Are dental implants more affordable if it’s my second time getting them? I am hoping that some of the upfront expenses I had before I got the implants can be eliminated. I received dental implants in the early spring but they didn’t heal right. I’ve been to more follow-up visits than I can count. My dentist said they could be done again, but I would have to pay full price. That’s the part I don’t understand. Why should I have to pay for everything again? Maybe I understand paying for the implants only, but to pay for more x-rays and surgical fees sounds ridiculous. My dentist hasn’t really made it clear to me why the implants didn’t work. This could all be her fault and she is charging me for it. Is it common for the patient to have to pay all fees twice? Thanks. Karlos
Karlos – The time frame for dental implants to fuse to your jawbone is about six to twelve months. It’s been well over a year since you received your implants, so it is unusual for them not to heal. No one expects a procedure to fail and to pay for it again, so we understand why you request affordable dental implants.
Why Your Dental Implants Might Have Failed
There are several factors that can interfere with the healing process. Some of them are listed below.
- Certain medical conditions can cause trouble with the healing
- Cheap implant fixtures
- Infections
- Poor placement
- Smoking
If your dental implants have failed, your dentist—or the dentist of your choice—needs to identify the problem. This can prevent implant failure in the future. It concerns us that you haven’t received much information from your dentist as to why your implants haven’t healed properly. Schedule an appointment with your dentist to ask questions about the cause of implant failure.
Before you allow your dentist to remove and replace your dental implants, schedule an appointment for a second opinion. Choose a skilled implant dentist from another practice. Ask the dentist if he or she has handled cases of failed dental implants that were placed by other dentists.
If your dentist is at fault, it is reasonable to request replacing the implants at no charge to you, or to a refund. If you incur additional fees from a new dentist, ask how the dental implants can be made affordable for you.
This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Collins.