Botched Surgery: A Sad Reality That Destroys The Dream of a Beautiful Smile
We’ve all heard horror stories of dental surgeries gone wrong. From subpar treatments caused by risky dental tourism and typical dental negligence due to sloppiness to complete procedure failures with dentists of questionable quality and background. Trying to save money on dental procedures is risky, and it more often than not ends with people paying even more. What was supposed to be a great, bargain deal for All-on-X dental implants time and again turns into a really expensive and agonizing ordeal.
In today’s article, we take a look at a real-life example that we hope can serve as a cautionary tale to all those who may be tempted to entrust their oral health and long-term wellbeing to dentists of unproven expertise who advertise deals that sound too good to be true. Always keep in mind that when it comes to high-quality dental care, relevant experience, peer-acclaim, and honest praise from happy patients are indispensable.
How it all started
A patient came in for a consultation at our clinic in Temecula the other day, wanting All-on-X dental implants for her upper teeth. She recently had a lower All-on-X procedure completed at another office in town. Immediately upon seeing the X-rays, we understood that there was nothing we could do for this patient. Her first surgery was botched so badly that doing the upper surgery would mean simply building on a suboptimal foundation and giving the patient a terrible outcome.
What are the problems with her dental implants?
So what exactly went wrong with her All-on-X surgery? Simply put, the surgeon who did the original lower jaw surgery did it incorrectly. The lower jawbone was not prepared well to receive a full arch prosthesis. Normally, the lower jawbone should be adjusted after the teeth are removed by creating a uniform platform at the appropriate height to house the new final prosthesis. The final prosthesis needs to be at least 15 mm tall (just over half an inch) to ensure appropriate strength and stability. You can’t fit a 15 mm prosthesis where natural teeth were before without reducing the bone underneath.
Well, apparently, her surgeon didn’t get that memo. He simply removed the teeth and then placed All-on-X dental implants at the same level where the teeth were before. Now, adding a 15 mm thick prosthesis on top results in the patient’s upper teeth getting hammered and smashed constantly because the prosthesis is too big and is violating the restorative space.
When failing upper teeth already have no room because of the improperly done surgery, how can anyone fit another 15 mm tall prosthesis to replace the upper teeth? The answer is: there is no way you can! You simply can’t!
You would have to remove so much upper bone to make this work, to try to compensate for the bone reduction that was never done at the lower arch, that the patient would have no bone left to place the upper implants.
What happened in the end?
The patient was simply heartbroken. I advised her to see the prior surgeon to see if he can remake the lower prosthesis and make it shorter. Sure, it will compromise the structural integrity of the prosthesis, but it’s the only “non-invasive” option this patient has if she wants to have the surgery on the upper arch.
If making the lower prosthesis less tall won’t work, this patient will have to have the lower arch surgery completely redone. That means more money, more stress, more risk, more pain, and all just because someone did something they had no idea how to do properly. Remember, to choose a provider smartly, always schedule a 2nd opinion, and don’t let price dictate your decision.
Who can create comfortable, natural-looking All-on-X dental implants near me in Temecula, CA & beyond?
As the leading specialists in high-quality dental implants in the Inland Empire, we are known for our biocompatible and long-lasting solutions. At Temecula Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, we don’t just insert implants and let our patients get on with it like our $9990 competitors. We take an all-encompassing approach that matches the procedure with your medical condition, guides you through the process, and supports you through recovery to ensure your long-term wellbeing.
We want you to be well-informed about your options so you can choose the best treatment path, feel confident about the process, and be at ease in the competent hands of our oral surgeons. For a simpler and more comfortable day-to-day experience and a confidence boost at the dinner table or when it’s your time to talk, get in touch with us to schedule your free consultation today!