Becky Carroll, 52, experienced a nightmare ordeal after undergoing a $31,000 cosmetic dental procedure she believed would provide her with a “new smile in one day.” In a lawsuit obtained by CBS News, Carroll claimed that she woke up during her dental implant surgery and was left unable to chew for two years afterward. Carroll’s story sheds light on a growing industry trend as experts warn that dental implants may be over-recommended for profit at the expense of patients’ dental health.
Carroll initially sought treatment to address missing and misaligned teeth. Rather than choosing root canals and crowns, as her dentist suggested, she opted for a full-implant approach from ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers. “I thought implants would be easier, and all at once, so you didn’t have to keep going back to the dentist,” Carroll told CBS. However, she later regretted not asking more questions, such as whether her natural teeth could have been saved.
Carroll alleges that during surgery, the anesthesia wore off, and she was fully conscious as her teeth were removed and screws were drilled into her jawbone. After the procedure, her implants were reportedly so misaligned that she was unable to chew properly for two years, eventually needing to save for corrective surgery. ClearChoice has denied her claims.
A joint investigation by CBS News and KFF Health News revealed that Carroll’s experience might not be isolated. Many dentists expressed concerns that the profession’s traditional goal of preserving natural teeth is being overshadowed by a preference for dental implants, which often generate higher profits. Ten experts shared that, when called upon for second opinions, they sometimes deemed implant recommendations unnecessary.
“There is a push in the profession to remove teeth that could be saved,” said Tim Kosinski of the Academy of General Dentistry, noting that patients may not be fully informed. Periodontist and prosthodontist Luiz Gonzaga illustrated this point, likening it to asking a hospital to amputate a finger that could be saved: “Why would I extract your tooth because you need a root canal?”
The experts explained that implants require specific long-term maintenance and may present complications, underscoring that they are not a straightforward replacement for natural teeth. “You can’t just have an implant placed and go off riding into the sunset,” noted periodontist Paul Rosen. “In many instances, they need more care than teeth because they are not teeth.”
The rise in lawsuits like Carroll’s reflects a trend where patients allege pressure from implant clinics to extract teeth unnecessarily, often following a consultation with a salesperson rather than a dentist. Implant popularity has surged despite these concerns, with a 2023 report by iData Research showing a steady 6% annual increase in implant sales since 2010. Insight Partners projects that the dental implant market could nearly double from $5.96 billion in 2023 to $11.28 billion by 2031, driven by demand for cosmetic dentistry and an aging population.
Amid this rapid growth, industry practices and training protocols have raised eyebrows. According to CBS, while implant procedures are increasingly common, most states do not require dentists to undergo implant training or complete any specific implant placement coursework during dental school.
As the industry faces increasing scrutiny, Carroll’s story serves as a reminder for patients to seek thorough consultations and second opinions before opting for major dental procedures like implants.
Related topics:
