A Cautionary Tale: When a Dentist Puts Profit Ahead of Patients’ Well-being

⚠ DISCLAIMER: Implants on the top and bottom were placed by another local dentist in September 2025. The patient was promised an upper and lower All-on-4 dental implants with Zirconia finals and paid $24,000. She shared that she never had the opportunity to meet a doctor either during the consultation or on the day of surgery.

The patient was put to sleep and woke up with 5 lower implants and 3 upper implants. She was given an upper REMOVABLE denture that she couldn’t wear, and the dentist had to remake it three times to make it comfortable for her. Even then, the patient ended up using her old denture because it felt better. She mentioned they just recently (2 full months after surgery) delivered her lower temporary bridge. Luckily, the patient came to our office, seeking a second opinion from our experienced and empathetic team of implant specialists.

What would we have done differently at Temecula Dental Implants & Oral Surgery?

Unfortunately, a lot. That’s why we always stress the importance of not rushing things, taking the time to do your research, and making a well-informed decision when choosing your dentist.

1. Direct doctor consultation

Unlike many other offices, our patients always meet and talk to Dr. Dmitry Tsvetov, who is performing their surgery, during their initial consultation—not the financial coordinator or just any dentist.

2. All-on-6 for greater support

Unlike others, we perform All-on-6 top & bottom if feasible—not All-on-4 dental implants, and eliminate the cantilever and give the bridge full support.

3. Advanced implant options

Unlike many other offices, we use specialized high-quality implants, e.g., pterygoid, zygomatic, and subperiosteal, if patients do not have much bone left.

4. Patent-centered anesthesia care

Unlike most others, our anesthesiologist is putting our patients to sleep because this is the safest way to proceed.

5. Immediate fixed temporaries

Unlike other offices, we load temporary teeth right after the surgery, not the next day, not 24 hours later. Our patients leave with a fixed brand-new smile the day of the surgery, not a removable denture or snap-in denture.

This patient started out not having enough bone already on the upper jaw. Having worn the denture for many years, she hardly had any bone left. This was a pterygoid/zygomatic/anterior implant case to begin with, All-on-6 dental implants. And potentially a subperiosteal implant case.

The treating dentist misdiagnosed this difficult situation or, more likely, was going by the “seat of the pants” on the day of the surgery, having just seen her CT scan for the first time when the patient was already asleep.

This happens with the “hole in the wall” dental offices, which don’t have a dentist there full-time but rather have visiting dentists when there are patients to be treated.

What now?

Can these 3 implants on the top be restored? This is a big question, as they are only partially in the bone. If we remove these 3 implants, the patient will have no bone for dental implants. So, a subperiosteal implant solution is probably the way forward for her.

Regardless of which route we would have picked, she could have avoided extra cost and extra treatment had she chosen the right provider.

To sum up

For the amount of money this patient paid, we would have created a brand-new smile with 6 implants on top and 6 on the bottom with a long-term temporary bridge, which she could have worn for 2 years. Later, she could have upgraded it to a final zirconia All-on-6 dental implants.

We hope that this post will reach many of our followers. Please seek a second or third opinion before making your final decision. Don’t let money dictate where you’re doing the surgery. Always choose your provider carefully. Do your research. Go through reviews on Yelp & Google, and check the provider’s credentials. Ask to speak to an actual doctor, not a salesperson. If you do it, it needs to be done with the right doctor at the right office.

If you have any questions or concerns, give us a call at 951-302-9100. Temecula Dental Implants & Oral Surgery is here to help!