My dental implants failed in five days

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In September, I received four dental implants for $1850 each. I was supposed to receive three more implants. But I have stopped the process because two of the five implants came out the five days after surgery. Should I be charged for two implants that failed? Is this a common occurrence or do I have good reason to distrust my dentist? Thank you. Sheldon from GA

 

Sheldon,

Authority Dental estimates that dental implants have a 5% failure rate. And most failures occur over months or years—not days. Half of your dental implants failed. You should not have to pay your dental for failed implants.

Why Do Dental Implants Fail?

Dental implants fail due to infection, shortcuts, cheap implant fixtures, premature restoration, and sometimes health reasons.

  • Infection – Poor-fitting implant fixtures allows bacteria to grow around the implants and cause an infection.
  • Diagnostic shortcuts – Successful dental implants require 3-D CT scans to reveal your bone structure and surrounding areas. The scans show if you need bone grafting and where to place your implants for the best results.
  • Cheap implant fixtures – Low-quality dental implants don’t last. And they can cause infection.
  • Incorrect implant placement – Implants placed in the wrong location can loosen and fail.
  • Premature restoration – If a dentist places dental crowns or dentures on implants before the implants fuse with the jawbone, they will fail.
  • Smoking – Smoking restricts your blood flow and inhibits the healing process. Healing time will be slower, or dental implants might have.
  • Medical condition – If you have uncontrolled diabetes or a medical condition that decreases your ability to heal, it can affect the success of your dental implants.

What to Do When Your Dental Implants Fail

Diagram of the phases of a dental implant for a comparison to a partial denture.

When your dentist plans carefully, a dental implant fuses with the bone and anchors a crown

When dental implants fail, it’s wise to get a second opinion. Look for a specialist or a dentist with a fellowship in a dental implant organization like the International Congress of Oral Implantologists or the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. If two of your four implants failed on the fifth day, you’re at risk of losing the remaining implants.

Ask your current dentist for your dental records and x-rays before scheduling an appointment with an implant specialist. Although your current dentist should willingly refund you for failed dental implants, other steps you can take include:

  • Ask your new dentist to communicate with your former dentist in requesting a refund.\
  • Report your current dentist to the state dental board
  • Hire a malpractice attorney

 

We hope that your dentist will promptly refund you without resistance. Best wishes on your dental implant recovery. We hope you can soon smile with relief.

 

In Baton Rouge, you can get a dental implant second opinion from Steven Brooksher, DDS. Dr. Brooksher is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

Is It Too Late for Dental Implants?

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After wearing dentures for 18 years, is it too late for dental implants? My dentures won’t stay in, and my entire experience with wearing them has been disappointing and frustrating. It’s almost time for new dentures, and if I can minimize my misery, I would love it. Thanks. Vera from Biloxi, MS

 

Vera,

No, it’s not too late for dental implants. There isn’t a limit on how many years you can wear dentures before you’re not a candidate for implants, but you’ll need to be patient with the process. We’ll explain.

Dentures and Jawbone Resorption

The longer you wear complete removable dentures, the more your jawbone will shrink. Jawbone shrinkage occurs in areas where teeth are missing. And when all your teeth are missing, the entire surface of your jawbone shrinks. Your body takes the minerals from the bone and uses them elsewhere. As your jawbone shrinks, it’s more difficult for your denture to stay in place.

Dental Implants and Bone Volume

An implant dentist or oral surgeon places implants in your jawbone with the goal of the bone and implant fusing to anchor a denture or arch of teeth. If you have significant bone loss, your jawbone won’t support implants.

If You Don’t Have Enough Bone for Dental Implants

If you don’t have enough jawbone to support dental implants, implant dentists offer two treatment options—bone grafting and All-on-4 dental implants.

Bone grafting for dental implants

Bone grafting for dental implants is a procedure that takes bone from one part of your body, like your hip, to use it for building up your jawbone. As an alternative, a dentist might use sterilized or artificial bone. Depending on the type of bone used and the extent of bone loss, the Academy of Osseointegration says it can take four to twelve months for grafts to heal. After healing, you can receive dental implants. Your implant dentist will explain your options for grafting.

All-on-4 dental implants

Denture above dental implants ready to be screwed on

Dental implants secure dentures

All-on-4 dental implants are a system that angles implants in the front of your mouth. The bone in the front of your mouth is often thicker than other areas. And angling the implants increases contact with the bone and resistance to movement. Implant dentists use 3-D cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans to see your bone structure and identify a precise location for All-on-4 or All-on-6 dental implants. This process prevents the need for bone grafting. But your implant dentist will determine if you’re a candidate for this treatment.

For predictable results, look for an implant dentist who is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Dentists with fellowship have advanced dental implant training and experience and have completed rigorous testing and examination of their patient cases by a review board.

You can receive implant-supported dentures and have a comfortable, confident smile at last.

 

Steven Brooksher, DDS, a Baton Rouge dentist, sponsors this post. Dr. Brooksher is an accredited cosmetic dentist and a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantology. He completes implant surgery and restores implants with dental crowns or dentures.

Need Teeth Extracted Before Dentures? 3 Facts to Consider Before Visiting an Oral Surgeon

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I hate the thought of wearing dentures at 50, but most of my teeth are missing. The few that are left have deep decay. The drama with my teeth comes from years of neglect when I was younger. Now I’m stable and can afford to do something about my teeth and smile. I guess I have a little less anxiety about dental appointments than when I was younger, but I’m concerned about having any type of surgery. I’m wondering if I should see an oral surgeon first and get the remaining teeth pulled or if I should go to a dentist and let him refer me to an oral surgeon. Thanks. Brad from AR

Brad,

There dentists who can do both—extract your teeth and provide you with dentures. Extractions before dentures are not complicated, and many general dentists do both.

  • Search online for a dentist with at least several years of experience.
  • Call their offices and ask how the dentist handles cases when a patient needs extractions before dentures.
  • The office representative’s answer will explain if the dentist completes extractions and provides dentures.
  • If you choose a dentist who refers patients to an oral surgeon for extractions, he or she will coordinate your care.

Relieving Your Anxiety

As you call dental offices, ask an additional question: What does the dentist do to calm anxious patients? Many dentists are gentle and successful in helping patients relax and receive painless treatment. Others offer sedation dentistry, which is anti-anxiety medication—varying in different strengths depending on your anxiety and the procedure you’ll receive.

Some Advice on Stabilizing Your Dentures

A common source of anxiety about dentures is fear of them clicking, sliding around, or falling out. If your budget allows, consider stabilizing your dentures with dental implants.

What Are Implants?

Diagram of a snap-on denture. The denture is hovering above the jawbone that has two dental implants in it.

Affordable dental implants will secure your dentures

Implants are small screws that are embedded in your jawbone like tooth roots. But when all your teeth are missing, implants are used to support your denture. Your implant dentist can attach an arch of replacement teeth—or a denture—to at least two dental implants.

Benefits of Implant Overdentures

  • Minimize denture movement. Dental implants anchor a denture. And with four to six implants, you’ll have minimal movement with your denture, and it will feel more like your natural teeth. It’s much easier to bite and chew food with stable implant overdentures.
  • Preserve your facial features. You’re only 50 years old. The longer you wear dentures, the more your jawbone will shrink. Natural teeth stimulate the bone and prevent it from shrinking. But dentures don’t stimulate your jawbone; they put pressure on it and make it shrink faster. Dental implants rescue your jawbone from shrinking away and making your face sag prematurely.
  • Provide a better experience overall. Most fears about wearing dentures are related to how much they will move and shift in your mouth and how they will look. Cosmetic dentists are skilled at providing dentures that look like natural teeth.

If you search for and find an implant dentist with cosmetic dentistry skills, it will erase most—if not all—your worries about dentures.

Take time to find a dentist who will correctly and beautifully restore your smile.

Steven Brooksher, DDS is a cosmetic and implant dentist in Baton Rouge, LA. Read about his credentials and visit his smile gallery. It will give you ideas on what to look for in a dentist in your area.

Lackluster Smile Makeover After Just 2 Months?

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Hi,

I hope you can help me. I recently had extensive cosmetic work on all my upper teeth. My restorative dental work was an expensive undertaking, so I want to take care of my teeth, so they’ll last a long time. I’ve been brushing and rinsing with over-the-counter products. However, after two months of this, my bright, white veneers have become noticeably less shiny. I even tried restoring their brightness with baking soda, but that had no effect. Did my toothpaste or mouthwash do this to my smile? Was it too abrasive, or was I just overdoing it? I made another appointment with my cosmetic dentist, is there anything she can do? I was very happy with the whiteness of my smile makeover, so I hope I can get it back.

Thank you,

TJ, from Hippo, Kentucky.

 

Hi TJ,

A smile makeover can involve dental implants, porcelain crowns, or porcelain veneers. No matter what you had done in your mouth, it would involve ceramic or porcelain, both of which is stronger than your natural tooth enamel. Smile makeovers are designed to stand up to the repeated wear-and-tear of brushing, and last 10-20 years with proper care. If your mouthwash had acidulated fluoride in it, that could cause the porcelain to dull, but over-the-counter products don’t have that. Be sure to let any dental hygienists know about your restorative dental work before they clean your teeth; the Prophy Jet tool they use can wear down the glaze on porcelain veneers and dull their shine.

The only way brushing and rinsing can cause your smile makeover to dull is if it were made from composite, rather than porcelain in the first place. Unfortunately, composite is much softer than your tooth’s natural structure. Anything from an abrasive toothpaste to mouthwash with alcohol in it can weaken composite, making it dull and susceptible to scratching. Talk to your cosmetic dentist about your concerns at your next appointment, and in the meantime, stop rinsing with any alcohol-based mouthwashes.

This blog post is brought to you by Baton Rouge smile makeover provider, Dr. Steven Brooksher, of Dentistry by Brooksher. Please note that Dr. Brooksher is a general dentist who has had additional training in restorative and cosmetic dentistry.