Becky Carroll had struggled with missing and crooked teeth for years, but she was wary of the extensive dental work suggested by her dentist, which involved root canals and crowns. Her apprehension led her to explore an alternative advertised by ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers, which promised to restore smiles in as little as a day through a full set of implants.
Convinced, Carroll invested $31,000 in 2021 to replace her upper teeth with prosthetics at a ClearChoice clinic in New Jersey. However, she describes her experience as nothing short of a nightmare. According to her lawsuit, the anesthesia wore off during surgery, and she remained conscious as her natural teeth were removed and titanium screws were inserted into her jaw. The prosthetic teeth that followed were poorly aligned, leaving Carroll unable to chew properly for more than two years until she could afford corrective surgery elsewhere.
ClearChoice has denied allegations of malpractice, and did not respond to requests for further comments on the ongoing legal case. Carroll, reflecting on her decision, now regrets not allowing her original dentist to attempt fixing her teeth.
Dental implants, which have been a reliable solution for replacing damaged or missing teeth for over 50 years, are becoming increasingly common, with millions of implants being placed each year. Once a procedure carried out by a small group of specialists, the field has now expanded to include a vast number of general dentists offering implant surgeries. Despite their popularity, some experts in implant dentistry have expressed concerns over the growing trend of unnecessary extractions in favor of implants.
According to interviews with over 10 dental experts, many patients are being recommended for full-mouth implants, even when less invasive treatments could save their natural teeth. Lawsuits filed across the country suggest that many patients, like Carroll, have suffered complications requiring additional surgery after opting for implants. Furthermore, experts warn that patients may be pressured into unnecessary extractions due to the higher financial benefits for dental practices.
Harvard School of Dental Medicine Dean William Giannobile and other specialists argue that implants should not be seen as a universally superior alternative to natural teeth. While implants are indeed durable, they require ongoing maintenance, and when issues such as infection or bone loss arise, implants can fail much more quickly than natural teeth. Giannobile and his colleagues emphasize that many teeth could be preserved with proper care, and that patients should not be rushed into implant procedures.
In addition to the financial concerns—implants can cost thousands of dollars, with full-arch implants running tens of thousands—dental professionals warn that some patients are unaware of the risks and the need for continued care after the implants are placed.
The rise in implant procedures is not without its benefits, particularly for patients with severely damaged or missing teeth. However, experts, including periodontist Paul Rosen, caution that implants should not be viewed as a “bulletproof” solution. In many cases, implants can require more care than natural teeth, and patients should carefully consider their options before choosing them.
Despite the growing trend, several dental professionals have reported seeing patients who were advised to undergo full-mouth extractions when their teeth could have been saved with more traditional treatments. For instance, Tim Kosinski, a general dentist with extensive experience placing implants, regularly encounters patients who were recommended for full-arch implants, despite having healthy teeth that could be treated with less invasive methods.
Further concerns arise when implants fail, especially in cases where patients have limited jawbone remaining to support the devices. In such situations, patients may have no choice but to opt for more complex and costly procedures, making the decision to extract teeth prematurely potentially devastating.
As the dental implant industry continues to grow, experts urge patients to seek second opinions and carefully weigh the long-term consequences before opting for extensive implant surgery. While implants offer a significant solution for many, experts agree that preserving natural teeth, when possible, should remain the priority.
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