I got a dental implant on the upper right front tooth (#8 it's called) and went through the entire process.

It supposedly healed "better than it should have" as bone had grown up right around the first sealant cap. The surgeon had to cut away bone to remove the first cap and do whatever he had to do, then put on the second cap that pokes out through the gum. He stitched me all up, let the gum heal around the new cap and I came back later for another x-ray.

"Oh yes, this is perfect, you see that?" he asked, pointing to the screw-like object in my x-ray. "It's all filled in with bone right around the threads. That is perfect."

So, what happens? I go back today to get the post placed in and the temp tooth, impressions made for the porcelaine tooth and I'm all happy that in just 2 weeks I will have my new permanant tooth.

The guy starts jamming a post (I think) and it feels like the roof of my mouth is bulging DOWNWARDS. He's pushing UP in the front of my mouth, but yet the roof of my mouth feels like it's caving in or something. I become paranoid that he is going to split my skull open because that's basically what it feels like. He asks if it's hurting, I do my best to explain what the heck it feels like. He says it's "too tight" and begins filing the post, adjusting, whatever. Too tight? It doesn't seem like it should affect the roof of my mouth, more like it should feel like it's going up my nose like all those novacaine needles did!

Finally, he gets it right (I guess) and goes to "torque it" with some tool....

POP! Out comes my implant. Clean as a whistle. No bone fragments stuck in the threads or anything. He says it looks like I just put it in today because it is so clean. Meanwhile, I've been going through this process since January, 2004.

Now how is that possible? And should I even bother trying again?

I'm frankly a little concerned they weren't worried about infection, too. I just sat there bleeding onto some gauze for 5 minutes and that was it. "Go home, see ya Tuesday and we'll talk about your options." I can get a free second implant or just go for the Maryland Bridge, which I'm leaning toward at this point.

I get the impression most of these questions are not answered...

I would try the implant again. Did a general dentist place the implant? What specialist placed the implant: an oral surgeon, periodontist, prosthodontist, endodontist?

If a general dentist placed the implant, I would recommend asking that dentist to reimburse you and refer you to a periodontist or prosthodontist (with extra training in implants) to get it done the second time.

There was obviously some difficulty that the first dentist did not anticipate. A specialist has had extensive training allowing them to forsee difficulties and provide the correct course of action.

Apparently, he was a specialist. He's some guy who comes from Manhattan on Tuesdays to do the implants. He is supposedly "one of the best oral surgeons in the area" (but of course they are going to say that). I know for a fact he is only there on Tuesdays and he did once offer for me to visit him in his Manhattan location...

His name is Dr. Gilili or Gallili or Gillilli or something like that. I haven't been able to locate his name anywhere online.

I'm reading all sorts of things about failed implants now. It appears alcohol can make the implant fail. I drank over the holidays. Maybe that was it.

I also found a bunch of rules they never told me:
1. do not drink hot liquids for 24 hours
2. do not USE TOOTHPASTE until sutchers are removed!
3. do not EXERCISE for 3 days following surgery (aerobic)
4. Do not wear removable dentures (what's a flipper then?)

... and a bunch more rules that I could've very easily broken...

When I told him that my implant did get a little sore about a month before the final process, he said it was nothing. I'm thinking it was something.

Yes, implants fail all the time. Many dentists have become very aggressive with implants choosing to extract teeth to place implants when those teeth could just as well been saved with a root canal. Your drinking did not contribute to the implant failure, or at least I doubt it. It sounds to me there was some restorative issue. The implant may not have been placed at the correct angle or at the correct depth.

Oral surgeons are not the best specialists to go to for implants, especially when it comes to front teeth. For front teeth, you should see a periodontist who is working in conjunction with a prosthodontist. The periodontist will ensure the correct bone and gum level which dramatically effects the esthetics. While the prosthodontist will ensure proper restoration.

Good luck.

not to mention that a perio generally seems to charge less than an oral surgeon. I am glad you wrote about your problems as i will be getting implants and it helps to know about problems ahead of time. I hope you go ahead and try again. If you can get your money back you would probably feel more comfortable with someone else and a fresh start. But I cannot imagine any dentist i have worked with giving me a money back guarentee! Maybe they will, doesn't hurt to try. Good luck. Sorry you had such an experience the first time. It sounds awful.

Oh my god... How can an implant get loose? did you wait months so the titanium screw settles in?
I would personally get another surgeon someone who will not joke about it....Yes, try to avoid oral surgeons because my front implant was placed by one of them

They dont know anything but aesthetics..He ended up placing the screw too forward, so now my crown is sticking out a little forward.. My general dentist try his best to correct it but that was the best he could do..Not too mention ,my implant hurts. It's so stuck up there, drilled in the bone. It's a funny feeling because it hurts when i dont chew/bite. Just typing this, i feel this numb sensation on my front teeth......Dont believe anyone who says theopposite, because implants do hurt a lot.....

"I also found a bunch of rules they never told me:
1. do not drink hot liquids for 24 hours
2. do not USE TOOTHPASTE until sutchers are removed!
3. do not EXERCISE for 3 days following surgery (aerobic)
4. Do not wear removable dentures (what's a flipper then?)"

Oh my gosh...if they didn't tell you about stuff you needed to know they aren't professional!! Yeesh! I'd definately get another opinion for sure...

Well Toofless, I am sorry about your problems. I have 12 implants, and I have been at it since feb. 2004, so I know It is a heck of a journey. Implants DO NOT fail that often, but it happens sometimes, usually when they restore it, that's when they see there is a problem. I do know it feels like your head is going to come off your body when they take impressions for the restorations, because they do pull of these babies and tork and screw and whatever else, that's what happened when they took impression of my bottom implants to replace my molars, and I now have my temp. crowns, and so far so good, but you never know. I would replace that implant, you have already dedicated a long time to get you tooth replaced, I would give it a while longer. It sure beats a bridge. Good luck to you Marti