Are There Affordable Dental Implants Which Work?

My BFF went to Mexico to get affordable dental implants. The dentist trained in the United States. He spoke fluent English and seemed to really know what he was doing. She was able to go over the border several times throughout the year and still saved money. But, after the procedure, she developed an infection. He gave her an antibiotic but it didn’t help. Her face got so swollen her husband drove her over the border again because she could barely sit up. He ended up removing the entire implant and now she’s got nothing. Is there any legitimate way to get affordable dental implants?

Casey

Dear Casey,

dental implant diagram

While it sounds like your friend tried to do it right by doing research on the dentist, it is always dangerous going out of the country for dental work. For one, in the United States, patients have recourse. Dentists are accountable to patients and dental boards for the work they do. Outside of the country, especially in places like Mexico, it is just between the dentist and the patient. If things go wrong, there’s not much the patient can do about it if the dentist isn’t interested in making things right.

In most cases, dental implants have a good success rate. When done by a great dentist they have a 98% success rate. Sometimes a dentist can do everything right and their body just rejects it. Though, in your friend’s case, it sounds like she may have been given the wrong antibiotic.

Affordable Versus Cheap Dental Implants

One thing you want to be careful of is just looking for inexpensive dental implants. There is a big difference between affordable dental implants and cheap dental implants.

Don’t just price shop. Some dentists will lower their prices just to draw patients in, but they cut corners using cheap fixtures that don’t hold up. They do okay for a while but eventually come loose leading to dental implant failure. The patient will have no idea that is why their procedure failed and, like your friend, have to start over costing them even more money.

It’s better to look for a quality dentist who offers payment plans and options such as implant overdentures.

This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Steven Collins.