Dentist's Direct] Points on Choosing a Dentist - Implants

Implants are now the norm after tooth extractions, though,

It is still not covered by insurance, is expensive, and is a surgical procedure, so you want to be treated at a clinic you can trust.

In this article, I will share with you some important things to consider when choosing a dentist to perform implants!

1. Does the dental clinic have a CT?

CT equipment is essential in clinics that perform implants.

Don't go to a dentist who recommends implants without a CT.

The use or non-use of CT has nothing to do with the doctor's experience.

When performing implants, there is a lot of important information that can only be confirmed with a 3D CT rather than the usual 2D panoramic x-rays.

Most CTs are high-end products costing more than 20 million yen each.

Therefore, it is not something that all clinics must have, but it is an absolutely necessary investment in a clinic that performs implants.

Without a CT, the exact location of nerves and bone thickness cannot be determined.

Some clinics may only go to another location for a CT scan at the time of diagnosis and then perform the surgery,

CT is also useful for checking during postoperative maintenance and immediately after surgery,

I strongly recommend that you have your implants done at a clinic equipped with a CT.

2. Is the manufacturer of the implant reliable?

The price of implants is very different. The market price is said to range from 300,000 yen to 600,000 yen including everything,

Some clinics offer as low as 200,000 yen, while others offer as much as 800,000 yen.
　
So what is so different?

Of course, there is also the brand power, the name recognition of the doctor, and the technical fee,

The major difference in price is the difference in the cost of the implants themselves.

Too expensive is not a problem, but neither is cheap enough.

There are more than 100 different implant manufacturers, some of which are unapproved and just screws.

When choosing a clinic to perform implants, be sure to check the manufacturers they use.

Below is a list of implant manufacturers that have a large share of the global market and are considered safe.

Since many clinics use them, they are likely to be able to provide maintenances and repairs even if they are transferred to another clinic.

The three major manufacturers in particular are somewhat more expensive, but they are resistant to the risk of fracture and periodontal disease,

It is a highly safe manufacturer that has also surpassed various clinical trials.

<3 major manufacturers

1. Strawman
2. Nobel Biocare
3. Astra Tech

<Other well-known manufacturers

4. Zimmer Biomet
5. OSTEM

3. Do you use a guide during implant surgery?

A guide is like a mouthpiece used in implant surgery.

The position of the hole in the bone and the implant placement is planned in 3D and copied to the guide.

By drilling accordingly, the implant can be placed in the planned direction and position.

Implant surgery with a guide is sometimes referred to as guided surgery.

No matter how experienced and sensible the doctor is in implant surgery,

Guides should be used for safety because the position of bones and nerves is different for each patient.
On the other hand, even an inexperienced doctor can perform the surgery if he or she follows the guide.

Basically, large mistakes can be prevented.

However, many dentists use a freehand approach to reduce costs.

When choosing a dentist for implants,

Be sure to check if the procedure will be performed using a guide.

4. Does the company have a large number of implant cases?

When choosing a clinic for dental implants, are you deciding on the doctor's age or years of experience as a dentist?

First of all, it is complete nonsense to feel comfortable with a doctor's age when performing implants.
　
The current titanium implants entered Japan in 1983, only 40 years ago.

Although its effectiveness has since been gradually recognized and its use has spread rapidly in recent years, it has only been a little over a decade since it was properly incorporated into the university curriculum.

In other words, doctors with more than 15 years of dental experience, and doctors who are over 40 years old and performing implants as of 2021, will not be given the opportunity to spend time systematically learning in school,

The only way to learn was to go to seminars on your own and try to see what you could do.

Of course, he is eager to learn and goes to various seminars to take courses on his own,

Although there are many doctors who have gained clinical experience over the years and perform a certain number of implant procedures each month,

Some of them went to several seminars to learn, but only had a few cases a year,

Some doctors have hardly ever done it.
The number of years of experience as a dentist does not matter much for implants.

What is important,

Do the clinics themselves have many implant patients?

(A clinic that frequently does implants on a daily basis)(whether or not)

It is.

From a one-man clinic with an older, less knowledgeable doctor who has not done many implants,

Study implants as a matter of course, just like cavity treatment,

Observe many surgeries on a daily basis at a clinic with many implant cases,

A young doctor who is being followed by a supervisor is much more secure.

When choosing a clinic to entrust an implant,

Check to see if the clinic does implants frequently on a regular basis.

5. Is there a warranty period for implants?

Clinics that are confident in their implants basically offer a warranty period during which they will repair them free of charge.

The most common problem after implant procedures is peri-implantitis.

Implants do not decay, but they can develop periodontal disease, which we call peri-implantitis.

If peri-implantitis develops due to poor maintenance, tobacco, diabetes, or other factors, the implant may fall out.

The zirconia and titanium used as the base of the implants are hard and will not crack easily, but they can break if the bite is extremely strong or of poor quality.

 

Warranty periods vary from clinic to clinic, but the upper coverings are often warranted for 3 to 5 years and the titanium foundation for 5 to 10 years.

Be sure to check the warranty period before signing the contract, as it is often conditional, such as if the customer comes for regular maintenances.

 

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