Do I Have to Pay for Implants that Fall Out?

I had four dental implants placed and I have four more coming soon. One of the problems that I am facing is that three of them have already fallen out. Should I have to pay for those? Do you think I need to worry about the new ones that he is about to place falling out as well? Can they be put back in?

Penny

Dear Penny,

I am so sorry that this happened to you. No, you should not have to pay for this. A basic tenant of any dental work is that it stays in your mouth. While there are times that a dental implant can fail even when your dentist does everything right, most dentists skilled at dental implants have a 5% failure rate. Your dentist has a 75% failure rate.

Reasons for Dental Implant Failure

• One of the biggest reasons for dental implant failure is a developing infection. This is usually accompanied by pain or fever, which you didn’t mention, so I am thinking this is not your issue.
• Another possibility is that you didn’t have adequate bone support to retain your dental implants. Your dentist would have known exactly how much bone support their was had he done adequate diagnostics. I don’t know what diagnostics were done in your case, but they will be in your dental records. Your dentist is under ethical obligation to share these with you and whatever dentist you choose.
• Improper placement of the dental implants can also lead to failure.
• If your dentist placed the dental implant crowns before there was enough time for the bone to integrate with the implants themselves, then it will lead to failure. This is know as premature loading.

Before you even think about letting this dentist place the other four dental implants, I think it is important that you know why these failed. I want you to see an expert implant dentist. One with good post doctoral training and have him examine you. He or she may be able to tell you what went wrong.

I would look for a dentist who has post-doctoral training at one of these institutions:

• The Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies
• The Dawson Academy
• The Pankey Institute

While you can replace the failed implants, it is not a simple matter of just putting new ones in. When they failed, it left a gap in the bone. In order to place new implants there, you will first need a bone grafting procedure to build back up the lost bone. My recommendation is that you get a refund for the implants that failed. Then, see a dentist with more expertise in dental implants who can give you implants that will not fail.

This blog is brought to you by Nashville Dentist Dr. David Wickness.
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