I had an implant placed in February. Before the procedure, my dentist said the bone was ready for it. But after the surgery, he told me the bone was shallow and of poor quality, something he apparently discovered during the procedure.

Even knowing that, he still placed the implant. Now he says it needs to come out and that I should get a bridge instead. I’m not interested in having a bridge, and I feel like I may have gone through unnecessary surgery.

Since the implant cost over $3,500, I’m wondering if I should ask for a refund or a partial refund. Why would a dentist place an implant in shallow bone? – Thanks. Kylie from NJ

 

Kylie,

A dental implant has a clear purpose: to anchor a replacement tooth. If the implant cannot support a crown, it no longer serves its intended purpose.

In situations like this, patients often qualify for a refund. The principle behind this is known as implied warranty. When a service or product is sold, the law assumes that it will function as intended. You agreed to implant treatment because it was presented as the method that would replace your missing tooth. If the implant cannot support that tooth, the treatment did not deliver its intended result.

Evaluating Bone Quality for Dental Implants

Dentists normally evaluate bone quality carefully before placing implants. X-rays and clinical examination help determine whether the jawbone is strong enough to hold the implant.

If the bone density was inadequate, that problem should ideally have been identified before surgery began. Even if the dentist discovered the issue during surgery, the usual response would be to stop and consider other options rather than proceed with implant placement.

If events happened as you described, the situation could involve a lapse in standard treatment planning. That means you may have experienced unnecessary hardship from a procedure that was unlikely to succeed.

Hardship may include:

• Undergoing surgery that may not have been appropriate
• Paying thousands of dollars for a treatment that failed
• Facing another surgical procedure to remove the implant
• Dealing with added stress and disruption during treatment

For those reasons, many patients would feel justified in asking for a full refund.

Implant Treatment May Still Be Possible

Although your dentist suggested a bridge, that does not mean implants are no longer an option. In many cases, dentists can strengthen the jawbone and then place the implant later.

Bone grafting is a common procedure used when bone volume or density is insufficient. The graft rebuilds the jaw so it can support an implant more predictably.

Possible treatment paths include:

• Bone grafting to rebuild the jawbone
• Healing time for the graft to integrate with the bone
• Implant placement after the bone has strengthened

If someone strongly prefers an implant solution, bone grafting often provides a reliable path forward.

Can You Get a Refund for Your Dental Implant?

The first step is to speak directly with your dentist and request a refund for the implant procedure. Many dentists will try to resolve the situation once the issue is discussed.

If that conversation does not resolve the problem, you still have several options available:

• Seek a second opinion from an experienced implant dentist
• Ask that dentist to document whether the implant placement was appropriate
• Notify your insurance company if they paid part of the bill
• File a complaint with your state dental board if necessary
• Consult a lawyer if the financial loss is substantial

You could also request that the dentist refer you to a specialist who can perform bone grafting and place the implant correctly.

A Positive Aspect of Your Implant Procedure

One positive detail is that your dentist did not proceed to place the crown on the implant once he realized the bone support was inadequate. In some cases, dentists place the crown anyway, and the implant fails years later. That scenario can create even more complicated problems.

The Monroe, Louisiana, dentists at Bayou Dental Group sponsor this post. Please read how Dr. Finley and his team strive to offer some of the best dental care in Monroe.