Over the past decade, the placement of endosseous implants to replace missing teeth has become pervasive in dental practice. In the 1980s, when implants were in their infancy, their placement was limited to oral surgeons and a small number of periodontists. Now, they are widely placed by various types of dental specialists and an increasing number of general dentists, even when their training has not been very extensive.
As a result, we have seen an uptick in the cases we manage associated with implants, including nerve injuries, sinus perforations with sinusitis, loss of the implants and the bone into which they were inserted, infections, and failed implant-supported restorations.
In this legal case review; facts, issues raised, the resolution, and practice tips are presented.