Clear Choice or Costa Rica for Dental Implants
I’ve been researching options or dental implants. I looked at Clear Choice Implants but they prefer to do all-on-4 dental implants. I’ve heard that these have some downsides. Looking over their reviews, I also see a lot of people complain that there was no follow up with them as well. I’d really like to get traditional implant supported dentures, but they told me I’d need bone grafting for that so the all-on-4 is my best option. Another option that I looked into is going to Costa Rica to have the work done. Apparently, there I can have the bone grafting and traditional implant overdentures done and it would still end up cheaper than Clear Choice. Would that be my better option?
Viola
Dear Viola,
I’m glad you wrote. I would not go for either of these options for your dental implants, and here’s why. Let’s start with Clear Choice. You mentioned the problem with no follow up. That is true. You also mentioned that there were downsides with them. That is also true. A significant issue is that if something goes wrong with one implant, then the entire system will have to be replaced.
But going to Costa Rica will be much worse. Even in the United States, with all of our quality controls, when things go wrong with the implant procedure, there can be serious consequences. But take away those quality controls and you are looking at a potential disaster. The standard of care and even the quality and sterilization of equipment is different outside of the U.S. Plus, you will have no real follow up or any recourse if things do go wrong. The last thing you want is to be yet one more person in a long line of dental implant horror stories.
There is a third option. Go with a private dentist with post doctoral training in dental implants. Have the bone grafting done and then have the implant supported dentures you were hoping for. You will know the dentist is trained. Private dentists are much more invested in the success of their cases than corporate clinics like Clear Choice, so you should have excellent follow up.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
I Can Smell My Husband’s Dental Implants?
Can you help me? My husband is in the middle of the all-on-4 dental implant process. The implants are in and he has some acrylic dentures. There are porcelain ones coming. However, the smell of his mouth right now, makes me gag like you would not believe. I can even sleep in the same bed with him anymore. I am positive I can smell his metal implants. I’d like him to switch them out for the non-metal kind. I’ve heard that there are now zirconia dental implants. I think those would be better and not smell as badly. His dentist said he wouldn’t do it. Can we switch dentists to have this done? Can you tell me anything to help convince my husband this is a good idea?
Sunny W.
Sunny,
I’m sorry for the stuggle you are having with the smell, but I do not believe the dental implants are the cause of it. Traditional metal implants are made from titanium. These are very inert. Even exposed to the air you would be hardpressed to smell them. Embedded deep in your husband’s bone, it is even more unlikely that you’d be able to smell them.
There are countless reasons why your husband’s mouth could be exuding that smell. The most likely culprit is the acrylic denture. It’s possible food is getting caught in and around it. Assuming he regularly brushes and flosses, I would start by having your husband use a Waterpik to help with his flossing. It is a bit trickier when you are dealing with dental work in addition to your natural teeth.
Why You Would Not Want to Re-do Dental Implants
If you have a successful dental implant case, as it seems your husband does, you do not want to re-do it. This is because it is not simply a matter of taking out one group of dental implants and replacing them with another. First, when you remove the implants, there will be bone structure that comes with it. Unfortunately, that bone sturcutre is necessary in order to retain the dental implants.
This means an additional surgery of bone grafting will have to be performed so the necessary support structure can be built back up. After that has time to heal, then it will be time for his next implant placement.
In total, that is three additional surgeries your husband would have to undergo in order to switch out these implants. I would recommend looking for other, less invasive causes and solutions first.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Goebel.