Several years ago, I had a full-mouth reconstruction. About a third of the teeth were dental implants, but most were just crowned.  I’ve regretted it ever since. At first, my jaw hurt massively as a result, but the dentist insisted I’d get used to it. Now, the dental implants have started falling out. I’ve got a mouth full of nubbed teeth and I can hardly eat. Every time I try to eat anything other than a liquid diet and my mouth starts to bleed. The office tells me that the dentist is now living overseas and took our records with him. When they say “living overseas”, it turns out that they really mean he skipped the country. I am not the only patient struggling with botched work.  Is there anything I can do?

Patricia

Dear Patricia,

I am so sorry this happened to you and the other patients with this charlatan. Unfortunately, if he’s truly fled the country then he probably went somewhere that he is out of reach of the law. The only thing you can do is have the case totally re-done. I know that is not what you were wanting to hear at all and I’m sorry to be the one to have to tell you that.

I would make sure that whoever you go to has post-doctoral training in dental implants. A full-mouth reconstruction is quite advanced. As you’ve discovered, if it goes wrong, it goes very wrong. Because you have lost some dental implants, you will need to have some bone grafting done. Otherwise, the new dental implants will not have enough bone there to retain them.

I would explain your situation to whatever dentist you end up with. Dentists are compassionate people and they may allow you to pay this out.

This blog is brought to you by Marietta Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.