I feel like I’m never going to have teeth again. First, my teeth started falling out. I went to a dentist and they said I had advanced gum disease. He started treating it and told me I will want to replace the teeth with dental implants. I did and one of them has already fallen out. I know this is my fault. I should have been going to the dentist all along and not just when they started falling out. Is there anything I can do now or is it too late?
Mindy
Dear Mindy,
I’d love for you to write me back again and tell me what dentist gave you dental implants while you were diagnosed with advanced gum disease. With any sense of logic, they should have realized if your gums are unable to retain your teeth, there is no way they will be able to retain your dental implants. You were not a candidate for this procedure and should ask for your money back immediately. If your dentist gives you any trouble with this, let him know you’ll be speaking to the dental board. That should change his mind.
A dentist is responsible to let a patient know when a procedure won’t work for them. It does your oral health no good to have work done which is bound to fail. I’m sorry your time and money were wasted by this dentist.
What a Dentist Should Do From Here
You’ll probably guess that I think you’d be better served with a different dentist. But, there is hope and you can have teeth again. The first thing you’ll need to do is continue with your gum disease treatments. This can be made well with diligence. I realize you haven’t been to the dentist much. I’ve often found that when patients avoid seeing the dentist, it is because of anxiety.
Sitting in the dental chair isn’t always the most fun. Fortunately, I’ve found a great solution for patients who struggle with severe anxiety. In your place, I’d look for a sedation dentist. Especially in cases such as yours, where there is likely a lot of work which needs to be done, it can make everything much easier to handle for you. First, you’ll have a completely stress-free and pain-free appointment. Second, you’ll be able to get a lot more done at each appointment getting you caught up more quickly.
Once your gums are healthy, that is when dental implants become a good option for you. Because you’ve lost bone structure you may need to have a bone grafting procedure done first, but that is a fairly standard outpatient procedure. From there, you can move forward with your plan. Dental implants are a great replacement. It can be like having healthy, natural teeth again. Just make sure you get a different dentist first. Preferably, one with considerable implant training.
This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.