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Dental Implant Center Blog

March 30, 2010

The Two Major Dental Implant Systems: Nobel Biocare and Straumann

NobelBioCareThere are many kinds of dental implant systems available on the market today. When choosing your implant dentist, you are not only looking for the right person to conduct the surgery and team to take you through the process, but you should also be verifying the dental implant system that is being used.

As we have mentioned in prior posts regarding dental implant systems, the importance of the Straumannbrand cannot be stressed enough. Dental implant placements will remain in a patient’s mouth for years to come. However, if the brand is not around in twenty years, that could pose serious problems and potentially complications. The most reliable and largest brands on the market are Nobel BioCare and Straumann. Both brands have been in business for over twenty years and are seen as the most stable brands on the market. When looking for an implant dentist, if he or she is using either of these brands, then you will know that you will have a reliable system in place, should you choose to go with that particular implant dentist.

Below is a quick snippet and link to more information on each of the systems.

Nobel BioCare

“Nobel Biocare’s standardized implant portfolio comprises solutions for all indications—from single-tooth to fully edentulous restorations—offering the best possible quality and esthetics to dental professionals and their patients.”

Straumann

“The functionality of our innovations, be it products or treatment methods, relies on a straightforward principle. Everything we offer must meet the following three key requirements: reliability, simplicity and versatility.”

When choosing where to have your dental implants placed consider not only who will perform the surgery, but also consider the facility and the brand being used.

March 24, 2010

Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Implant Dentist – Part 2

questions about dental implantsIn part one of a two part series on the top questions to ask when researching for your dental implants, we discussed brands of dental implants and the number of appointments and length of travel to implant appointments.  In part two we are continuing the discussion by talking about credentials, success rate and the CT scan.

Question #3 – Credentials
What are your credentials?

It’s important to know the credentials of an implant dentist before you agree to have them perform major surgery.  Dental implant credentialing follows the pattern of “Fellow” and “Associate Fellow”.  Implant dentists that have been accredited and have earned credentials from the following places are reliable:

American Academy of Implant Dentistry
International Congress of Oral Implantologists

Question #4 – Success Rate
What is the success rate of your dental implants?

The success rate of dental implants will vary based on the location of the implant placement. Knowing the standard success rate of dental implant placement will help you determine if the implant dentist you are considering is a good selection.

There is no guarantee that an implant procedure will be successful, but studies have shown a five-year success rate of 95% for lower jaw implants and 90% for upper jaw implants.

Question #5 – CT Scan
Do you provide CT Scans or 3D imaging?

According to the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology guidelines, all implant site evaluations should be evaluated with 3D imaging as with a CT scan.  This means that CT scans are a standard of care, thus making them a critical part of the implant procedure.

We trust that this two part series has been helpful for you as you continue to choose the best place for you to have your dental implants placed and your smile renewed.

Click here to view part one’s dental implant questions.

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Photo Credit

March 19, 2010

Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Implant Dentist – Part 1

Dallas Dental Implants QuestionsChoosing to go through the process of having dental implants placed is a big decision for any patient. It is of utmost importance that when researching a facility in which to have the surgery conducted, from start to finish, that you know the most important questions to ask.   Knowing the right questions to ask will undoubtedly increase the probability of you making the right decision.  In part one of a two part series on the top questions to ask when researching for your dental implants, we are going to discuss the top two questions which reference brand and appointments and travel.

Question #1 – Brand
What brand of dental implants do you use?  How long has the brand been along?

The brand that your implant dentist uses for your dental implants has little to do with “appearances” and has everything to do with safety.  Each brand uses unique tools to place, adjust and remove dental implants. It is important that the brand that is being used has been around for a long time and is a stable fixture in the dental implant space. This will help to ensure that if 20 years down the road if something goes wrong with your dental implant, you’ll have the tools available to make the needed adjustments.

Question #2 – Appointments and Travel
How many appointments should I expect and how many locations?

Some dental implant centers will appear to be less expensive, but there are extra costs that are not clear up front. For instance, some will refer the patient to separate offices to get scans, x-rays, and dental molds.  Extra trips to various facilities can incur additional costs, not to mention hassle.

In part two of this series we’ll discuss credentials, success rate and the CT scan.

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Photo Credit

March 9, 2010

Understanding the Benefits of Dental Implants

dental implantMost patients are aware of the need to replace missing teeth but few fully understand the difference between their options. With so many different solutions, it’s easy to get confused.

What are my options to replace missing teeth?

Your specific options will depend on a variety of factors, including the condition of neighboring teeth, gum tissue, and bone tissue. At my office, I will perform a comprehensive exam to learn which option is best suited to your circumstances. In general, patients can choose from crown and bridgework, removable partials or dentures, and dental implants. (more…)

March 3, 2010

International Dental Care

Dental implants are one of the most effective long-term solutions for tooth replacement. Although dental implants are arguably very reasonably priced for the effectiveness in both their esthetic appeal and durability, they are not free. For this reason, there are times that patients will consider having dental implants placed in foreign countries in order to save money on the costs. Although this may initially sound like a legitimate solution, there are many things that a patient must heed if he or she intends to go down this road.

Cost of Travel

The first item to consider is the expense of traveling abroad for dental care. Some specific items to consider include:

  1. Cost of the plane ticket
  2. Cost of travel and lodging while in country
  3. Frequency of trips that will be required for consultation, creating molds, surgery and follow-up care

Risk Factors

The United States is known for having high quality healthcare. For this reason, the quality of treatment at a U.S. dental implant office is more reliable. There are laws that must be abided by and healthcare best practices that are commonplace and enforced. Risking surgery in a country without the same standards of healthcare could be dangerous.

Brands are Crucial to Healthy Implants in the Future

If you are buying a pair of jeans, the reality is that the brand is a perk, not always a necessity. However, when shopping for dental implants, the brand is absolutely crucial. Not all implants are the same and tools may not be available to lesser, inexpensive, off-brand implant parts once returning to the United States. Dental implants require specific tools for placement and for any adjustments that need to be made. If a brand is not common or if it goes out of business, than the tools are difficult, if not impossible to come by. Implants placed from foreign doctors are often not name brands and if something goes wrong, it can become impossible for a doctor to fix whatever has gone wrong for lack of the tools being in existence. This is a primary concern for choosing to use a foreign dentist to perform dental implant surgery, as it could lead to serious problems.

Extensive Care

Most people who travel abroad for treatment are going for extensive care. With more extensive care, no matter where it is done, come more risks. After dental implants are placed problems can and do happen; however, if a patient has already returned to the US, complications can arise. The cost of returning to a foreign country immediately to correct a problem can be expensive and if infection exists, it can be life threatening, making travel impossible.

The risks versus the benefits must be weighed. Not all things should be solely about finances. Make sure your foreign dentist is well trained and that you stay long enough to avoid post-operative complications. If the dentist makes a mistake be aware that you may not have rights as a medical or dental tourist, nor protection under the laws that may exist. Know your options and weigh what is important to you before deciding.