Everything you need to know about Dental Implants

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5 Questions To Ask When Getting Dental Implants

Dental implants are increasingly marketed as ‘new’ or ‘replacement’ teeth – highlighting only the positives, whilst ignoring any negatives entirely.

They are a great treatment (used extensively at Bite Dental), however they’re not the only option available, or necessarily the best.

Whilst we make sure our patients are well informed of all the options available to them, sadly this isn’t the case everywhere.

So to ensure you’re making a fully informed decision, here are five must-ask questions to put to your dentist before making any final decisions.

What are ALL the costs?

Financial Cost

This is the price quoted by your dentist for the dental implant procedure.

The quoted price should include all associated costs: X-rays, bone grafting, tooth removal, etc.

So be sure to double check with your dentist that these costs are included in the quoted price to avoid any nasty surprises.

Biological Cost

Although not an out of pocket expense, the biological cost of getting dental implants should be understood before committing to the treatment, as with any procedure that replaces natural with synthetic there’s no way back once done, so it’s important to make yourself fully aware of all treatment options.

Therefore before committing to the irreversible procedure of dental implants, make yourself fully aware of all other options before making your final decision.

Maintenance Cost

Just like your biological teeth, your dental implants need to be looked after and cared for too.

Oftentimes this may lead to ongoing maintenance costs, something that’s rarely considered, and it’s important that you’re aware of these costs before going through with a dental implant procedure.

Be sure to ask your dentist the following:

How much will it cost (time and money) to keep my dental implant in good health?
Will ongoing maintenance require a specialist, or can my local dentist do this for me?

What parts will need to be replaced/refurbished, and how often?

What will this cost each time?
Are component replacements easily sourced?

How long are maintenance appointments?

How many hygiene appointments are required each year?

Is there any special equipment needed for at home care?
If so, what are the costs?

Replacement Cost

It is possible for dental implants to last a lifetime if properly maintained, however the quoted lifespan is often between 15 – 20 years, so it’s important to know the options available to you should your implant system fail you.

Replacement costs can be expensive, and vary considerably depending upon the implant system used initially, so be sure to talk through these options thoroughly with your dentist, and weigh these potential costs into your decision making process.

Why do I need an implant?

A dental implant is oftentimes (but not always) the effect of an underlying issue, so it’s important to understand and address this first, to avoid issues arising in the future.

Furthermore, dental implants act differently to natural teeth, and in some circumstances can cause issues elsewhere if underlying issues are undiagnosed initially – leading to split/cracked teeth.

Understanding what caused you to require an implant in the first place, will help to make the procedure a success, and avoid the need for further work in the future.

What is the reputation of the dental implant components?

This is not an obvious question at first, but it’s very important as the quality and reputability of components used varies greatly from one company to the other.

Furthermore, components are rarely interchangeable between manufacturers, and with companies bought and sold regularly, oftentimes replacement parts become obsolete.

As a minimum, make sure the system has TGA approval in Australia (especially if considering overseas dentistry) or your dentist won’t be able to source compatible parts.

So, carefully consider the options available to you and be aware that cost savings initially on cheaper implant brands may work out to be much more costly in the future.

What other options are available?

Dental implants are great in a number of scenarios, but they’re not the only option, nor necessarily the best for you.

So it’s important that you’re aware of any/all other options available to you.

Telescope, or precision fitted dentures: As secure as implant retained ones, half the initial cost and a fraction of the maintenance.

Orthodontic space closure (braces or clear aligners) may be an option.

A combination treatment: May reduce the number of implants and reduce your maintenance and replacement costs and risk of implant failure.

Your dentist should provide you with all the viable options available, and be able to advise on the pros and cons of each – helping you to make the most informed decision possible.

Should I get a second opinion?

Dentistry is a complex branch of medicine, oftentimes with multiple treatment solutions for the same problem.

Which is why it’s important – especially in complex cases – to seek a second opinion.

This may be seeking consultation from a different dentist, visiting a specialist, or requesting a second opinion from another dentist in-house.

At Bite Dental, all our complex implant cases are reviewed by at least two other dentists, and our dental laboratory team as standard.

We understand the complexities within our industry, and encourage the open dialogue and sharing of expertise in-house.