Dr. Allyson Hurley's Blog

I received two dental implants last yearago. One of them kept getting food trapped in it and required constant care, now it has cracked. Am I past any warranty that comes with implants?

Brent from Arkansas

Dear Brent,

Most dentists do not have a warranty with their dental implants. The reason for this are all the variables involved. Some people do not follow the recommended maintenance. That being said, a dentist with integrity will stand behind his or her work. If there was some faulty material used that caused it to crack, most dentists would re-do the work at no charge.

It is highly unusual for the crown of a dental implant to crack after one year. They are designed to last many years. They also should not be getting food trapped in them. Ethically, your dentist should replace it, though he is under no legal obligation to do so.

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Allyson Hurley.

Why didn’t my dentist tell me about the Maryland Bridge? I discovered this myself while searching on the Internet.

Ken in Grand Forks, MN

Dear Ken,

In most cases a Maryland Bridge won’t work for a missing tooth. Further, some dentists really don’t know how to do them, and there can be technical problems, because they are not as strong or reliable compared to a conventional dental bridge.

In my opinion, the dentist should provide you with all of the options for a missing tooth: either a conventional dental bridge or a dental implant is the way to go. And in some cases, a removable partial denture may be another option. In some unique situations, an Encore Bridge or Maryland Bridge would be an option.

Learn more about procedures used for missing teeth here.