Early last year, I started the process for getting a tooth implant done, as I had a plate that needed readjusting, and the orthodontist suggested it was time for an implant, as that it was a permanent solution. A referral to see an oral surgeon was made. 

I attended the oral surgeon appointment with my mum, where he explained the implant process in a way that I could easily understand.  He also had a 3D tooth model to show me exactly what to expect, which really helped me visualise things. He also took some scans and X-rays as a “before”, but also a requirement for my ACC claim. I had to wait a few weeks until ACC approval came through, and then I was able to book an appointment for the surgery.

The first surgery was for a bone graft, as I needed more bone density in the gum/jawline for the implant to be successful. On the day, I was nervous, but the surgeon put me at ease while explaining what was going to happen before he started. I was fully sedated for this procedure.  The recovery period was painful for a few days as I was healing not just where the implant would be done, but also in the jaw where they had to take the bone graft from. 

Roll forward three months to surgery #2 and bone graft #2.  The reason for this was that they needed to get more bone from the jaw as they felt it still wasn’t stable enough to hold an implant securely. And none of us wanted to have a failed procedure.

After two months of settling down time, it was back to the oral surgeon to get the first stage of the implant underway.  This consisted of getting a titanium post inserted into the gum. I was feeling alright with the recovery of this step as it wasn’t anywhere near as painful as the previous two surgeries, but two weeks later the stitches burst, and so yet again it was back to the oral surgeon to get them replaced (and darn it - no, I haven’t ended up with a loyalty card). He also readjusted the screw/post as it was a little loose.

Time jump ahead 12 months, and it was time to go back to see the oral surgeon once more (still no loyalty card). This time, it was to expose the post; he also put on an extender with a cap on to assist with the next steps. Whilst there, he took X-rays as a comparison to the ones I’d had previously, just to make sure everything was still where it should be.  He was happy with how things were looking, and now it was time to be discharged from his care and into the care of my dentist for the final stages of this long process.

A couple of weeks later, it was off to the Dentist.  At this appointment, she did a “scan” in order to be able to have the new replacement tooth created.  This scan was very easy, and I felt fine during this part of the process as she explained everything she was doing as she went.  While waiting for the tooth to be made, I had to go for a colour matching appointment, and unfortunately, fluro green and/or sparkles weren’t an option ☹

Yesterday, Thursday 14^th August, marked the end of this long, drawn-out process as it was time to get the tooth placed onto its post. At the recommendation of the Dentist, I chose to have a local to take the edge off as there was a little bit of tugging/pressure. It was an easy procedure from my point of view, apart from the minor allergic reaction (some redness across the jawline) I had afterwards, but some allergy medication fixed this quickly. 

So far I haven’t had any pain, but I know that it will take some time to get used to, especially given that I’ve had a “gap” for so long and now have to retrain my tongue as it keeps heading for where the gap used to be. 

Some helpful tips that helped me throughout this process are:

1. - Asking questions and having things explained in plain language.
2. - Having a sensory/squishy toy in hand for when you are getting overwhelmed or uncomfortable.
3. - Making sure you take time to recover, as from my perspective, I needed a longer recovery period to rest and heal due to my fatigue and pain levels (as I feel pain differently to others).
4. - Having a support person present for all appointments to debrief before & after the appointments, going through what had been covered and making sure I understood what was / or had happened.
5. - I felt it was important that my accessibility and health needs were accounted for, as some healthcare professionals don’t understand or aren’t willing to modify their practices so their patients feel safe. I can comfortably say that I felt safe throughout the entire process, and any nerves I had were put at ease.
6. - I feel that it is key to feel comfortable and at ease with your healthcare team, especially when it comes to hands-on treatment like the whole tooth implant process was. Both my oral surgeon and my dentist were very caring, thoughtful and understanding, and I felt that they never treated me any differently than they would any other patient. 

To conclude, overall, it was a positive health experience from my point of view.  I am very proud of how I was able to cope throughout the whole process, as it was unknown territory and it wasn’t plain sailing at times, and if I’m honest, I went into it feeling a little nervous.

About the author:

Natasha is a young woman who lives with an invisible disability. She is a disability advocate who brings awareness and education around disabilities. She shares her lived experiences on social media. She is also a mobility scooter user, her mobility scooter’s name is Speedy T. 

@wheeliefunadventures on Instagram and Facebook