Hope Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry

3 Surgeries and No Dental Implant

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My dentist told me he’s placed a lot of dental implants, so I felt confident going forward with the procedure. When he went in for the surgery he decided there wasn’t enough bone structure, so he closed it up. Then he suggested we do a bone grafting procedure. I agreed to that and we did the second procedure. After a time, we did the third procedure. Again, though, he closed it up without placing the dental implant. That is three procedures and no dental implant. Now he’s suggesting I get a dental bridge. I have two questions here. 1. Did he do anything wrong? 2. Is there no way for me to get a dental implant?

Everett

Dear Everett,

dental implant beside a natural tooth

Well, let me tell you one thing I like about your dentist before we go on to what could have been done differently. Your dentist has integrity. When he went in the first time, he realized there was a problem. This is the first time he showed integrity. Rather than just placing them and risking failure down the road, he closed up and suggested you get the bone grafting. That is great.

Something even better happened though. He tried the bone grafting and it didn’t work. This is embarrassing for every dentist learning a new skill and I believe the bone grafting is probably new to him. That’s okay. We all start somewhere and he’s improving his skills. However, rather than save face, he admitted his procedure didn’t work. There are some dentists who would have just placed the implant, knowing it would likely fail a year later, but you’d never know why.

I’m saying this so you understand you do have a good dentist who is a keeper. BUT. You knew there was a but. In all likelihood, this happened because he didn’t do the right diagnostics to check your bone density in the beginning or he didn’t read them properly. This comes with training and experience. The bone grafting failure came because he is new at that particular skill. This is also good news about your dentist because he is consistently adding to his skills.

Now for your big question. Can you still get a dental implant? Yes. Though, you may have to go to a more experienced dentist this time. Hopefully, your dentist has refunded at least some of the money you’ve invested in this. Based on how you’ve described him I think he will if he hasn’t yet.

Because of the complicated nature of your case, I want you to go to a dentist who is a fellow with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. These are the best implant dentists in the country.

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

Husband Can’t Wear His Dentures

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I’m worried about my husband. He got dentures, but he can’t wear them. We’ve been back several times for refittings, yet nothing seems to work. I don’t know how to help him. He’s miserable and can barely eat without his bottom teeth. Do you have any advice?

Carolyn

Dear Carolyn,

illustration of dentures beside a dental implant

It sounds like your husband is really suffering. It is not uncommon for patients to have an adjustment period to dentures. For some, it’s quite difficult. Usually making adjustments helps. Others never adjust. This is a chance to evaluate what his next steps are.

If he’s determined to stick with dentures, he could go to a different dentist to try someone else’s hand at refitting his dentures. Another option is a prosthodontist. They have more experience than some of your local dentists, depending on where you live.

An Alternative to Dentures

If he just can’t adjust, he has another option. Dental implants are a fantastic tooth replacement option. These put prosthetic tooth roots into his teeth. He will no longer be in pain. It’s more like having healthy, natural teeth back.

However, there is an even better reason to get them. When his teeth were removed, his body started slowly leeching the minerals out of his jawbone to use elsewhere in his body. It does that to be efficient. This is causing his jawbone to slowly shrink. Eventually, there won’t be enough jawbone left for his denture to stay in place. Dentists call this facial collapse.

Getting dental implants prevents this from happening. Because the prosthetic root is placed in his jawbone, his body interprets this as him having teeth and needing his jawbone. This will change his life. He’ll be able to eat again. In fact, he can eat anything he wants, even steak.

If you decide to go the implant route, make sure your husband sees an experienced and qualified implant dentist. It’s an advanced procedure and requires significant post-doctoral training. For instance, Dr. Cha took every course on it the Misch Institute offered and is a Fellow at the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI).

I wish you both the best.
This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

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