Q.
Dear Dr. Andrew, My left inicisor was damaged in an accident years ago, which lead to me having root canal treatment. The tooth was weakened and finally broke in half. The dentist I attended replaced it with a veneer which broke after less than a year. I decided to attend another dentist who advised implant surgery and gave me a ‘smiler’, a temporary denture device encased in a clear plastic container. I find it uncomfortable and especially embarrassing to eat with as all the food becomes caught inside the palstic casing, and it sometimes becomes loose in my mouth. I explained this to my dentist before the implant procedure 6 weeks ago. During the procedure a periodontist attended as well, as my dentist was afraid difficulties may arise while extracting the tooth due to prior root canal treatment. To the end of the surgery the periodontist asked my dentist if he was placing a temporary tooth and he said no. At the time I didn’t realise I would have this ‘smiler’ for so long and also had my mouth full! Directly after the surgery, my dentist suggested that he would proceed with the next phase in approximately 4 months. However on revisiting him a few days later he said it would be at least 6 months, although he confirmed that it could not have gone better. He also said if rushed that some implants fail, but all patients are aware of those risks. (At the beginning of the process when I asked how long he guaranteed implants for he said no one had ever returned to him with one.)I am attending 3 weddings in the mean time, one at which I am bridesmaid in July. The smiler has become somewhat discoloured despite cleaning it constantly and the encased tooth has become loose. I paid a total of €3050 so far (€300 for the smiler and €2750 for the procedure which involved a small amount of bone grafting -which added €250). I have yet to pay for the restoration processs. It seems very expensive from what I have since read, but I trusted the dentist. I also never recieved any payment plan which seems to be advised on this site. Have you any advice on what I could say to the dentist? Are there any options for some inexpensive, comfortable, aesthetically pleasing means of temporarily replacing my front tooth while osseointegration occurs. I really do not want to rush the process, but 6 months with no dinners out and eating privately is very daunting. Also how much should I expect the rest of the procedure to cost? Should I ask again about a guarantee? I have found this dentist very pleasant but vague and reaad up on the procedure myself as he never explained ti to me. I hate confrontation, but I really feel it important to be well informed before discussing it further with him. At this moment in time I am very upset about this. I would be really grateful for your advice. Thanks,