Dental Implants Archives | Williams Family Dentistry

Dentist Won’t Give My Zirconia Implants

Posted on May 29, 2023 by writeradmin.

I really want a zirconia implant but my dentist said they are not as reliable as the titanium implants. I have some pretty bad metal allergies so the zirconia sounds much safer to me. One of the things that puzzles me about this is I am the one taking the risk. Shouldn’t he allow me to get the one I want anyway?

Cheyenne

Dear Cheyenne,

Dentists are not bound to do any procedures. It is completely up to them. The good news is that if they are not meeting your needs, there are many other dentists who are perfectly capable of taking their place. I am not certain why he said that the zirconia dental implants are not as safe as the titanium. Zirconia is certainly strong enough. In fact, it has been dubbed ceramic steel.

The only thing I can think of is that there is not as much research on the longevity of the zirconia implants. However, this does not indicate inferiority. It simply means it has not been around as long so we don’t have the data. If you are a good candidate for dental implants in general, you can have zirconia implants.

I suggest that you look for a metal free dentist or a holistic dentist. They will be more open to this newer material. Bear in mind, you still want to check their dental implant credentials. It is not a procedure adequately taught in dental school, so you will want a dentist who has invested in some post doctoral training in dental implants.

One thing to be aware of is the inert quality of the titanium implants. Even though you have other metal allergies, it is very unlikely that you will be allergic to titanium. It is one of the most biocompatible metals there are and has been used for decades as prothetics. So, you have a couple of options. You can go ahead and find someone to do the zirconia allergies, or you can have the titanium. If you are super worried about an allergy, you can be tested for that specific allergy.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Some of My Dental Implants have Fallen Out

Posted on December 27, 2021 by writeradmin.

I have paid for six dental implants. I’ve only had them for a couple of weeks and already four of them have fallen out. I have some questions. Seeing as I have already paid for these, should I get a refund on the ones that have failed? I also am concerned about the ones that are left. Do you think they will fall out as well? Is there a way I can still get dental implants or do I have to find a different option?

Bruce

Dear Bruce,

Getting a refund is the very least you should expect. I actually want you to ask for something completely different, which we will go over in a moment. First, you should know this is not normal. In most cases, the failure rate for dental implants is about 5%, even then it would take more than a year for that to happen. Your dentist has a 60% failure rate in just two weeks. I’ll tell you right now that I do not recommend you hold out much hope for the remaining two implants. All that being said, it is likely you can still have dental implants. I just don’t think you can with this particular dentist.

The first thing I want you to do is see another dentist and find out why these dental implants failed. Go see a dentist with a lot of successful dental implant experience.

Reasons For Dental Implant Failure

Infection at the implant site. This often happens because of poorly fitting implants but can happen for other reasons as well.
Inadequate bone support. There is a solution for this and if the dentist does proper diagnostics, they would know ahead of time that some bone grafting is necessary.
Substandard fixtures purchased overseas. The implant dentures we use in the states have to undergo high standards. Because of that, they cost more. Some dentists, trying to increase their profits will purchase the less expensive ones that you can get from other countries. Unfortunately, that sometimes means the fixtures will not hold up.
Placing the dentures or dental crowns on your implant fixtures before there was time for the bone to integrate with the implants. This is known as premature loading.

Where to Go From Here

Rather than asking for a refund, I want you to ask for this dentist to pay for you to have your implants placed by another dentist. This will include the cost of the bone grafting that you will now definitely need as a result of your implants failing. But, it needs to be a dentist of your choosing.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Dental Implants After Years In Dentures

Posted on August 29, 2021 by writeradmin.

I’ve had dentures for about fourteen years. Lately, they have not been fitting correctly and have begun slipping a bit. It is possible for me to switch to dental implants or did I wait too long?

Maddie

Dear Maddie,

Technically, it is never too late to get dental implants. However, the longer you have been wearing dentures, the more likely you are to need an additional procedure for it to work. There is a condition known as a facial collapse that begins the moment you remove your natural teeth. Your body recognizes that you no longer have teeth there because the roots are missing. It immediately begins resorbing the minerals normally used by your jawbone to use elsewhere throughout your body. It does this to be as efficient as possible with your body’s resources. The longer you are without teeth, the more your jawbone shrinks. This is why your denture is currently feeling less secure. Eventually, it will get to the point where you can’t even keep the denture in.

In order to get to where you have enough bone structure to retain dental implants, you will need to build that bone back up. This requires a procedure known as bone grafting. Once that is completed, you will be good to go for your dental implants.

Tips for Successful Dental Implant Procedure

Make certain your dentist has dental implant training. Just dental school is not enough.
If someone other than the dentist will do the surgery, make certain you see the dentist first and he or she is the one to determine the placement of the dental implants.
It would be a GREAT idea to have a CT scan done as part of your diagnostics. Dental implants are a 3-Dimensional procedure and your dentist needs 3-Dimensional images.

There are many benefits to upgrading from dentures to implant overdentures: security, increased chewing capacity, comfort; however, the biggest benefit is the preservation of your jawbone. Once those dental implants are in place, your body interprets that as you having teeth and it leaves the minerals from your jawbone in one place.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Dentist Placed Implants Knowing They Would Fail

Posted on July 26, 2021 by writeradmin.

I was going to my family dentist for a dental implant. Before the surgery, he said everything looked good. Then, when the surgery was over there was a totally different story. He told me that when he went in that it was apparent there was not enough bone structure there to retain the implants for very long. He placed them anyway and is telling me he thinks we need to remove them. I’m so frustrated. Have you ever heard of a dentist doing something like this? I’ve spent so much money.

Dean

Dear Dean,

This is insane. He cannot get away with this. It is serious negligence, even malpractice. This was completely preventable if he’d have done the right diagnostics to begin with. He should have done diagnostics, which included x-rays and preferably also a CT scan in order to determine if you have enough bone to be a good candidate for dental implants. He obviously skipped this step or completely botched reading them. Had he done this properly, he would have recognized the problem and been able to take steps to ensure you would have a successful outcome.

One of the basic principles of any dental procedure is that the dentist believes the procedure will work. When he places an implant knowing it would fail, he violates a basic standard of care. In fact, he does more harm than good. I do not want you to merely ask for a refund, which you are definitely entitled to. Instead, I want you to ask him to pay for this to be done correctly by the dentist of your choice.

Unfortunately, it will not be as simple as just taking out the old ones and putting in the new ones. When the implants are removed it will take some of the bone with it. You will need a bone grafting procedure to build up the bone. Then, after a period of healing you will be able to get the dental implnats you need.

When you pick the dentist to fix this, make sure they have post-doctoral training in dental implants. This is important.
I am sorry this happened to you. Know that you have the right to get this done correctly. If he gives you a hard time about it, let him know that if you took him to court, you would get everything you are asking for plus damages. It is in his favor to pay for this to be repaired.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.