Teeth are overrated...

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Arjimlad

Tights of Cydonia
Location
South Glos
Liability may be simple, but calculating the value of your claim is not straightforward. A competent & recommended personal injury specialist is a good way to go. They will be dealing with the driver's insurers and not with the driver, after all, so don't feel too bad about her having to cough up the excess on her policy.
 

endoman

Senior Member
Location
Chesterfield
Cheers for the responses and advice folks, all gratefully received.

Rob3rt - I hadn't really considered the second option you presented. Seems like it could be a good shout if the driver is willing to take a punt. I'd like her to be as I really love that bike and although it would make a lovely ornament, I'd rather not see that happen!

Cycling Dan - You're not wrong, the surface at Benton ASDA is a nightmare. And I nearly hit a rabbit there once too. A bit frustrating as I enjoy a leisurely ride around Sunrise Park with my wife on a Sunday afternoon, provided we're not having a monsoon!

I had not realised it was a legal requirement for someone to stay at the scene of an accident. Makes sense when I think about it!

And regarding the police, they were absolutely top notch. I don't remember anything from the aftermath of the crash, though my wife said they were excellent and by all accounts did a good job of calming her down; apparently incoherent husbands covered in blood aren't exactly relaxing?! When they came to talk to me the following day they were efficient and helpful in outlining the options I had, both in terms of compensation for my bike, as well as getting the driver on an awareness course. A credit to their profession.

I have used Edinburgh Bicycle in the past (I must admit I'm not their biggest fan, for reasons irrelevant to this thread) and they were recommended as an option by the police. I would have gone there, but my wife ended up sneakily picking up my bike while I was having a snooze and took it to Steels in Gosforth who carried out all the necessary checks. Bike effectively written off, and they also provided estimates for my kit and computer which I now have as an itemised 'bill'.

gambatte - It's looking like an implant will be the route I go down. It's what the hospital dentist recommended and seems a good option.

TonyEnjoyD - I would be interested to see the route you use. I commute from Wallsend to Regent Centre but have been unable to find a route that doesn't involve major junctions/traffic. I did think that the Hollywood Avenue route was one of the quieter/safer ones, but that theory has been blown out of the water, or off the roundabout!

Brains - Cheers, they seem to be the best option from what you and others have said. I'll be giving them a shout today.

400bhp/ushills/endoman - Thanks for the tooth advice. I'm not sure about the root/bone situation, but I'll know more when I've been to a 'proper' dentist. All that's happened so far is having the nerve removed from what's left and a temporary filling put over the jaggedy shards that remain. With the swelling, stitching and cuts, I look like a beaten up tramp. A classy look.

As for carbon, I'm not totally sold. Steel is real, after all! Though a rusty mouth doesn't sound too appealing...

So you do have tooth left. You need 2 mm above the gum all the way round for a long term solution. Ask for a referral to an endodontist, there are a few in Newcastle. There are things the right person can do to give you a bit more tooth.
 

endoman

Senior Member
Location
Chesterfield
An implant is best, although they are pricey at around the £2500-3000 mark for a decent one.

Implant technology has come on in leaps and bounds in the last few years. Even when teeth have been missing for a few years and the bone receeds into the gum line, implants can now still be fitted when they could not before. There's a few articles floating around about implants. The guy who played William Wallaces Dad in Braveheart has had a whole mouthful of implants fitted and an article was written about this in a newspaper that I recall reading, you should google it and have a look. And provided they are looked after can last anything upto 30 years.

Bridges are cheaper, but having a fake tooth cemented in between two others can raise issues as time goes on and the teeth in your mouth move over time. For overall peace of mind I'd go with an implant.

The other stuff has been answered so I won't comment about that.

teeth are the best! I've got a mouth full of them, they've lasted 40 odd years :-) The OP hasn't lost all his tooth from his recent description, if there's enough left then it's worth keeping it. If not then implant is a v good option if it's possible to place, many factors involved.
 
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AndyRM

AndyRM

XOXO
Location
North Shields
teeth are the best! I've got a mouth full of them, they've lasted 40 odd years :-) The OP hasn't lost all his tooth from his recent description, if there's enough left then it's worth keeping it. If not then implant is a v good option if it's possible to place, many factors involved.

Thanks for the advice endoman. Looking back I realise that I'd forgotten to mention that the tooth is split all the way up. I could be wrong but I guess that means building on what is left isn't an option.
 

ushills

Veteran
Only issue with implants my dentist said is there is no cushion when biting and therefore you can feel it in your jaw and head. Natural roots are the best as they have ligaments holding the tooth in and these provide cushion. They are also the part that gives pain if you've knocked them.
 

Trickedem

Guru
Location
Kent
Don't feel bad about getting proper compensation for this, that is what car drivers have insurance for. You should be no worse or better of after compensation. But consider carefully how much compensation you need for the tooth. Having it repaired now is one thing, but this is never going to be the same as a real tooth, which should last all your life. So in 30 years time if you need a replacement crown or implant, which seems likely, then the compensation needs to take this into account. I hope you are on the mend and can get back on your bike soon. I can recommend RJW based on my experience of them.
 
OP
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AndyRM

AndyRM

XOXO
Location
North Shields
Don't feel bad about getting proper compensation for this, that is what car drivers have insurance for. You should be no worse or better of after compensation. But consider carefully how much compensation you need for the tooth. Having it repaired now is one thing, but this is never going to be the same as a real tooth, which should last all your life. So in 30 years time if you need a replacement crown or implant, which seems likely, then the compensation needs to take this into account. I hope you are on the mend and can get back on your bike soon. I can recommend RJW based on my experience of them.

Thanks for the advice. I hadn't really considered the long term implications of the tooth issue but will be sure to raise it when I have a proper chat with the solicitor tomorrow afternoon.

ushills - That's good to know as well. I hope that the natural root is still there/usable!

Already been back out on the bike - took my old Raleigh Sprint for a leisurely one to the park and watched the old fellas doing a bit of Crown Green.
 

endoman

Senior Member
Location
Chesterfield
Thanks for the advice endoman. Looking back I realise that I'd forgotten to mention that the tooth is split all the way up. I could be wrong but I guess that means building on what is left isn't an option.
Thanks for the advice endoman. Looking back I realise that I'd forgotten to mention that the tooth is split all the way up. I could be wrong but I guess that means building on what is left isn't an option.

Yep if it's split it's hopeless, as others have said make sure your compo covers you for future stuff, we really don't know what happens with implants 30 years down the line, some are surviving that long but it really depends on the case. If they fail, then it's often a tricky task. If I lost a front tooth I would go for implant above all else whenever possible.
 

lolly

Active Member
Truly sorry to hear of your accident. I lost front tooth a few years ago (hockey ball in face, even tho I was wearing a gum shield), and from my experience I'd recommend the implant. I tried with a denture for a while, horrible - very limited in what I could eat, affected my speech and wrecked my confidence as always afraid it would fall out in public. The implant process was time consuming and painful but worth it - really didn't want a bridge as that involves them drilling into your healthy teeth. Not all dentists are qualified implantologists (I'm lucky that mine was), but if your dentist can't do it, ask him/her for recommendations and don't be afraid to visit more than one for assessment/quote. If you can't get this covered by insurance, some dentists offer a payment plan if you can't afford to pay up front. Mine cost about £3000, which included a bit extra for sedation, so didn't have to worry about the pain/stress - sore after but only a little worse than an extraction. Now you wouldn't know its not my real tooth - only downside is getting frisked EVERY time I fly as the metal post sets off airport metal detectors. All the best to you.
 
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AndyRM

AndyRM

XOXO
Location
North Shields
Thanks for the info lolly. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get an implant sorted relatively quickly.

My hockey playing days left me with a permanent lump on my forehead. Ball came in at the perfect height for a header, an opportunity that I took. Ball ended up in the top left corner, with me in a crumpled heap on the floor. Still not sure what I was thinking.
 
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