I am missing several teeth. I looked into replacing them a few years ago, but my dentist was going to charge several thousand dollars. Because the amount was out of my budget, I had him do partial dentures instead. However, I am still interested in a permanent solution.
I recently saw an ad for an office claiming to specialize in affordable dental implants. I have tried to research on my own, and everything I am finding suggests this is a safe procedure, but to check on the dentist’s experience level. However, nothing tells me what level of experience I should be looking for, or what details I should be trying to found out. Can you help?
Thank you,
Janet
Dear Janet,
Just like dentists are all different, so are affordable dental implants. After talking with various dentists who provide this option, you may find that affordable dental implants are different depending on who you speak to. Some may be placing mini-implants, while others are performing All-on-Fours. Some may be using sub-standard parts, or are inexperienced, while others are genuinely knowledgeable and skilled. Still, others may be using discounts to encourage new patients to join their practice.
Asking questions is really the best way to truly learn the motivation behind the dentist providing affordable dental implants. If he or she is not using posts of standard sizes, they are probably using minis. If the procedure is coupled with dentures, it is likely an all-on-fours. You should inquire if the parts have been approved by the FDA. If the answer is no, they may not meet the durability and sterility guidelines.
Finally, regarding the level of experience, any dentist can call themselves an “affordable dental implant specialist,” but this does not mean they have any more experience than another dentist who has performed the procedure or offers the procedure. It would be a good idea to find out where the doctor attended dental school, and also the number of hours he or she has spent studying the procedure. If the answer is at least 200+ hours, you can assume he or she has had the training, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the skill is there. You should find out the number of procedures which they have completed, as well as their success rate to determine this. Implants generally have a 98% success rate. If the number is around that, you should feel confident in the service.
This post is provided by the office of Baton Rouge dentist, Dr. Ryan Perry.