Who/what is Dentalinc?
Dentalinc provides dental treatment coordination services to the dental profession. As part of Dentalinc’s work, we believe in providing straight-forward, accurate information to the public so they can be as fully informed as possible in making their choices. Dentalinc has teamed up with Temelci Dental Clinic (based in Kyrenia) as its ’partner clinic’ in order to provide a comprehensive start to finish service for anyone in need of tooth replacement dentistry and general dentistry.
My dentist said that there is no or minimal difference in implant quality, what is important is the way the dentist applies the implant into the jaw bone?
Of course the way the implant is applied is of paramount importance and this is why Dentalinc believes it is essential to have a dental tomography before an operation takes place. Clinical studies strongly suggest that there are quality differences between brands, for example higher quality implants have a stronger bind with the jaw bone, have quicker healing times and retain their stability in the longer term. The downside to lower quality implants may not be seen/felt immediately but the consequences could be experienced 3-5 years after implantation.
I don’t know what implant brand my dentist uses, how can I find out?
Quite simply ask them! Some dentists may not reveal what they use because their patients trust them and some patients may not realise that there are questions to be asked. Those dentists that do not carry out the implant operation themselves but procure the services of a dental surgeon will tend to use the brand(s) that that surgeon uses.
Why does your dentist use Straumann implants?
Quite simply because we believe it is the best and highest quality implant in the world at present. This provides us with the reassurance that our customers receive the best materials and service.
So why do some dentists use lower quality implant brands?
As well as running a clinic, dentists are also running a business therefore they may feel that with lower cost prices they can offer competitive prices to their customers/patients and increase their customer base. There are some dentists who work with a couple of brands and can therefore offer their customers/patients a choice and a range of prices.
What are the financial considerations?
Prices do vary depending on the brand being used therefore you would expect higher quality brands to be more expensive than lower quality brands. For dentists who use value implants, their prices can vary quite sharply simply because they create a price war with other dentists who also use value implants whereas premium implant prices tend to be more stable.
It is possible that over time the jaw bone can recede particularly if there is no tooth root in place or through general wear and tear. This poses a risk to the stability of an implant. To re-enforce and/or augment bone density, bone graft granules can be applied during the implant procedure. If the dentist identifies that the jaw bone is weak or the receding is too much then they can apply the grafting but will need to wait before inserting the implant (waiting times can vary between weeks and months depending on the extent and quality of the graft granules).
The prosthetic crown finishing is also an added cost and costs can vary depending on the materials used. The two most common materials in the market at the moment are metal supported porcelain and zirconia (the latter being a stronger material and therefore likely to be more expensive). Make sure that any quote you receive also includes the crown work.
Most people will want to know how much implant treatment will cost but prices can and do vary so it is not always clear what is included in a price. A dentist would rarely provide a price for implant work prior to an oral and/or panoramic examination.