2 Years two months Post OP AND MORE Surgery in my future!

So today is almost 2 years and 2 months post op. I know it sounds crazy, and it is slow but feeling is still returning. The area in my lower lip has become significantly less numb, it is very tingly now and when I bite down into my lip I can now feel it totally on all areas of my lip, whereas before it was numb in spots. Those areas that were numb are now still tingly but I suspect in the next month or so it will all be back to normal and I will have no numbness.


Now for the really big news. Since my surgery I have been having trouble with my upper second molar on the left. I cannot chew on that side because it hurts to bite down on. I had a consult with Dr. Edwards again today as I went for a dental consult a few weeks ago and found out that my tooth is hurting because it basically has hardly any root left. We are not sure why, probably some sort of reabortion from the surgery. Anyway...the goal today was to see if there was enough bone left to pull the tooth and place an implant and if I would require another bone graft before we could place an implant. Or if it just wasn't an option. As is the norm it can never just be simple an easy. I'm starting to seriously think that this oral drama in my mouth is just never gone to end. I mean really how many times can a persons gums be cut into?

So I arrive today hoping for the best! Dr Edwards comes in, says hello to me and "that we really need to stop meeting like this." He asks me if I got full feeing back, and afer taking a quick look see in my mouth says..."you really did heal beautifully" He looks at my xrays and says that what he will need to do to fix things is this. First he will extract my tooth, then go in and removed my rigid fixation in that area, or at least cut some of it in half or out so he can get to the are, then he will do a sinus lift. Which is basically where they lift up the sinus, and pack more bone under the area lifted in the upper jaw area to allow more bone to be grafted for placement of the implant. He said he would still place the implant in the current bone, but this extra bone would make sure the jaw was stablized and strong enough to support a molar implant. The abutement would then be placed about 6-8 months after that. He wants to do all this in his dental office, under I.V sedation and says it will take about 90 minutes.

Now I'm sure the look of horror on my face pretty much said it all. I was worried about damage to my sinuses...the ones that I just got to finally work the way I want them too. I'm also worried about more numbness to my upper jaw or gums (which he swears will not happen), In addition I must say that I'm quite nervous about my rigid fixation being taken out. I know that is kindof silly but I guess everything has just been working so well, I'm worried about messing with something that is just working. He says I don't need them anymore that my bone has now filled in and done its part, but Im stil scared.

Now with all that being said I'm also so not excited about ANYMORE surgery in my mouth! God I don't want anymore cutting in there! This however is really my best option. They can't do a bridge due to the supporting teeth being weak, and with the root absortion it would also be problematic. So really this is my ONLY option! As crappy as it is I really don't have much of a choice. The cost of everything....$5900.00 before insurance. So I'm waiting for pre-auth to see what will be covered and what won't before we decide to proceed.

CAN I SCREAM NOW!!!! UHHHH...MORE SURGERY IN MY MOUTH!