It was a strange feeling as the two joined crowns were torqued down over a period of an hour. There were several pauses to allow the gum and jaw to accommodate. A mild headache afterwards and still some jaw tightness in the morning.
But 30+ hours after it feels totally solid and comfortable -- much better than any of the three bridges that preceded it
The most painful part is the $20,000 it cost
Compared to a 4-unit bridge replaced every 10 years @ $5,000, I will have to be around another 40 years to break even, but the function feels way better.
Annual checkups are required with both the periodontist who does an xray and checks the gum -- and the denturist who can retorque if needed.
Flossing with Superfloss has been prescribed. Superfloss begins with a stiff part that can be fed just over the gum. The second part is fuzzy and the part to be used to clean the implant-gum junction. The third part is normal floss which I have been advised not to use there.
For a younger person who loses a tooth, a single implant @ $10,000 looks a better deal than 4-6 bridges @ $3,000+ -- especially as there's a chance one of the teeth supporting the bridge can fail down the road forcing you to choose between a 4-unit bridge or a double implant.