Hi Rick

My answers are in BOLD lettering.
This is the number 3 tooth. It's had two root canals, two apicoectomies, and we're headed for two dental implants.

TOOTH #3 IS THE FIRST MOLAR AND IT IS USED FOR CHEWING. HOWEVER, THE HISTORY OF THIS TOOTH AND JAWBONE HAS LEFT THIS AREA OF YOUR MOUTH VERY COMPROMISED DUE TO THE LONG TERM INFECTION, INFLAMMATION AND TRAUMA FROM ALL OF THE INVASIVE DENTAL PROCEDURES. I WOULD NOT MESS WITH THIS BONE ANY FURTHER, IF IT WERE ME.


Well, it was right there in my mouth with all the other teeth. I had really grown very attached to it. During the 9 months I went without due to the implant I wasn't really able to chew on that side at all. What do people do when they're missing teeth?

IN CASES SUCH AS YOURS, THE HEALTHIEST REPLACEMENT OPTION WOULD BE EITHER A 3 UNIT BRIDGE OR A REMOVABLE PARTIAL. I WOULD DISCUSS THOSE OPTIONS WITH YOUR DENTIST IN DETAIL.


That's bad news. He perforated the sinus during the sinus lift, and perforated it again when placing the implant.

THIS INDICATES A LACK OF SOLID BONE WHICH IS NOT A SURPRISE GIVEN THE LONG TERM INFECTIONS AND REPETITIVE DENTAL WORK DONE IN THIS AREA.

He seemed to feel there was no cause for concern. HE WOULD IF IT WERE IN HIS OWN MOUTH!

When he removed the implant a week ago today it left me with a perforated sinus for a third time. Although actually I don't recall whether removing the implant left me with the sinus perforation or whether that happened when he further prepped the hole for new bone grafting. In any event - I left with one more hole than when I arrived.

AGAIN, THIS IS DUE TO THE POOR QUALITY OF BONE. IF THE SINUS CAN REPETITIVELY BE PERFORATED WITH EVERY PROCEDURE .... WHY NOT LOOK FOR A LESS INVASIVE OPTION?

Assuming the bone and sinus perforation heals nicely, and a new implant can be placed without causing yet another perforation, do you still give it low odds of success? He gave it a 98% likelihood of success. But then he also told me the sinus perforations were nothing to worry about.

WITHOUT A DOUBT, THIS AREA OF YOUR MOUTH IS HIGHLY COMPROMISED. FROM A LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DENTAL CHAIR .... I DON'T KNOW OF ONE DENTIST THAT WOULD CONTINUE ON THIS PATH IF IT WERE HIS OWN MOUTH.

How does an implant typically fail? This one came out with no bone fragments attached to it.

IMPLANTS FAIL DUE TO INFECTION AND/OR COMPROMISED BONE. IT CAME OUT EASILY BECAUSE THE BONE IS NOT HEALTHY ENOUGH TO INTEGRATE WITH THE BONE GRAFT MATERIAL OR THE IMPLANT. THEREFORE, THE IMPLANT WAS BASICALLY SITTING IN MUSHY BONE GRAFT AND TISSUE.

I don't know whether it was loose at that time. But it was certainly sensitive from the first time I tried to chew on it.

CHANCES ARE... IT WAS LOOSE AT THE TIME OF THE DELIVERY OF THE CROWN AND YOU WERE NOT INFORMED. I HAVE WITNESSED THIS MANY TIMES AND THE OUTCOME IS ALWAYS THE SAME.... EVENTUAL IMPLANT FAILURE.


Thanks again for all your advice.
YOUR WELCOME. PLEASE DISCUSS OTHER REPLACEMENT OPTIONS WITH YOUR DENTIST.

Bryanna