Dr. Susan Rector, DDS

Dr. Susan Rector extracted a bottom molar late last year. The plan was to get that area ready for a dental implant. The extraction was very traumatic to the area surrounding the tooth. I had to go back to the office more than ten times to get the site packed with medicated gauze to abate the persistent pain in the area. Fast forward to March of this year at my implant consultation, Dr. Rector said everything looked good and would be ready for the implant to be placed in the Summer. What *wasn't* communicated to me during that consultation appointment was that the X-rays and visual exam both revealed a "horizontal bone defect" in that area. Any simple googling of that term reveals that this type of defect doesn't heal itself nor improve much over time. Had I been made aware of the defect, I may have thought twice about going forward with the implant without any additional restorative intervention. I did ask Dr. Rector several times about whether bone grafting or other restorative methods would be necessary given how dipped the extraction site looked, even months after the procedure. She assured me it wasn't necessary. Fast forward to July when I had the implant placed: within 2 days I was unable to sleep because the pain was excruciating. Calls to the doctor were met with an attitude of "it's up to you what you want to do" and telling me that pain at the implant site is generally not good, but it's a 50/50 chance of it turning out okay. I made do with pain meds and an iron resolve for 2 weeks before I finally had the implant extracted (it was loose and bone had dissolved around the implant). Dr. Rector said we could try again in 90 days to which I politely declined and requested a refund for the procedure; I was going to get a bridge instead at my general dentist. If you've read this far, then here's the end of the story beyond the care I received at Mississippi Valley: 1. My general dentist took X-rays and concluded that a bridge was a nonviable option due to the extreme amount of bone loss at the site of the extraction/failed implant. I would run the risk of fracturing and loosening the neighboring tooth because it has very little bone support on the side nearest the extraction zone. He recommended I see a periodontist to explore what restorative options I might have available to me. 2. Periodontist takes a CT scan on my mouth and concludes that the implant failed for two reasons: a: the implant wasn't placed properly by Dr. Rector (part of the screw portion was ABOVE the bone line) and b: a piece of the nerve canal was left in my jaw (maybe also bone? he couldn't be sure). He believed that when the implant hit that leftover stuff from my extraction that it caused the inflammatory reaction in my jaw that ultimately made the implant fail. My ONLY option now is to have the periodontist open up that site to REMOVE the stuff from my old tooth that was left in my jaw + receive a bone graft to restore the site enough to ****maybe**** get another implant (but that will be at least 6 months or longer following the initial procedure). So bottom line: an incomplete tooth extraction plus traumatic healing and failed informed consent are all contributing factors to my rating for Dr. Rector. While she's pleasant enough in person, I decided to share my experience to help people make an informed decision about who to trust with their specialized dental care.

I just finished my last of numerous tooth implants appts with Dr Rector. Bittersweet. Happy to be finished, but will miss Dr Rector and her very professional, informative, friendly Staff. I had Previously seen a different oral surgeon but told my dentist never again! He then recommended Dr Rector and what a HUGE difference. Love her chair side manner. When my husband needed to start his tooth implant process, he also saw Dr Rector and was totally impressed. I highly recommend her to anyone in need of an oral surgeon.

A year or so ago I had to find an oral surgeon & had been referred to 2 other doctors that were rude & uncaring. When I reported back to my dentist that I would not return to the 2 surgeons that had extracted my last 2 teeth my dentist was in a query. Finally he referred me to Dr Rector. Turned out to be the best appointment I'd had! She is very kind, gentle, patient & caring. Explains everything step by step. A week ago I referred my niece she was very pleased with Dr Rector as well..!