How to Choose a Dental Implant Center
By: Dr. Rajan Sharma
Those who are considering getting dental implants and who have already started their research on the procedure still have some work to do. They need to be sure they are working with a good and reputable clinic with trained doctors. Patients should take the time to find the best dental implant center in their area. Below are some of the best ways to help narrow the choices, which can make the decision easier.
Check Their Website
The first thing a prospective patient needs to do is check out the dental implant center’s website. Scour the website to learn more about the services that are offered and to make sure that they specialize in dental implants. It’s often better to work with those who are specialists in the field rather than those who simply offer it as another service.
The website should have a wealth of information that can let patients know more about the procedure and what they can expect when they set up an appointment. Additionally, make sure that the first consultation is free. This should be a chance for the patient to learn more about the best treatment options and to see whether they are a good candidate for treatments, such as all-on-4 dental implants.
Consider an All-in-One Clinic
Some dental implant clinics only do part of their work in-house. For example, they might not be able to create the new teeth on-site. Ideally, you should find a clinic that has an on-site lab that can handle this aspect of the procedure. Having everything handled in just one clinic, from start to finish, is easier on patients.
Of course, many clinics do not offer this for one reason or another. Patients should check to see whether all of the work will be done in the same location or not. Those who want an easier, convenient, and efficient way of getting dental implants will choose an all-in-one clinic.
Check the Procedure Options
What types of procedures are offered through the dental implant clinic? Do they provide single implants and multiple teeth implants? Can they provide full upper and/or lower jaw dental implants? What about full mouth restoration with the all-on-4 dental implants procedure? In addition to traditional implants, can they also offer zirconia dental implants?
The website should provide information on the various types of services offered at the dental implant center. If anything isn’t clear, patients should ask when they first make contact with the clinic. During the consultation, the doctors will examine the patient’s teeth and provide them with the best options available that will work for their dental needs.
Look for Testimonials from Patients
One of the other things to find on the website will be patient stories and testimonials. This can often give patients a better idea of what they can expect when they choose the dental implant center. They can see some before and after results, as well, to get a better understanding of what is possible with the implants. If a clinic doesn’t have any stories or testimonials from patients, it could be a bad sign.
Check Their Experience and Expertise
Patients should only entrust their dental implants to specialists who have experience in the field and who can provide them great service from start to finish. How long has the clinic been in business? Do they only hire professionals who have plenty of experience working with dental implants?
Talk About the Cost and Possible Financing
When considering dental implants, the topic of money will naturally be on every patient’s mind. They want to have an idea of how much it will end up costing. Some insurance plans might cover part of the dental implant procedure, but this is not the case with most companies. This means that most of the cost will be out of pocket.
Insurance will sometimes cover dental implants in certain cases, such as after facial trauma from a car accident, loss of teeth due to a medical condition, etc. It will all depend on the policy. Most of the time, though coverage is rare. Medicaid and Medicare will not cover the cost, either.
However, this doesn’t mean that the patient has to give up on the idea of getting dental implants. It is often possible to finance the cost. Some dental implant centers will offer financing and payment plans. This can help to make the cost of getting the implants easier for many patients. Talk with the clinic during the initial consultation to get a better idea of the options.
Make a List of Questions to Ask
When patients go in for their free consultation, it can often feel overwhelming. They receive a lot of information in a short time, and they may forget to ask some of the questions that they had. Therefore, it is a good idea to write down a list of some of the most important questions, even the basic ones, just to get clarification.
Some of the types of questions patients might want to ask include:
- What happens during the procedure?
- How long is the recovery time?
- What types of pain medications will be needed?
- How much time will the procedure take?
Patients should make a list of these and any other questions they may want to ask. They should pay attention to how the staff and the dentists answer, as well. If they aren’t helpful or don’t have the answers, it could be a sign that their customer service is lacking.
Contact EON Clinics
EON Clinics strive to provide patients with the best service possible from the first phone call all the way through to the final phase of the implants and beyond. They are all-in-one dental clinics with a fantastic staff and affordable payment plans. If you are interested in getting tooth implants, get in touch with an EON Clinic dental implant center to set up your first appointment. The sooner that happens, the sooner you will have a brand new smile.