In recent years, a troubling trend has emerged in the dental field: patients are increasingly advised to undergo costly dental implant surgeries that may not be medically necessary. Individuals seeking solutions for cosmetic issues—such as crooked, chipped, or stained teeth—are often told they require full replacements rather than more conservative options like fillings or root canals. These unnecessary surgeries can reach costs as high as $65,000, despite other viable, less expensive alternatives.
Oral surgeons have sounded alarms over this practice, describing it as a “horror show” and noting an uptick in patients seeking second opinions. Many report seeing five or more cases each month involving patients who were advised to extract healthy teeth for costly implants. The financial motivation behind these recommendations is evident: insurance rarely covers implants, meaning dentists can earn substantial profits from each procedure.
Compounding the issue, a shortage of qualified oral surgeons across thousands of U.S. clinics has led to some practitioners performing implant surgeries despite lacking sufficient training. This gap in expertise heightens risks for patients, as the procedure involves removing existing teeth and replacing them with prosthetic crowns anchored by metal posts embedded in the jaw.
More complex implant options, such as “full-arch” or “All-on-4” procedures that replace entire rows of teeth, have also grown in popularity. However, many dental professionals warn that these procedures are often recommended when less invasive treatments would suffice. Interviews conducted by ProPublica with 10 dental experts revealed that many patients seeking implants could have preserved their natural teeth.
One such patient, Becky Carroll from New Jersey, experienced severe complications after undergoing an upper full-arch implant procedure. The 52-year-old, hoping to correct a few missing and stained teeth, spent $31,000 at a ClearChoice Dental Implant Center. After an excruciating procedure in which she regained consciousness mid-surgery, Carroll found her prosthetic teeth misaligned and could not chew properly for over two years. It took further corrective surgery at another clinic to address the issues caused by the initial procedure. “I thought implants would be easier,” she said, reflecting on the experience, “but I should have asked more questions … like, can they save these teeth?”
Carroll’s experience echoes those of thousands of patients who have filed lawsuits against dental providers, citing botched surgeries and the need for additional costly corrections. Many lawsuits claim patients were pressured or misled into unnecessary extractions.
Dr. William Giannobile, dean of Harvard School of Dental Medicine, emphasized that many teeth labeled “unsalvageable” are actually in good condition. He explained, “I really hate to say it, but many of them are doing it because these procedures, from a monetary standpoint, they’re much more beneficial to the practitioner.” Giannobile reported seeing numerous patients advised to remove their entire set of teeth despite the potential to preserve most of them.
Despite these warnings, dental implants have gained popularity, with annual sales increasing by over six percent since 2010 and surpassing 3.7 million in the U.S. by 2022, according to healthcare analysis firm iData Research. While implants have been transformative for some patients, dental experts caution against viewing them as a quick fix. Pennsylvania periodontist Dr. Paul Rosen, who has specialized in implants for more than 30 years, emphasized that implants often require more care than natural teeth.
Beyond financial burdens, unnecessary implants come with health risks, including infection and bone deterioration. Dr. George Mandelaris, a Chicago-area periodontist and member of the American Academy of Periodontology Board of Trustees, warned, “Just because somebody can afford implants doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re a good candidate.” He explained that an implant compromised by infection or bone loss deteriorates more rapidly than natural teeth.
As demand for implants continues to surge, dental experts urge patients to seek multiple opinions and carefully consider all options to avoid unnecessary procedures and protect their oral health.
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