Just to keep things exciting, I am going to get on my soapbox again.
Have you noticed the large number of ads for dental implants on the radio and in the newspapers lately? I get questions about the advertisements almost every day. “Hey, Doc, did you see the ad for the $400 dental implant?”
By now I have a well developed reply. I’d like to share it with you, but first let me give you some background.
Dental implants are appliances that are set into the jaw bone, allowing cosmetic teeth to be permanently placed. The anchoring part of the implant looks like a screw and is made of titanium. However, not all titanium products are alike. A product labeled “titanium” is never 100 percent titanium. Even FDA-approved surgical grade titanium has impurities, although it must not exceed a certain percentage, according to FDA regulations.
Now let me ask you a few questions. Are you comfortable with a dental implant that “meets FDA standards?” (How much do you trust the FDA?) Or, would you rather have the premium top-of-the-line implant – one that goes above and beyond the FDA’s minimum standard?
Just so you know…when I do this procedure, I only use the best materials. There are dozens of implant manufacturers, and even among the top four there are many choices to be made. I pick the very best implant, tailoring my choice to meet the unique situation of every patient.
When an ad says a dentist will do an implant for $400, I know something is wrong. Why? Because the best parts cost over $450!
Since I haven’t been to one of these offices personally I can’t give you hard facts, but a reliable source told me some disturbing things off the record. Parts are coming in from China and other areas in Asia and the Middle East. I implants are being manufactured by tiny companies with highly questionable quality control here in the U.S.
So, my advice is to be very, very careful. The failure rate of dental implants is increasing. When contemplating such a procedure, you should be asking these two important questions:
- “Who makes the implant that will be used in my procedure?”
- “Who will be placing the implant into my jaw?”
Get all the details, but especially the answer to these two vital questions. Be a pest. “Let the Buyer Beware.”
There is one more thing you should really think about when you hear these too-good-to-be-true promises. If the ad says you will “walk out with teeth,” then you can expect a less-than-stellar result. In fact, expect a drop in success rate by at least 10 percent. Several studies back this statement. I recommend avoiding such offers.
Remember that top-of-the-line implants with a first-rate surgeon or dentist are the only way to get top-of-the-line results. There are no shortcuts.
Best regards, AM
