It’s all the rage these days. Clients are asking dentists to pull all of their teeth and install all-on-four dentures. Sometimes called teeth in a day or full mouth implants, these procedures are sometimes performed in the same day. While the billboard advertisements tout shiny smiles and happy patients, this may not always be the case.
All-on-four implants are offered by individual dentists and small dental practice groups. But, the vast majority of these procedures are performed by large dental chains. Some of the large dental chains that offer this type of procedure are ClearChoice, Affordable Dentures, Aspen Dental, Coast Dental, First Dent, DentChoice. This list is certainly not exhaustive and all-on-four dental implant procedures are performed by anyone from a general dentist, periodontist, prosthodontist, all the way up to an oral surgeon.
While the vast majority of these procedures are performed adequately, some complications due to dental malpractice can arise. These procedures require a great deal of expertise, proper planning and implementation, very precise radiographic tests such as the use of a Cone Beam CT Scan (CBCT) and a great deal of skill on the part of the dentist. Lack of proper planning, improper measurements, drilling to deeply when prepare the site for the implant and installing the implants too deeply into the jaw line or just some of the potential problems that can occur when these procedures are not performed correctly. This can happen when the dentist is not properly trained in the procedure, is careless, or lacks the skills to adequately plan and perform the procedure with the applicable standard of care.
The most serious consequences of dental malpractice in these types of cases are dental nerve injuries, numbness, infection, loss of taste, and severe pain. There are many nerves that run above and below the teeth that can be affected by dental implants that are installed incorrectly. This can lead to trigeminal neuralgia, damage to the inferior alveolar nerves, damage to the lingual nerve or both. These injuries are often severe and, at times, can be debilitating. If you have suffered an injury from this type of dental procedure, it is often best to seek a nerve specialist as soon as possible to determine the extent of the damage to your dental nerve(s) and to see if a corrective procedures might be appropriate to address the nerve damage caused by the malpractice. Sometimes conservative treatment can help alleviate symptoms of dental nerve damages. However, if there is severe trauma to the nerve, microsurgical nerve surgery may be an option that could address the problem. However, each case is different and the only way to determine what is right for your particular situation if you have suffered a dental nerve injury is to see a qualified oral surgeon
For over 25 years, Attorney Robert J. Fleming has been handling dental malpractice lawsuits for individuals and families who have been injured or died as a result of the negligence or malpractice of others in the Atlanta, Georgia area. He is a partner in the law firm of Katz Wright & Fleming LLC and regularly handles cases in Atlanta and its surrounding counties. He is committed to making a difference in his clients’ lives. If you or a family member have been seriously injured or died as a result of negligence and would like quality legal representation or if you would just like to consult about a potential case, contact Robert J. Fleming directly on (404) 525-5150 or contact us online.