I’m afraid to choose a treatment option after dental implant failure. I broke a lower first premolar late last year while eating. The tooth had an old filling in it. My dentist said it was decayed and she couldn’t save it. He said the tooth had deep roots and kept shooting me up with lidocaine. My mouth and palate were burning, and I complained the whole time. My dentist said she was preparing the tooth for an implant. I got the dental implant, and we waited for it to heal. Two months ago, my dentist struggled to screw the implant crown onto the implant. It hurt so bad. Two weeks after I got the implant crown, it loosened and fell off. My mouth continues to burn. I got a second opinion, and the dentist said the implant was loose.
Now, my dentist says I need a bone graft for another implant, but I declined. According to my dentist, the alternative is a dental bridge. I want a refund but don’t know how to decide what to do about my missing tooth. My mouth still burns, too. I appreciate ANY advice you can give me. I had just finished Invisalign before the premolar broke, and this dental implant ordeal has made my teeth shift a bit because I haven’t been able to wear my retainer as I should. Honestly, I’m so stressed most of the time that I forget to wear it, but I also don’t know if I’m making things worse by wearing a retainer with the dental implant issue. Thanks. Janese from MD
Janese,
We are sorry to hear about your stressful dental experiences, discomfort, and disappointment over how they have affected wearing your Invisalign retainer.
The dentist had problems numbing your mouth due to your high anxiety level, which explains your burning mouth. Although the cause of burning mouth syndrome is unknown, it is often associated with traumatic dental experiences.
What Are Your Options After Dental Implant Failure?
Talk to an Invisalign provider if dental implant failure has affected your Invisalign treatment
When a dental implant fails, your options are to replace the implant with another or to get a dental bridge. Replacing a dental implant may require a bone graft procedure to build up the jawbone in the area. Jawbone deterioration or damage often occurs with dental implant failure.
Although dental implant failure is not always related to negligence, it is often the culprit. Placing a successful dental implant requires post-graduate training and experience. Your description sounds like your dentist was likely at fault. At least we know that your dentist applied force when attaching the dental crown to the implant.
Before asking for a refund, we recommend getting a second opinion from a skilled implant dentist or oral surgeon. You may need an X-ray or CT scan to evaluate your jawbone and the implant placement area. Afterward, you can use the second opinion as supporting evidence for requesting a refund.
You can talk to an orthodontist or Invisalign dentist about your treatment plan for tooth replacement and getting back on track with Invisalign.
David Finley, DDS, a Monroe, Louisiana, accredited cosmetic dentist and Academy of General Dentistry Fellow, sponsors this post. Read about what Dr. Finley and his team do to provide some of the best dental care in Monroe.
