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Yesterday was D-Day in Vienna, VA. I left work in the early afternoon, stopped by my parent’s house, and was driven to the dentist for Stage 1 of my dental implant (thanks mom). My concerns were shared here 13 days ago, and the experience certainly lived up to them. Initially, I couldn’t wait to share the gory details with everyone, however I have calmed down a bit since then, and will spare you the worst of it. On the odd chance you’d like additional information out of curiosity or personal concern as you are considering an implant, please leave a comment and I will share the details there.

I expected the discomfort and drilling. I did not expect to be charged $874 more than was quoted to me a year or two ago for the first stage. At the end of the day, it cost me $2,374 for the titanium implant. In 4-6 months, supposing the bone heals well around the implant, I will go back for a post to be placed in the implant, followed a month later by the crown (fake molar) on top. The crown is expected to cost $1,500, thus making the total cost $3,874 (not including potential complications).

The sticker shock yesterday left me speechless. Not that I could say much if I wanted to - I was rather traumatized by the 2-hour process. Between fear and money, it was the money that was the greater reason for me to have put off the surgery until now. None of the cost will be paid for by my dental insurance. Sadly, it’s my annual bonus that is going to pay for it. As a result, I will need to save more aggressively through November than I otherwise planned.

And the timing is cutting it close. Assuming it takes me 8 months for the full process, that leaves me crowned by November 19 - about 2 weeks shy of when I hope to hear “Bon Voyage” at a going-away party!

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