I don’t know what to do and I’m out of money. I went to a dentist because my teeth were bothering me whenever I ate. The dentist told me all my teeth needed to be removed. She said she could give me implant supported dentures and I’d be eating pain-free in no time. It’s been a complete disaster since day one. I’ve had the implants and dentures for over a year and have been in massive pain and haven’t been able to eat. I’ve lost 50 pounds. I’ve gone back to the dentist multiple times and they keep insisting nothing’s wrong. I’m distressed and don’t know what to do. I took out a loan to get these and have absolutely no money left. Is there a way to get a refund? I have to find another solution for my teeth.
Laverne A.
Dear Laverne,
I know hindsight is 20/20, but I sure wish you’d have gotten a second opinion before having all your teeth taken out. It’s always better to save as much natural tooth structure as possible.
I don’t have details about what exactly you’re feeling, but based on what you’ve said generally, I’d think either your dental implants were improperly placed or the dentures weren’t made well. No matter what the issue is, if you can’t eat and it’s been a problem from the beginning, your dentist should repair it free of charge. Because she’s not, you’ll have to take other steps.
I’d like you to get a second opinion from another dentist, preferably a skilled implant dentist. Don’t tell them the whole story or the dentist you went to, in case they’re pals. Instead, just mention your symptoms, let them look at the work, and give their opinion. They may need to take some x-rays to properly diagnose the problem.
When implants are done correctly, it’s like having healthy teeth in your mouth. You’ll be able to eat anything you want. If it turns out you just need a minor adjustment, then you can probably just go ahead and have that dentist do the work. If it’s more serious, then this second dentist can help you get a refund from your first dentist. Then you can get the work done properly without any additional cost burden to you. Hopefully, the new dentist can get you eating well fairly soon.
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