Dental Implants Archives - Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist

Dentist Placed Implant and Now Wants to Remove It

July 1, 2021 by writeradmin

I paid in full for a dental implant. Before the surgery, my dentist said that I was good and ready to go. When I woke up he told me that after he got in there the situation was different and I didn’t really have enough bone to support the implant. He went ahead and placed it but said he would prefer to remove it and give me a dental bridge. I have a couple of questions. First, should I be entitled to get some of my money back seeing as he is just going to remove it? I feel like he put me through unnecessary surgery and I have nothing to show for it. Second, am I really stuck getting a dental bridge? I would prefer a dental implant if that is even a possibility any more.

Ellie

Dear Ellie,

You should not only get a partial refund but a full refund. I cannot think of a reason your dentist would think he could get away with this. When you provide a procedure, especially something as invasive as surgery, there is an implied warranty that you have a belief in its success. He placed it knowing there would be failure. That is malpractice.

Additionally, if he would have done adequate diagnostics this would never have happened. He should have done a number of x-rays and, preferably, a CT scan. The reason for the latter is the fact that doing dental implants is a 3-dimensional procedure and really requires a 3-dimensional map. Not to mention the fact that if he’d done these diagnostics, he’d have known right away that you did not have enough bone support, thereby protecting you from the hassle of a surgery bound to fail. Obviously, he did not do his duty with this either.

I would start by demanding a refund. You are certainly entitled to one. From there I would find a great implant dentist. You will not have to settle for a dental bridge. You need a dentist who has significant post-doctoral training. Take a look at the training Dr. Weiss has to give yourself an idea of what type of dentist you will need. In addition, however, you will need a bone grafting procedure in order for your implant to have a chance of succeeding.

If you have any trouble getting that refund, just mention you are going to take a little trip to speak with the dental board. That should sober him up a little. I am so sorry this happened to you. Most dentists are not this irresponsible.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Dentist Dr. Micahel Weiss.

Dental Implants for Hockey Players

June 3, 2021 by writeradmin

My son lost a tooth in a hockey game. Our dentist suggested we get him a dental implant to replace it, but his coach said that is a bad idea because of the chance of re-injury. What is the right choice? I want to do what is best for him, but the mixed messages are confusing.

Kami

Dear Kami,

In a way, they are both right. Dental implants are the absolute best tooth replacement option. However, there is a risk for re-injury if he is continuing to play hockey. A dental implant consists of a prosthetic root form and a dental crown bonded on top of it to serve as the visible part of the tooth. If he is re-injured with both parts completed, there is a good chance he will lose some bone with the injury (and possibly even some of his jaw).

Here is my recommnedation. First, get the implant placed, but just the implant. This will allow him to get the benefits of the dental implant without having to worry about extra damage being done in case the tooth is lost again. You won’t want him going “toothless” in that area, so I suggest an inexpensive temporary restoration, such as you would get with a dental flipper. This gives him the best of both worlds.

Having the root form placed, ensures his jawbone can stay healthy and will not suffer any effects of the structural loss that normally occurs when you lose or remove some teeth. Having a dental flipper means if he is hit in the mouth again, the flipper will come out with ease and he won’t risk additional injury. When he is done playing hockey, that will be the time to have the permanent dental crown placed on his implant.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Botched Implant Case

May 18, 2021 by writeradmin

A little over a year ago, I had four dental implants placed after a car accident left me with a lot of lost teeth. Since then, the crowns have broken or fallen off and the implants themselves are there but I don’t know how healthy or secure they are. I tried calling the office for quite a few weeks and they kept giving me the run around. Now I have discovered this dentist has left the country and no one can reach him. At first, I was worried about him, like maybe something happened to him on vacation, but it turns out he literally skipped the country. He’s emptied the practice account and they are closing the doors. What do I do now?

Andrew

Dear Andrew,

I am sorry this happened to you. First, the accident and then an unethical dentist. In all honesty, the only thing you can do now, is to have someone who is skilled with dental implants to look at your case and see how stable the implants are and what went wrong with the dental crowns. Hopefully, the implants themselves are fine and the dentist who did your case just did not bond them on properly. Then, you will only have to replace the crowns. If it does turn out that your implants are poorly placed and at risk, you will have to replace them. Unfortunately, that will also mean getting one additional procedure, known as bone grafting, so that you will again have enough bone structure to retain your new dental implants.

There is an upside to these tragic circumstances. First, you can make any changes you want. If there was something you didn’t like about the earlier results, now is your chance to completely remake your smile. Make it gorgeous. Another opportunity is for you to whiten your teeth. If you decide to do that, do it before your new crowns are made. Whatever color they are fashioned with is permanent.

A second upside is that I am willing to bet that most dentists who hear the series of events that happened to you will be more willing to work with you on paying this out instead of having to pay up front, which is the typical requirement.

Again, I am sorry this happened to you. Hopefully, this next dentist will be just what you need!

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Metal Allergies and Dental Implants

March 15, 2021 by writeradmin

Can you point me in the right direction? I have several missing teeth. While I have removable partial dentures for them, I’d really love to upgrade my smile to dental implants. However, I have a horrible metal allergy. I can’t wear my jewelry and even have to put fabric over all metal snaps and buttons, etc. Is it possible for me to get dental implants? Do you know if many people are allergic to them?

Kelsey

Dear Kelsey,

I am glad you wrote. Traditional dental implants are made from titanium for the root form and generally some form of porcelain for the crown. Titanium has been used for decades now in body prosthetics and is considered to be one of the most biocompatible materials available. Documented cases of titanium allergies are less than 1% of the population. It is extremely rare.

If you are still concerned, you have two options:

First, you can get tested specifically for a titanium allergy. Though, allergy testing can be expensive, especially if it turns out you are not allergic.

Your second option is to get metal-free dental implants. These are made from zirconia, which is nicknamed ceramic steel. It is more than strong enough to provide the prosthetic necessary for your biting forces. If it is just as good as the traditional dental implants, why don’t more dentists use them?

That is mostly because there is not as much long-term data on them. We have decades of data on the longevity of the titanium implants. The zirconia counterparts just have not been around as long so the data isn’t there yet. Many dentists prefer to stay with what they know.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Implants Came Out in Two Days

March 1, 2021 by writeradmin

I need some advice. I had six dental implants placed. I’ve already paid 2/3 of the bill and 3 of them have fallen out just two days later. Should I have to continue paying for these with half of them already gone? Should I be worried about the other half? Is there a way to still get dental implants or will I be stuck with dentures?

Emily

Dear Emily,

Implant overdentures are a combination of dental implants and dentures

While dental implant failure does happen. The failure rate for dentists who know what there doing is somewhere between 2% – 5%, even then it wouldn’t happen in days, but years. Your dentist has a 50% failure rate in just two days. No, you should not have to keep paying. In fact, I would say you are entitled to a full refund, plus enough to have this repaired correctly. I have little confidence the remaining three dental implants will fair any better.

One thing I would like you to do is having an experienced implant dentist look at these. Look for someone who has qualification such as you find on Dr. Weiss’s bio, especially the Dawson Academy and his involvement with the Academies of Osseointegration (a word we’ll get to in just a moment). They should be able to tell you why it failed and help you secure the refund you are entitled to.

Common Reasons for Dental Implant Failure:

Development of infection: The cause of this is often poorly fitting dental implant fixtures. I do not think this is you, because an infection is usually accompanied by fever and / or pain.
Diagnostic shortcuts: Before doing any dental implant procedure a dentist should do extensive tests to determine whether you have enough bone to adequately support the implants. This should include a CT scan, though some dentists do try to skimp on the diagnostics. This hurts the patient. So you know, not having enough bone support does not disqualify you from getting the implants. There is a bone grafting procedure that can be done prior to the implant procedure to build up the support you need to have secure fixtures.
The use of substandard implant fixtures: This is when dentists try to increase their profits by purchasing their implant fixtures overseas. These are significantly less expensive than they ones you purchase in the U.S., but for good reason. They do not go through the same quality control and are much more prone to fail.
Incorrect placement of the implant: Placing dental implants correctly takes a lot of training as well as the correct x-rays and scans. In some cases this happens because your oral surgeon determined the placement instead of the dentist. Even if the dentist has to refer you out for the surgical procedure, it should always be the dentist that determines the placement. In other cases, the dental implants don’t fail, but are still placed incorrectly and either perforate the sinus cavity or end up on a nerve.
Premature loading: This means putting stress on the implant before it has fully fused with the bone. That is the osseointegration I mentioned earlier. If your dentist had just placed the dentures on them and then they fell two days later, this would be one of the first things I would look into.

Once you know why the implants failed, you can get your refund, then get this done properly.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.
An AACD accredited dentist.

Getting Front Implant Teeth to Look Beautiful

January 16, 2021 by writeradmin

I am about to get four dental implants on my front teeth, but I want them to look beautiful. I’ve been doing research and read that I need to have a porcelain and not a porcelain fused to metal crown or they will look ugly. My dentist is talking about putting crowns (not implants) on the two adjacent teeth in order to make sure everything matches. I realized after reading that we never talked about what type of dental crowns he’s planning on using. I should talk to him about that before moving forward. What else should I be looking into?

Catherine

Dear Catherine,

I am very glad you wrote. You are correct that you want all-porcelain crowns. For front teeth, it is essential. You mentioned something else that has concerned me, however. You said your dentist is planning on placing two extra (and if I understand correctly, unnecessary) dental crowns on your adjacent teeth in order to get everything to match. That is a particularly bad sign that tells me this dentist is inexperienced in cosmetic dentistry.

Neither the cosmetic or dental implant fields are recognized specialties. This means that any general dentist can do the procedures regardless of the amount of training they’ve received. For cosmetic dentistry, this means people spending a fortune for smiles that end up disappointing at best. For dental implants, it has become one of the leading litigated malpractice procedures. For some patients, that has led to serious complications, including losing part of their jaw.

You are going to need to find a dentist who has both dental implant and cosmetic training. Because it is your front teeth, I would start with the cosmetic qualifications and then look for someone on that list who also has the right dental implant training.

Finding the Right Dentist for Your Implants

My suggestion is to find a dentist who has reach accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are among the top cosmetic dentists in the country. They have passed stringent exams proving their technical knowledge about every facet of the procedures. Then they had to pass an examination board that carefully looked at before and after results of a large number of cases they’ve worked on to prove that not only can they translate that knowledge to their practical skill, but they also have the artistry to create beautiful results.

Once you’ve made a list of AACD accredited dentists you are willing to travel to use, look at their dental implant qualifications. Ideally, they will have done post-doctoral studies at one of the following institutions:

Dawson Academy
Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies
The Kois Center

There are others, but these three are among the top.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Bone Grafting Failed

November 7, 2020 by writeradmin

I am not sure what to do. I had planned on getting a dental implant. My dentist has placed many of them for other people so I felt okay going to him instead of a dental implant specialist. When he first attempted the surgery he had to stop and told me he thought that I needed some bone grafting done for the dental implant to work. I went along with his assessment. He did the bone grafting and then after the appropriate period, we went in for the second attempt at the implant surgery. Again he informed me that there isn’t enough bone and we weren’t able to complete the procedure. Now his suggestion is I get a dental bridge. I am finding myself wishing I had gone to a specialist. Is it too late for me to get this implant? If so, is there a better option?

Misty

Dear Misty,

The first thing I will say is while there isn’t a recognized specialty in dental implants, there are dentists who have invested in more training and have more experience than others. While you were able to get the care you needed with your family dentist. You have two great things going for you with this dentist.

First, he appears to be a dentist who is taking his field seriously and is consistently learning new skills. This is a great quality for a dentist. They will not just be stuck in a rut. Instead, their patients will benefit from their learning all the latest advancements and procedures in the field.

Second, your dentist has integrity. When he saw the potential for failure in the first attempt, he stopped the procedure in order to give you your best chance of a positive outcome. Then, after you followed his advice, but it didn’t work, he admitted it. Some dentists would have just placed the implants and not said anything about the bone grafting not working, in order to save themselves embarrassment. Then, a year or so down the line, the dental implant will fail and you would never know the real reason behind the failure.

Would this have happened if you had gone to a more experienced implant dentist? No. But, every dentist that is starting a new skill has some failures.

You can still get a dental implant if you still want one. It will require you to have the bone grafting rebuilt before you move forward.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

I Need Options for My Tooth

October 31, 2020 by writeradmin

I had an accident on my tooth when I was a child. Over the years it has turned more and more brown. It’s causing me to not want to smile. I went to see my dentist about it and he said there isn’t a root there anymore and I should just remove the tooth and put a fake one there. Is there a way to have a pretty tooth if it is fake?

Rebecca

Dear Rebecca,

What you are suffering from is root resorption. It is a shame your childhood dentist didn’t give you a root canal treatment when you had the injury. That could have prevented the resorption. It isn’t a guarantee, but not doing anything definitely leads to resorption. He is right that at this point the tooth cannot be saved. It doesn’t sound like he spoke to you about any of your options.

The top of the line option is to get a dental implant. This places a prosthetic root in your jaw and once the bone has integrated with the implant a dental crown will be placed. It has the benefit of being the most secure option and the closest thing to having a natural tooth. However, it is the most expensive option.

If that isn’t for you, the next step would be to get a dental bridge. This suspends a false tooth between two dental crowns. This makes sense if either of those teeth already need crowns. If they don’t, you may not want to grind down healthy tooth structure unnecessarily.

There are less expensive options as well such as a removable partial denture or a dental flipper. Neither of those will be secured to your teeth, so just be aware they come out.

Is Your Dentist Serving You Well?

I’m a tad concerned that your dentist isn’t taking adequate care of you. This is especially true if this is the same dentist that didn’t deal with your tooth injury to begin with that is especially concerning.

It also sounds like he’s leaving you to figure out what to do about replacing your tooth. In reality, he is ethically bound to give you all your options. It may be time to ask why he isn’t doing that.

Will a False Tooth Look Attractive?

As to your concern with how the false tooth will look, that depends completely on the cosmetic dentistry skill of the dentist doing the work. Creating beautiful smiles is an art form. The best cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited, which is completely different from membership, which any dentist can do.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Will Dental Implants Help if I Still Have Baby Canine Teeth

August 2, 2020 by writeradmin

Both my upper and lower canine teeth are still baby teeth. I recently removed the bottom ones, but now there is a space because the adult teeth came up behind them. I know I need to take the upper baby teeth out too, but I’m worried about there being a space there too. I’m a senior this year and will be taking my senior pictures. I don’t want to look ridiculous in my pictures. Could I just take them out and replace them with dental implants so I have teeth?

Penny

Dear Penny,

I am very surprised your dentist hasn’t taken care of this. We are taught in dental school exactly what to do in these situations. I’m concerned that you may need a new dentist.

Your canine teeth are very important both to the form and function of your smile. It is important this is fixed. How it is handled will depend on whether you have adult canine teeth and, if so, the position they are in.

The first thing you need are x-rays to determine what is going on with the canine teeth. Often when they haven’t erupted, it means they are impacted. In this case, you will need some brackets and braces to help the tooth come up in the right position. Because your baby teeth are smaller, there may not be enough room for the adult teeth. Your canine teeth are very important as I mentioned earlier, so you will need to open up room for them. It is often advisable in this case to remove a first premolar to make room for them, but this is best addressed by an orthodontist.

A dental implant will only work if there are no adult teeth at all. When this happens, it is called congenitally missing teeth. If you have any adult teeth there, it is best to get those into proper position.

I’m sorry you are going through this. It would have been much easier for you if your dentist would have addressed this early on.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Can My Smile Be Pretty after Dentures?

June 19, 2020 by writeradmin

Around 30 years ago, I lost all my teeth. My dentist never mentioned dental implants so I don’t think that was an option. I have a friend who has them and her smile is so much prettier. Plus, she can eat anything she wants. I don’t know which I’m longing for more, but I think it is a pretty smile. If I got dental implants now, could they be as pretty as her smile?

Alice

Dear Alice,

I’m so sorry you have been going through this for so long. It is not the dentures that are the reason your smile doesn’t look pretty to you. Both dentures and dental implants can be beautiful giving you a smile you are proud of. The problem lies in the artistic skills of the dentist. My guess is your dentist thirty years ago had good intentions but not the skill. I truly wish he would have mentioned dental implants to you. They were available then and it would have made the last 30 years significantly more pleasant for you. However, that is water under the bridge and all we can do now is go from here.

There’s one obstacle you will face when it comes to dental implants— the aftermath of facial collapse. When your teeth were first removed, your body decided without the roots of your teeth you no longer needed the minerals in the jawbone that are used to help retain your teeth. After all, they are already gone. Slowly, that leeches your jawbone away. After 30 years, I’m guessing you are having quite the time keeping those dentures in any more.

As you can see from the image above, like your teeth, dental implants need bone to keep them secured in your jaw. There is a solution to this, though. There is a bone grafting procedure that can build that missing bone structure back up for you. Once that is done, you will be right as rain for dental implant again.

How to Get that Beautiful Smile

As I mentioned earlier, it is the dentist who does your procedure that determines how beautiful your smile is. You need a dentist who is both qualified to give you dental implants along with the artistry to make the dentures that anchor to them beautiful. My suggestion is you start by looking for an AACD accredited dentist. These are proven artists when it comes to dental work. You will finally have that smile you have always wanted and you can share it while you eat some steak!

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.