I am getting two dental implants. I’m paying a LOT of money for this and am concerned that my dentist may be in over his head for reasons I am about to explain. I have had the teeth extracted and some bone grafting done. Then, my dentist provided me with two different Maryland Bridges as temporary replacements. They’ve fallen off several times each. This has made me wonder if he understands esthetic dentistry. Should I switch dentists in the middle of my procedure to a dentist who has more experience?

Misty

Dear Misty,

For those who do not know, a Maryland Bridge is a false tooth that is attached to the adjacent teeth with either metal or ceramic wings. I would not consider this a temporary tooth replacement because the adjacent teeth have to be etched and bonded on. If your dentist does not understand how to adequately place this, then I have concerns about two aspects of this. First, I have the same concern you do. If he doesn’t understand how a Maryland Bridge works you are not likely to get an attractive aesthetic result. A second concern is just the dental implant procedure itself. This is quite an advanced procedure. If he cannot do the Maryland Bridge, then I would have concerns about the implants.

You can switch dentists in the middle of a procedure. Your current dentist is ethically obligated to cooperate with your new dentist, including providing him with all the necessary diagnostics and notes that he has on your procedure. You will want to make certain that whichever dentist you go to has post-doctoral implant training. Some training to look for is someone who has been to the Dawson Academy, the Kois Center, or the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. He will want to examine your implants and make sure they’re placed properly before moving forward. Don’t be surprised if the dentist suggests a different temporary tooth replacement. A dental bridge is the most common recommendation. The good news is that it is much less expensive than the Maryland Bridge.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.