Dental Implants for Denture Stabilization

Recently, I decided to have implants installed, in order to keep my lower denture from moving around and irritating my gum when I was chewing firm foods.
The implant procedure did not go well. So much so that in hindsight, I would not do it again. I have only myself to blame for not doing sufficient research before hand. I recommend doing at least a basic 'Google' on the subject. Here are some links that provide additional interesting reading. As you will see, failures are a pretty common occurrence:
http://www.osseonews.com/
http://www.osseonews.com/failing-dental-implants-for-denture-stabilization-any-ideas-on-how-to-proceed/

My take on implants:

Have second thoughts at having implants over age 50, especially over 60.
Find the most experienced implant specialist to do your implants. Implants can fail. Lessen your odds.

This procedure required a new bottom denture. I chose Doug Braun R.D. Denturist in Vernon. He came highly recommended by my father-in-law, our neighbor, as well as my dentist. On March the 10th, I got fitted with a new plate.

For comments see blog: http://www.bobhack.com/3/post/2013/02/-dental-implants-for-denture-stabilization.html

Update

Feb 3/2014: Checked the tension of the studs today. The one that keeps coming loose was almost ready to fall out - again. That would have meant a trip to the dentist and the pain involved in cleaning out the cavity and re inserting it. I must schedule to tighten it every month.

I kept putting off tightening It because it was awkward for me to tighten the stud as I do not have the right wrench for the bit. Plus I can't see properly and the motions are always backward from what you see in the mirror. All this resulted in me damaging the bit somewhat as well (see photo). It is still quite usable. I took the glue gun after it as well today. That works much better!

Note damaged corners. The bit is very tiny. The flat sides being only 2.3 mm. Thus it is very fragile.

More information and an illustration of the proper wrench can be found here See Figure 2. The upper part of the illustration shows the abutment driver (the part I call a bit). Also I see here where I use the term "stud", the proper term is "abutment". I've seen other dental sites that use the term stud.

Also on this page I see the manufacturer advises the use of a bonding agent to prevent un-threading, Ceka Bond from PREAT Corporation. I must talk to my dentist about this.

Sept 26/2013: Some re-occurring discomfort when brushing the problem implant. The other one needs re-tightening every few months. Just a little. Otherwise, my eating experience is excellent. My original suggestions still stand.

May 21/2013: The healing seems finally complete. No more pain when brushing or eating. Hopefully this one implant will remain trouble free. It has been a long painful ordeal.

April 30/2013: The problem implant is still not healing properly. It appears to have become infected. Had the dentist look at it today. He recommended I continue treatment with chlorhexidine three times daily. He also provided me with a tool to tighten my studs, should they become loose again.

March 14/2013: Time to visit my dentist again. He screwed the stud back into the implant, but not without a lot of pain again. The other stud was also loose for the second time. He is ordering a bit that I can use to keep the studs tightened.

March 13/2013: This evening I took my bottom denture out for brushing and with it came one of the studs. It had become un-threaded from the implant. I am not happy!

February 20/2013: It still haunts me that my dentist has warned me that one implant did not fuse properly and may fail. If it does, he has offered to replace it at no cost. In that event, I will not have it replaced. There is no way I want to go through with that pain again.

In summary:
The dentist was not as forthcoming as I would have expected.

The cost information was dribbled out, bit by bit. I was finally sent the cost in writing. However, the day I arrived to get the implants put in, I was told there was a mistake and the cost would be $500 more, plus another $221 for a laser procedure that was needed. The costs of the drugs were not disclosed upfront either.
The pain during the procedure was almost unbearable. One implant took a few weeks longer to heal. During the entire healing time, I was in a lot of discomfort. I had explained to the dentist that I had a relatively lower pain tolerance than most people.
Most importantly, It was never explained to me that implants could fail. The implant that did not heal as quickly also failed to bond properly.

If I had known the above, I would never have had the procedure done. Allow me to be cynical for a moment, maybe that is why the whole information was not given to me upfront. After-all, isn't this strategy the business norm now?