Dental Implants Expert Warns About The Rising Danger of Dental Tourism
Many foreign dentists do not have the training required for complex dental implants. Over the last few months, we have seen an increasing number of patients who have had terrible experiences and whose treatments have to be redone.
They have been to Costa Rica, Mexico, China, Argentina, etc., and now they are having lots of problems. We have also seen inferior work by US based dentists who advertise low teaser rates for implants but do not have the required experience or training to perform sophisticated implant procedures, Not only can repairing budget procedures end up being more expensive than doing it right the first time, but a lot of times it means severe complications, infection, bone loss, losing more teeth and implants, esthetic catastrophes, and total failures.
Many dentists have had no formal training in implantology and have only completed short weekend seminars provided by the makers of dental implant supplies. They are not experienced with complex cases and are often unable to provide the proper medical care when a dental implant goes awry or the patients suffer complications.
Many dental patients, in an effort to save money because their treatments are not covered by insurance, often travel to foreign countries to get their dental implants done. For complex cases, and for those requiring extensive prep and follow up work, it is best to use a properly trained and certified dental implant specialists.
Most dental insurance policies do not cover dental implants. This is beginning to change but what this means for most people is that they end up paying for the procedures out of their own pocket. You will find that the level of education, training and experience varies among dentists who perform dental implants. Even if you need a basic dental implant treatment, you need to do your research and find a competent Implant Dentist. Be aware that you get what you pay for. The cheapest work is often not the best. You should find a dental professional who specializes in dental implants.
2. Dentists do not need special training or certification to do dental implants. You may have noticed the sudden plethora of ads in your newspaper and on the radio touting all kinds of deals on dental implants. However, in order to do dental implants, a dental professional is not required to complete much training. In fact, many dentists (in the US as well as in Mexico and other countries) may have only completed a one-day seminar offered by an implant product manufacturer. That's ALL they need to do implants. They do not need any serious training, additional certification or professional education. In fact, many may have only completed a weekend seminar offered by an implant product manufacturer.
3. Experience is very important! Not everyone can do implants well. If you are considering dental implants, you need to find someone with surgical and prosthetic implant experience - especially if you have severe periodontal disease or if you need multiple implants. Inserting Dental Implants is a highly technical and sensitive surgical and prosthetic treatment which requires a high level of expertise.
There are risks for dental implants if not done correctly the first time. These include local and systemic infection, failure, bone loss, nerve injury and the possibly that there might be "inadvertent perforation of the nasal sinus." Some can be serious life threatening complications.
They have been to Costa Rica, Mexico, China, Argentina, etc., and now they are having lots of problems. We have also seen inferior work by US based dentists who advertise low teaser rates for implants but do not have the required experience or training to perform sophisticated implant procedures, Not only can repairing budget procedures end up being more expensive than doing it right the first time, but a lot of times it means severe complications, infection, bone loss, losing more teeth and implants, esthetic catastrophes, and total failures.
Many dentists have had no formal training in implantology and have only completed short weekend seminars provided by the makers of dental implant supplies. They are not experienced with complex cases and are often unable to provide the proper medical care when a dental implant goes awry or the patients suffer complications.
Many dental patients, in an effort to save money because their treatments are not covered by insurance, often travel to foreign countries to get their dental implants done. For complex cases, and for those requiring extensive prep and follow up work, it is best to use a properly trained and certified dental implant specialists.
Most dental insurance policies do not cover dental implants. This is beginning to change but what this means for most people is that they end up paying for the procedures out of their own pocket. You will find that the level of education, training and experience varies among dentists who perform dental implants. Even if you need a basic dental implant treatment, you need to do your research and find a competent Implant Dentist. Be aware that you get what you pay for. The cheapest work is often not the best. You should find a dental professional who specializes in dental implants.
2. Dentists do not need special training or certification to do dental implants. You may have noticed the sudden plethora of ads in your newspaper and on the radio touting all kinds of deals on dental implants. However, in order to do dental implants, a dental professional is not required to complete much training. In fact, many dentists (in the US as well as in Mexico and other countries) may have only completed a one-day seminar offered by an implant product manufacturer. That's ALL they need to do implants. They do not need any serious training, additional certification or professional education. In fact, many may have only completed a weekend seminar offered by an implant product manufacturer.
3. Experience is very important! Not everyone can do implants well. If you are considering dental implants, you need to find someone with surgical and prosthetic implant experience - especially if you have severe periodontal disease or if you need multiple implants. Inserting Dental Implants is a highly technical and sensitive surgical and prosthetic treatment which requires a high level of expertise.
There are risks for dental implants if not done correctly the first time. These include local and systemic infection, failure, bone loss, nerve injury and the possibly that there might be "inadvertent perforation of the nasal sinus." Some can be serious life threatening complications.
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