I had a dental implant procedure. Before the surgery, the dentist told me that everything looked great and we were good to go. When I came out of the surgery, he told me that there was not enough bone structure to keep the dental implant. Yet, he placed it anyway and told me that the best thing to do is remove it before it fails and get a dental bridge. I’m pretty frustrated about this. Why would he place it and then ask me to do an additional procedure to remove it? Why was everything fine before the procedure and then suddenly I do not have enough bone? Should I have to pay for this implant? Am I truly stuck with a dental bridge or is it possible for me to get dental implant?
Carolyn
Dear Carolyn,
I am sorry this happened to you. I’m going to start with your payment question first. No, you should not have to pay for your dental implant, especially since your dentist is telling you it will fail and you need to remove it. That would be like an appliance salesman telling you that you need to return your refrigerator you just purchased because it doesn’t work, but still expecting you to pay for it.
As for the other questions, this is definitely malpractice in my mind. He intentionally placed something he knew would not work. Plus, if he had done adequate diagnostics then he would have known that you did not have enough bone to support the implant. Had he done this, you could have had a bone grafting procedure done which would have provided enough bone structure for you to retain your dental implant.
My suggestion is that you get this dental implant removed, though your dentist should not be charging you for this. You can still have a dental implant. I just do not recommend you do it with this same dentist. After a period of healing from the removal, you can have the bone grafting done. Then, after another period of healing, you can have the dental implant placed.
One word of caution, while you are looking for a dentist to do your dental implant. Please check they they have some cosmetic dentistry training. The best cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited.
This blog is brought to you by Des Moines Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.