My first two dental implants failed. I’m hoping that the second time around the implants will be more affordable. Is that possible? Do any of the initial costs help eliminate the work to be redone? I ended up paying full price. My insurance didn’t cover a dime. The initial price quote the dentist gave me again, was for the full amount. He said there was always a risk that the dental procedure would be unsuccessful. But, I thought he would cut me some kind of break. Does this circumstance sound fishy?
-Shane in Nevada
Shane,
It is difficult to understand what you mean when you say the the dental implants failed. Were they loose? Did they become loose, infected or did you have difficulty healing? There are many reasons why a dental implant procedure may not be successful. Normally, it takes anywhere from six to 12 months for the dental implant post to integrate with the bone. You didn’t mention how long it’s been from your initial surgery. So, it’s difficult to give you specific recommendations.
Most implant dentists have an extremely high success rate. So, it’s abnormal for them to fail. It is possible they need more time to fully heal.
Or maybe you’re dealing with an implant dentist that isn’t an expert. Sadly, implant dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty area within dentistry. So, it can be difficult to fully understand how experienced your particular dentist is.
Also, it is odd that your dentist didn’t offer to redo the work or discount it, if it was by error or something he could have controlled.
The bottom line is to try and figure out precisely why the dental implants failed. If your dentist hasn’t addressed the cause, it may be a red flag to seek a consultation from another implant dentist. There is nothing wrong with seeking a second opinion. Especially, if your initial treatment was unsuccessful.
In response to your question about whether or not the cost should be lesser this time. It isn’t out of the question to have a conversation about a discount or reimbursed fees. If you’ve already paid in full, like you mention, that means you also paid for the cost of the porcelain crowns that are fitted on top. If you haven’t had those placed yet, you definitely shouldn’t have to pay for them again.
Ultimately, if the implant failed because of something preventable, you shouldn’t have to pay anything additionally. If that’s the case, you really should find another implant dentist. You can’t go wrong getting another opinion, that’s for sure.
Hopefully this helps answer some questions.
This post is sponsored by York PA dentist Donald H. Currie, DMD.