Hope Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry

Archives for November 2020

Dentist Implant Placed Dubiously

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I went to a dentist to get a dental implant. We did the surgery and when I woke up, he told me there wasn’t really enough bone for the implant to be sustained, but he placed it anyway. Now he’s talking about removing it and giving me a dental bridge. If that is the case, shouldn’t I get a refund on the dental implant? I mean I was expecting to have a tooth. I really don’t want a bridge. Is there still a chance I can get an implant or will I have to settle for the bridge?

Ben

Dear Ben,

dental implant beside a natural tooth

There is no way your dentist could or should get away with this. There is so much wrong with this situation. Legally, he doesn’t have a leg to stand on. You paid him to get a dental implant to replace a missing tooth. He placed a dental implant knowing it would fail. It is a grievious violation of dental ethics. Yes, you are definitely entitled to a refund.

Additionally, there is the fact that if he had done the proper diagnostics to begin with, you would have known ahead of time there was not enough bone to retain the implant and saved you an unnecessary and unsuccessful surgery. This dentist has committed malpractice.

Yes, you can get a dental implant again. You just need the right dentist to do it. In your place, I would not only demand a refund, but ask him to pay for this to be done correctly by the dentist of your choice. You will need bone grating done first in order for it to be successful. If he gives you a hard time about any of that, let him know that you will be reporting him to the dental board and talking to a malpractice attorney. That should sober him up a bit.

Finding a Qualified Implant Dentist

There are two particular things I want you to look for in the dentist that you have replace your dental implant. First, you want a dentist who is qualified to do both the surgery and the implant. Quite a few failed dental implant procedures happened because of miscommunication between the oral surgeon and the dentist. This won’t happen if they are one and the same.

The second thing you need to look for is a dentist who is a fellow with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. These are the top implant dentists in the country. Your case has had enough complications, so you’ll want the best.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

Porcelain Veneers with an Overbite

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I wanted to get porcelain veneers to cover my tetracycline stains. My dentist said because I have an overbite, I will need to get porcelain crowns instead. Will this still give me a beautiful result?

Caitlyn

Dear Caitlyn,

porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

I want you to run away from this dentist as fast as you can. He may be a great family dentist, but he is lacking in cosmetic dentistry skills. Rather than being honest with you, he is trying to steer you toward a procedure he feels comfortable with. If he does the work, the results will not be beautiful no matter which procedure he used.

This is because to do truly beautiful cosmetic dental work requires advanced post-doctoral training. Unfortunately for patients, cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty this means any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist regardless of the amount of training they’ve acquired.

To get porcelain crowns on your teeth would require you to grind your teeth down to little stubs. That is not what you want. Why grind away healthy tooth structure? Nope. In your case, with an overbite, porcelain veneers actually make more sense. This is because they don’t require anything to be placed on the backs of your teeth the way crowns do.

Where Should You Go for Beautiful Cosmetic Work?

You want a dentist who is a true artist with great technical knowledge and skill. This is especially important for you because of your tetracycline cases. These are the most difficult cosmetic cases around. The veneers will need to be opaque enough to cover the dark stains but still have a natural light and translucency to them.

I want you to look for a dentist who has attained accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists had to pass stringent exams as well as demonstrate their artistry to an examination board. They are the best cosmetic dentists in the country and will provide you with a stunning smile. In fact, most of them have a beautiful smile guarantee.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

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