My dentist said he could provide me with a dental implant. The first time he tried, he had to stop the surgery and told me I needed bone grafting done in order to have enough support to keep the implant in. We did the bone grafting then gave it time. When it was ready, we tried again to place the dental implant but, yet again, he had to close up and told me there still isn’t enough bone for the implant. Now he’s suggesting I get a dental bridge. Is there no way for me to get a dental implant? I’d really prefer that.
Mart
Dear Mart,
Bear in mind that I haven’t examined you; however, based on some of the things you’ve said, I think there is still a chance for you to get a dental implant, though you probably won’t be able to do it with your current dentist. That being said, there are a couple of good things about your dentist I’d like to point out before going over where he failed.
First, he has integrity. Some dentists, wanting to not embarrass themselves in front of a patient, would have just gone ahead and placed the dental implant allowing it to fail a few months down the road. You’d never know it was because he placed the implant with the insufficient bone structure.
Second, he is trying to develop his skills. Bone grafting, along with dental implants, are advanced procedures. It’s great when a dentist is learning more and more even when in practice. It makes them a better care giver for you.
All that being said, this should not have happened. The first thing I noticed was he seemed unaware of the insufficient bone structure until he went in to do the surgery. If he’d done the right diagnostic tests, he would have known that ahead of time, saving you at least one failed procedure.
Before just giving up and going with the dental bridge, I would get a second opinion from an experienced implant dentist. It’s not a recognized specialty so you have to find a dentist who has done extensive post-doctoral training. For example, Dr. Potts did a three-year externship in all aspects of dental implants including surgical and bone grafting.
Look for a dentist like that in your area. If they say you can get a dental implant, then ask your dentist for a refund, if he hasn’t already given you one, and go to that dentist to have it done. If he says you are not a good candidate, then you can go without regret toward a dental bridge. Either dentist should be able to do that.
This blog is brought to you by Libertyville Dentist Dr. David Potts.