Dental implants- implication of delay in process

scottishminnie

I’m midway through having two dental implants. The actual implants were placed in early February and I was due to have an appointment last week for “exposure of implants”  Obviously, due to the current situation, this didn’t happen and I have no idea when my treatment may resume. At the time of making last weeks appointment my dentist was very keen that I didn’t delay that particular appointment beyond last week  as he said it may  cause issues.  Given that I was planning to attend last week I didn’t ask any questions about the potential  issues however  now I’m seriously concerned.  I tried to email the surgery concerned and I did receive a call back from a receptionist however to be honest I’m now more worried than I was before. She said she wasn’t really sure what the implications were other than the gum may have grown too far over the implants perhaps requiring small surgery to address and there may be “quite a bit more cost than planned”

now I am mindful of the fact that  it was only a receptionist that I spoke to but now I’m fretting about potential additional treatment not to say an uplift on the £5k that I’ve already committed to. 

Not looking for medical advice per see however would appreciate experience from anyone who has had this part of the process delayed previously. 

Thanks

Toothsmith

I'm not an implant expert, but I wouldn't have thought a few weeks delay would cause too much of an issue. I don't know the circumstances around yours though.

The practice is obviously picking up messages, so I would just email them again, and say that the chat with the receptionist made you more anxious rather than less, and would it be possible for the actual dentist involved to contact you either by email or ring you to talk through any implications of delay?

That will probably be more reassuring for you. 

scottishminnie

Thanks, I’d been thinking maybe an email request to speak to the actual dentist was the best option.  Understandably nobody knows if we are looking at a 3/6/9 month delay (as suggested in some of the local rags) to dentists reopening and it may be any “cosmetic” treatment is suspended indefinitely however I’m really hoping it’s simply a case that I’m stuck with the temporary denture until we start the process again and it’s nothing more significant than that.

scottishminnie

Just thought I’d update. 

Finally managed to have an email discussion with the dentist. He says the exposure of the implant procedure will be a bit more uncomfortable and take longer due to the delay. He thinks if it’s done within 6 months that should be the only health implication. He’s not hopeful though that my treatment will recommence this year and is “almost certain” that the cost will be higher as the delay means the contract is broken and needs to be revisited. 

Nothing I can do other than wait it out.