I am planning on getting dental implants. I looked into Clear Choice and they want to do all-on-four. I’m not opposed to that but it is pretty pricey and I’ve read some reviews that said there was not much follow up after the procedure was done. That makes me nervous. Also, a friend told me I could get the same procedure done in Costa Rica for like half the price including travel. Though, something about that makes me nervous too. Maybe I am just a nervous personality, but which of these is the best option for me?
Callie
Dear Callie,
If you’re asking what is best, I would say neither of these. I’ll go over the safest, best option for you momentarily. In the meantime, I want to go over the pros and cons of these options you’ve presented me with.
Costa Rica
The upside to this option is that it is cheap and you get to go to Costa Rica. The down side is the standard of care in Costa Rica. There are not the same precautions and standard of care in other countries, especially those south of the border. If you think there is no follow-up at Clear Choice, then imagine what kind of post-operative care you would get from another country that is under no obligation to help you and doesn’t really have any legitimate system for malpractice.
Here are just some of the things that could go wrong with your dental implant case:
- An implant can be placed in your nerve canal
- An implant can be placed in your nasal sinuses
- They could perforate the bone
- Infection could set in
- The implants could be too short or too thin
- The implants could be placed under load prematurely, which will cause them to fall out
- They could lack precise tolerances, which can lead to infections and coming loose
- They could use subpar fixtures that corrode in your jaw
- You could get peri-implantitis
The problem with these things is that without immediate care, there are serious reprecutions. Some people have even lost part of their jaw because of these things.
Clear Choice Implant Centers
My issue with Clear Choice is not their dentists. It is their high pressure sales tactics. I also think they send too many patients to get all-on-4 dental implants when they would be decent candidates for full dental implant overdentures, a better option with less risks.
Your Best Option
My suggestion is you see a fully qualified cosmetic dentist who will give you all of your options in dental implants and not just steer you toward one treatment. Because they will be fully invested in your case, you will also receive high quality follow-up care.
This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Steven Collins.