Baton Rouge Dentist

My Dental Implants Only Lasted a Week

Posted on by .

I got implant overdentures, and two of the six implants came out in a week. Of course, I returned to my dentist last Wednesday, and he took x-rays to determine the issue and said that he would call me to schedule another appointment and explain what to do next. My anxiety level is high. I am more fearful than anxious. I do not know what to expect or if I can trust my dentist. Is this an issue where I should give my dentist another chance or ask for a refund and run? I am so overwhelmed that I don’t know what is best. Thanks for your help. Gilbert T. from Rockford, IL

 

Gilbert,

Thank you for your question. We understand why you feel overwhelmed. An article published by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry confirms that dental implants have a 95 percent success rate. When dental implants fail within a week of placement, the problem is often due to negligence. Whether you receive an overdenture with two, four, or six implants, your dentist should be diligent in planning for and placing them to succeed.

What Causes Dental Implant Failure Soon After Placement?

Some causes of early dental implant failure include:

  • Poor-fitting implant fixtures
  • Infection
  • Insufficient bone volume for implants
  • Substandard implant fixtures
  • Incorrect implant placement
  • Stress on the implant before it fuses with the jawbone
  • Patient’s medical issues

Depending on the cause of failure for two of your six implants, the others may be at risk. We recommend getting a second opinion from another implant dentist or specialist (periodontist). Arrange to give the dentist a copy of your dental records and x-rays. The dentist will review your documents and take a 3-D CT scan if necessary to determine why your implants failed.

The following steps depend on the cause of implant failure and may include bone grafting and new implant fixtures. You can anticipate waiting periods for the implant sites and bone grafts to heal before getting new implants.

You paid for healthy implants, but two of them failed, so your dentist owes you a refund. If your dentist is uncooperative, you can report the issue to the state dental board.

We wish you a swift resolution and a smooth recovery.

 

Dr. Ryan Perry, a Baton Rouge family dentist, sponsors this post.

Should I Have Seen a Specialist for my Bone Graft?

Posted on by .

Hi,

My general dentist told me I needed a bone graft before I could get dental implants. After the bone graft healed, he tried to place the implant, but said my bone was still too thin. After all this surgery, he’s now saying I should get a bridge. Would this have happened if I went to a specialist instead? I thought I could trust him because of his experience.

Marcel, from Seattle, Washington

 

Hi Marcel,

Your dentist sounds like he knows he made a mistake. He likely has more experience placing bridges than he does with dental implants, and is trying to give you the best-looking result. If you need work on a single tooth, a bridge is a good option. If you still would like a dental implant, ask him to refer you to a periodontist or oral surgeon with experience in implants.

While this incident would probably not have happened in the hands of a specialist, dental implantology is not a field recognized by the ADA. They do, however, have more advanced training in placing dental implants than general dentists.

Even with experience, a bone graft is a difficult procedure. If your dentist had gone ahead with your implant, your dental implant would have likely failed, which would have cost you even more in the future. So he is trying to do right by you. Dentists are likely to make mistakes as they try new things. It’s up to you to decide if you’d like a dental bridge or to see an implant specialist to continue.

This blog post is brought to you by Baton Rouge dental implant provider, Dr. Ryan Perry.

Why did my dental implant fail?

Posted on by .

I am in desperate need of dental implants that are affordable. I consulted several dentists, but had succumbed to the idea that my only affordable choice was a partial denture. Not all of the dentists I met with suggested this. Some advised that I needed dental bridges, and one even suggested I needed surgery. I finally landed on a dentist who said he could provide me with affordable dental implants, with no prior surgery. It never occurred to me that I should have questioned this, seeing as none of the other dentists made this suggestion. Therefore, I proceeded with his treatment plan and received the implants. Unfortunately, they have been problematic from the beginning. In fact, one of them fell out completely! Is this typical or did I receive sub-par treatment? The dentist states that there is no way to anticipate problems like this, and sometimes dental implants fail. Is this the case, or did I have the wool pulled over my eyes?

Thank you,
Mandy

Dear Mandy,

The affordability of the implants is not as important to answering your question as is the skill level of the dentist. The success rate of a procedure such as this can be as high as 98%. However, this statistic varies greatly based on the skill and experience of the dentist.

No, a dental implant completely falling out is not common. If no other symptoms accompanied this issue, the signs point to the implant not having adequate time to complete integrate with the bone before the crown was placed. This is called osseointegration, and generally takes six to nine months to be fully complete.

It is possible that your dentist did everything correctly, yet your body rejected the false tooth. This has happened before and there is no way to predict to whom it will happen. But, when it does happen, and the body rejects the tooth, it can look different from patient to patient.

Considering all of the above factors, it is difficult to conclude whether your dentist was just inexperience, or if he short-changed you. It would be a a great idea for you to consult with an experienced dental implant provider, in order to for your implants to be evaluated. He or she may be able to provide you with a better understanding of why yours failed, as well as help determine a plan to replace the one that fell out.

This article is brought to you by Baton Rouge affordable dental implant provider Dr. Ryan Perry.

Are redo dental implants more affordable?

Posted on by .

I have already had dental implants once. I’m now learning that I need to have them redone and am wondering if any of the expenses carry over to the second attempt. To give some background, I am learning that my original implants didn’t take and now my dentist is saying I need to have them redone and is expecting me to pay full-price for the procedure.

Is this advisable?

Thanks,

Mandi

Dear Mandi,

I’m not sure what your timeline looks like, as you didn’t mention how long ago you received your original implants. It usually takes six to 12 months for them to fully integrate with the bone. I’m wondering if you’re still within this time frame. While poor placement, infections, or some medical conditions can cause problems with the healing, it is rare for them to not take at all.

If your implants have in fact failed, the first step is to determine the root cause. Hopefully your dentist has already discussed this with you. However, if this discussion has yet to take place, try to find out the cause prior to any work being done.

In regards to the second procedure being more affordable, some sort of discount or comped work would be advisable. It’s unclear if your implant failure could have been predicted, or prevented. If it indeed could have been prevented, you should not have to pay a dime. If this is the case, request a refund and find a more skilled dentist. It would also be a good idea to get a second opinion before moving forward.

This article was provided by affordable dental implant provider, Dr. Ryan Perry.

Are there things I can do to help my dental implant succeed?

Posted on by .

I am hoping to get a dental implant to replace a tooth in the front of my mouth. I have had a lot of dental work done before. Some of it was in an emergency situation, some of it just regular check-up findings. Some of the dental work I have had done was great and helped, and sometimes it wasn’t so great. Because of my varied experiences, I am a little nervous about getting an implant. Several people have scared me with stories of failed implants. Are there things I can do or watch for to help make sure mine is successful?

Thanks,

Jeffrey, Milwaukee

Dear Jeffrey,

That is a great question and there are things we can suggest to help your dental implant succeed.

First and foremost is choose the right dentist.

There are many dentists across the world who claim to be able to complete a dental implant. Dental implantology is not a specialty that is officially recognized, like orthodontia, but there are credentials that dentists can receive for additional study and practice in dental implants. Do your homework when choosing a dentist. Look for a diploma or ask about accreditation from the International Congress of Oral Implantologiests or the American Board of Oral Implantology.

Don’t go cheap.

The dentist who will help your dental implant succeed is not going to be the cheapest dentist. That’s because he will use high-quality materials. Substandard materials that may be cheaper will lead to problems with fit and the life and quality of the implant.

Give your dentist a thorough medical history and complete any pre-implant testing.

Your health plays a role in the success of your implant. You will be asked for your medical history and may be asked to complete a CT scan. Sometimes people wonder if that is necessary when you get xrays done every year at your exams. The answer is yes.

Dental implant root base in bone.

The doctor needs to make sure you have adequate bone structure to support implants and needs to know where to place the root forms so they don’t go into your sinuses. The easiest way to find that out is through a CT scan.

Even following all the instructions of a competent dentist, there are times when unforeseen complications arise and the implant may fail. Your body may just not respond well to implants. There is a risk of failure with most medical procedures. Sometimes, even with top experts and ideal scenarios, a procedure may not work and that is a risk you take.

We wish you luck with your implants.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

 

 

Are All Affordable Dental Implants A Waste of Money?

Posted on by .

My sister went to Mexico because she wanted to get dental implants, but needed to find someplace which was affordable. It was actually cheaper to leave the country and visit Mexico every other month for close to a year than to pay to have it done here in the states. She researched and went to a dentist who’s done the procedure many times and seemed to have a good experience. Sometime after everything was completed things started to fall apart. She developed an infection. She visited the dentist in Mexico again to have everything looked at. He gave her an antibiotic and sent her home. Then, not too long after she finished the antibiotic her entire face swelled up. She wasn’t even able to get there so I took her. The dentist said it failed and removed the whole thing. Now she has to start all over and has nothing to show for all the expense and travel. I had considered getting dental implants because she’d started out with such a great experience, but now I’m wondering if all affordable dental implants are a total waste of money.

Melissa M.

Dear Melissa,

First, your sister should try to get at least some of her money back. I don’t know if the dentist will do it, but it’s at least worth a shot. In Mexico, there is no recourse even if the dentist totally botched the procedure. It’s up to the dentist to make things right.

There are also no regulations about keeping things sanitized and such. Again, it’s up to the dentist to decide the standards. That could have led to her infection, but we’ll never know. Even though she researched this dentist, they often change their practice name if they develop a bad reputation and make up qualifications in these border town medical practices.

I don’t know if the dentist mentioned this to her but in order to re-do the procedure she’ll need to have bone grafting done. She likely lost a lot of bone with the infection and the implant needs to be stabilized.

If you’re looking for affordable dental implants, you have many options, but you’re safer going to a reputable dentist in the states, where dental implants have a 98% success rate. There are times where a patient and dentist can do everything right but still have a failed implant; however, it’s not nearly as common here for that to happen.

Depending on your case, you may choose to have a combination of bridges and dental implants, or mini implants, or even full dental implants done with affordable payment plans. The key is to find a skilled dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry.

Will going to a dental school make dental implants more affordable?

Posted on by .

I’m pretty discouraged. I really want to get dental implants to replace the teeth I had in an accident. I’ve been trying with removable partial dentures, but I can’t stand them. The only problem is I cannot afford the dental implants. I’ve gone to dental schools before to get affordable fillings. Do you think I could do the same for implants? I know that is not as simple a procedure, so I’m not sure and wanted a dentists opinion.

Nick M. – San Diego

Nick,

I know the temptation to go for the most affordable dental implants is great, but I’m hesitant to say, “Yeah, go for it!” and here’s why. Like you said, dental implants are an advanced procedure and even the most skilled dentists have a 98% success rate. That means even they have cases that fail. The less experience and skill, the higher the chance of dental implant failure.

You have a couple of choices:

  1. Determine if you think the cost savings is worth the risk. If you go this route, get in writing what kind of recourse you have in the case of complications or implant failure.
  2. Go to an established, skilled dentist and ask to pay it out in stages. There are many great dentists who will work with people in your situation.

Ultimately, it is your budget and smile, therefore your decision. I wish you great success in whichever you decide.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry.

Lied to my dentist about smoking, will it affect my dental implants

Posted on by .

I spoke with an implant dentist about getting implants. He mentioned he doesn’t treat smokers and then asked if I smoked. I told him no, but the truth is a do sometimes smoke pot, which I wasn’t too keen on sharing.  I’m not a cigarette smoker so I assumed it wouldn’t matter, but now I’m wondering if there will be complications. He’s really affordable so I wanted to make sure I got in with him.  Other doctors cost more.

Adam K. – Dallas, TX

Adam,

I understand your not wanting to share about the marijuana, but it is always best to be completely honest with your medical providers.  I’m sure you like the affordability of this dentist, but you won’t have affordable dental implants for long if the procedure fails.

Talk with your dentist about your habit.  Be quite frank with him about how often you smoke marijuana. When you smoke, it reduces the blood flow in your gums. This increases the risk of complications and dental implant failure.

If the procedure does fail, you could lose the implants all together. They could fall out or you could develop a serious infection. This will cost you a small fortune and possibly have severe health consequences.

The decision is yours, of course, but honesty is always best.

This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Ryan Perry.

My dentist refuses treatment unless I quit smoking.

Posted on by .

I want to get dental implants, but my detnist is refusing me treatment because I smoke. Is that legal? I found another dentist who’s willing to give them to me. He’s way more affordable, but I wanted to check out whether I should be concerned about the other dentist first. He seemed a little too eager.

Benjamin S. – Chicago

Benjamin,

Your dentist is under no legal obligation to give you dental implants. There is a really good reason he is asking you to quit smoking. Dental Implants are a difficult procedure even under the best of circumstances, and they fail often. When you add smoking the the mix, it significantly increases the chances of failure.

The toxins from the cigarettes restrict the blood flow in your gums. That is going to make it hard for you to heal and could lead to the implants falling out.

What you’re asking your dentist to do is equivalent of asking a contractor to build a house on quicksand.

That alone should make you wonder why that other dentist is so eager. I’m guessing he’s so affordable because he cuts corners. So, he’s not likely to care if they fail. He’s just after the money.

There are ways to get quality affordable dental implants if that is what you’re looking for,  and I’m sure you could find a skilled dentist who is willing. But,  what is the point if you’re not going to give the procedure its best chance?

This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Ryan Perry.