What questions should you ask a dentist before your dental implant treatment? 

Whether you are trying to conceive, preparing to have your first IVF or you’re a busy mum, it is always worth taking care of your teeth. If you finally decided to book an appointment with a dentist to have dental implants, you are one step closer to a beautiful smile and improved life quality.

You must agree that your health is important for you and that includes your dental health. If you suffer from extensive decay and you are due for multiple extractions or you already are missing many teeth, this article is for you. No matter your age you should know that your oral health has an impact on your overall health. This means you need to act as soon as it is possible – restore your smile and your health with the help of dental implants.

Before you choose the right dental clinic, find out as much as you can about the dentists working there, the clinic’s procedures, materials used and costs involved. Here are some important questions you should ask the clinic’s consultant before you even set your foot there. We present you some of the most useful questions you should ask:

1. Am I a good candidate for dental implants? Before the dentist answers this question, they will need to know your general medical history and your habits. It is very important to inform the clinic of any health issues you may have (e.g. cancer, periodontal disease, extensive cavities, uncontrolled diabetes, bruxism, autoimmune disease, etc.). The dentist will also ask you if you smoke and how often you brush your teeth. Give honest answers as this is crucial for the dentist to determine whether dental implants are suitable for you.
2. Who is going to perform my dental implant surgery: a dentist, implant dentist, oral surgeon or periodontist?
3. How many years of experience does the dentist have? Ask how experienced the dentist is in implant surgeries and how many implants they have done over the previous year. Many dentists will be happy to show you before and after photos of their previous patients and it is a good idea to have a look at cases similar to yours and ask additional questions.
4. Do your patients often have post-surgery complications? Ask about the dental implant success rate. Most dental clinics have 95-99% success rate, as this type of surgery is quite straightforward to perform, bearing in mind that complications may occur just as in the case of any other medical procedure. However, an honest and professional dentist will tell you not only about their successes, but also about complications they encountered and how they dealt with them.
5. Is there a technician/dental lab in the clinic? The ideal situation for you would be when your dental crowns or bridge are produced in the clinic as, in this way, your dentist works together with the technician and prosthodontist to create the best possible results. In case any adjustments are needed to the prosthetic work, this can be done quickly, at the same location.
6. Which brand of dental implant brand does the dentist use? Do they offer a warranty for implants or other dental work, including dental crowns? Make sure your dentist informs you what implant brand they recommend using in your case. Not all implant types are suitable for everybody and their prices may differ. If your dentist chooses NobelBioCare, Straumann or BioHorizons implants, you can be certain that you get value for money. On the other hand, cheap implants from unknown manufacturers may not guarantee success.
7. Will I have a gappy smile in between dental appointments? Usually, this is not the case but it is worth making sure with the dentist. If you are getting implants in your front teeth, the dentist will fix temporary crowns on the implant posts. Just make sure you follow the doctor’s recommendations on what foods to avoid during the post-surgery period and the recovery time. If you are lucky enough to be a good candidate for immediate loading, the implants and crowns will be placed on the same day. So you will leave the dental office with a beautiful smile.
8. Can I see a treatment plan and cost estimate before we start the treatment? What happens if the treatment doesn’t go according to plan? What can go wrong? Do I have to pay for additional procedures/materials?
9. How many times will I have to visit the clinic, and for how long? You need to know that implants are usually done in two stages: the surgical stage and the prosthodontic stage. The former is done in one treatment and requires a 3-4 day stay: the latter takes 5-7 days to complete. This is the time when your crowns or bridge are made, and is usually performed 2-6 months after the surgical stage. This knowledge will help you plan your journey and stay abroad. However, remember that each case is different and it may happen that your stay may be shorter or longer depending on the number of procedures you are going to have.

It is a good idea to ask the above questions before you decide on a treatment in a particular clinic. However, if you would like a good suggestion, we recommend getting your Dental Implants in South Loop with this clinic. We have also given you some tips and examples which can be extremely useful when getting feedback from the clinic. If you are interested in several dental clinics, you can contact them with a ready set of questions and, later on, compare answers, and choose the one which fits your needs and budget.

Author’s Bio: Dental Implants Friends is a free platform for dental patients. Find out more about dental implants and contact trusted dental clinics abroad – visit dentalimplantsfriends.com or, alternatively, contact them at contact@dentalimplantsfriends.com.