Reviews: I had six dental implants placed a few weeks ago and I’ve already had three fall out. I’ve paid 3/4 of the fee already. Should I get a partial refund? Is it possible for me to get them again because they were supposed to secure a denture to them.
Leigh
Dear Leigh,
You absolutely should have a refund, and not just on the ones that have already fallen out. I think you need a complete refund. I don’t know what your dentist did without examining you, but you need to get to a different dentist as soon as possible for an evaluation. Most experienced implant dentists will have around a 95% success rate. Those that do fail, won’t often do so until much later down the line. Your dentist has a 50% success rate and the failure was in just a few weeks.
There are a few reasons that dental implants can fail and we need to nail down what was the cause of your implant failure. This will give you an idea of how to proceed. If you are in good general health, you can most likely still get dental implants. Though, because of the failed implants, you will need a bone grafting procedure.
Here are some reasons that dental implants can fail:
- Infection. I don’t think this is your issue. It is often accompanied by pain and/or fever.
- Diagnostic shortcuts. This means the dentist did not take adequate diagnostic x-rays to determine whether or not you had sufficient bone support to retain your dental implants.
- Cheap implant fixtures. Some dentists, in an effort to increase profits, will purchase their implant fixtures from outside the United States, where standards might not be as high.
- Incorrect placement of the implant. This can occur because the dentist is unskilled or careless, but it can also occur if the dentist did not get the right x-rays done.
- Premature Crown Placement. A dental implant has to integrate with the surrounding bone tissue in order to securely retain the implant.
As I mentioned before you need to find out what went wrong. Dental implants are not adequately taught in dental school. In order to really develop the skills necessary, a dentist must invest in post-doctoral training specifically in the implant procedure. Before going to get your second opinion, make sure the dentist you see has that training.
This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.