There are options apart from dental implants: typically a denture or a bridge. These methods of replacing missing teeth are efficient. However a dental implant is typically known as the best alternative to a missing tooth. There are of course medical conditions which might dissuade a dentist from doing implant surgery on patients. These conditions include poor oral hygiene, low calcium or osteoporosis.
One of the greatest misconceptions include getting replacement teeth whenever the patient believes he is she is ready. The thing is, teeth move all the time. Which also means that if a replacement tooth is not planned for soon, you will find that your remaining teeth will reshuffle over a period of time and particularly some teeth will grow longer and start tilting into the missing space.
If you are missing a front tooth and this has been recent, then it is possible for a dental implant to be placed with a replacement temporary crown on the same day (Same Day Teeth). There will be the need for an xray to be seen by the dentist reviewing you. So please get a copy of your own xray if you want to bring it in for another opinion.
Remember dental implant treatment is not typically short - the average duration of dental implant treatment is anywhere from 3-6 month duration. Sometimes we may have to use bone grafts if there is little bone remaining.
When you are ready to consider having dental implants, it is absolutely crucial that you are aware of the quality of dental implant (which company has made the implant ie: a premium dental implant, standard dental implant or even ceramic dental implant) and the type of the crown that you will be getting (full ceramic, porcelain fused to metal or even gold). I like my patients to have screw retained dental implant crowns because I believe it's most retrievable if there is any future problems.
Hence when you decide on whether your quote has been reasonable, it is imperative that you participate in the decision as to what type of quality of implant or dental crown you are getting. You pay for quality - and you have a right to know why the prices are that much. Remember that experienced dentists also may naturally charge more for their skill - this is a very intimate surgical procedure which should last you for a very long time so you should research well before choosing your implant surgeon.
As a general guide, dental implant systems from Europe or America are typically more expensive that Korean dental implant systems. Ceramic Dental Implants are more expensive and I do these for discerning patients. A ceramic dental crown is also more expensive than a porcelain fused to metal implant crown. However a gold dental implant crown is usually the most expensive of the lot.
Finally, it is very important that you trust and enjoy the rapport of the dentist you choose for a dental implant. Experience in dental implantology is crucial if you wish to have an excellent outcome - the experience of the dentist is shown to be directly related to the long term survival of a dental implant. Also some patients prefer the dentist to be both placing the implant and doing the crown - as I do for my patients. I might sing whilst I am doing the procedures but don't hold this against me as it relaxes both you and me:)
yours,
Dr Samintharaj KUMAR
