I have been to Clear Choice and 4 implant dentists trying to get the most affordable dental implants I can without compromising on quality. I know implants can fail because I’ve had 2 that failed already. I have divorced myself from the previous dentist and am back in the hunt for a competent dentist and surgeon. It has been 4 years since I had my implant failure and I have been hesitant to jump back in too soon. Just in the past 4 years I have seen a rise in the cost and I am starting to get worried that I might have to get a bridge instead of implants. I was talking about the issue with a friend and he suggested a dental school. To me, it sounds like a bunch of rookies trying to get it right and I am the guinea pig. Is a dental school really a safe place to go to get implants I can afford? Thanks Vince.
Vince,
Many people who want affordable dental implants consider a dental school. Dental schools are highly regulated. Each student’s work is monitored and reviewed by an instructor. So it may seem like the perfect place to receive quality implants for less.
There is limited on the success rate of dental implants performed by dental students. A study conducted at Oregon Health and Science University – Advanced Education Program in Periodontics shows a 95.8 success rate for dental students. Periodontists are specialists, so these students are spending an extra two years of study that includes training in implantology. The study on implant success rate did not indicate the year of post-graduate study or training for the dental students in the survey. Some patients specifically request the most advanced students, but there is no guarantee the request will be granted.
There is plenty of data on experienced implant dentists. It may be helpful to know what highly skilled implant dentists have a 98% success rate. If you choose to receive the service from a dental school, keep in mind that the success rate isn’t as great.
An additional thought is that since you have a history of dental implant failure, you can benefit from the expertise of a skilled implant dentist or prosthodontist. He or she will thoroughly review your dental history and records to make every attempt to identify the previous cause of failure and avoid it.
Speak with skilled dentist about payment plans and financing to help make implants affordable for you. Be certain not to compromise quality for cost.
This post is sponsored by Naperville board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.
