurance should pick up the tab. Hey, the way things are going with the growing of body parts, maybe they will be able to grow teeth in the near future. Thanks again

[Kangagirl in reply to Louwelsa]

If only! Too late for me I'm afraid. I hate to think what the accident in the store was, but if it was their fault the public liability insurance should pay for it. You don't expect to come out of a store minus your front teeth. So go head and get the implants, and good luck with it all

[puncturedbicycle]

Such a coincidence - I was going to ask this too. I thought I remembered reading here that the materials were problematic somehow for uat - ? My dentist will do an implant for me with no worries about the uat - I've had the consultation and I feel confident about the people treating me - but I keep chickening out because of all the decisions to make. I'm lucky that I'm only missing the one tooth (it cracked and was root canal treated but the treatment was not successful so it needed to be extracted).

I'm obsessive about keeping my teeth and gums clean, but I can't bear the idea of even more special flossing and brushing under a bridge. I prefer the idea of flossing as normal around an implant.

I'm surprised to hear that a bridge has a more natural feel when chewing. I had a fantasy that having an implant was going to look and feel exactly the same as a tooth!

Last night a tooth on the opposite side of my mouth broke, and I suspect that doing all my chewing on that side (because of the missing tooth on the other side) may have contributed. I've had it fixed, but I have to do something to correct this once and for all. I'm so tired of only chewing on the one side!

[Louwelsa in reply to puncturedbicycle]

I haven't had a consult yet, but have been talking to a lot of people. The two teeth front upper teeth that were knocked out in the mishap were capped and had been for years, so I am hoping that will help to get used to the implants. I do not want a bridge , the two teeth that the flipper attaches to feel the pressure and don't feel right when I remove the flipper. I only wear the flipper when I go someplace and it is terrible to try to eat with it on. It is off far more than t is on. I checked into getting root canals, but the specialist said he could do it,but the roots were cracked so deeply that he thought the implants were a better idea for length time it would hold up. I think it is probably a good thing to let the surgeon know you have a thyroid problem and are on medication. Good luck to you.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Louwelsa]

Thanks for your reply. The surgeon knows about my uat - she is hypo as well! You can have an implant with uat, but I do seem to remember reading something here about the materials used in the implant being harmful somehow - ? I wish I could remember the details. Maybe someone else will.

I'm sorry for your situation and I hope you get sorted out soon. Good luck.