By Philip Broughton
Principal Implantologist
Phil has placed over 5,000 implants, dedicating his clinical time to the rehabilitation of failing dentition.
‘Buy cheap, buy twice’ is the proverb.
In truth, low-cost dental treatment done abroad can come at a crippling price.
If you do your homework, you can find reputable clinics with competent clinicians providing excellent results.
But, and it’s a huge but, the survival of dental implants is as much down to the maintenance programme as it is to the skill of the dentist.
Dental implants do not attach to the bone like a normal tooth root. The surface structure of an implant is not as smooth as a natural tooth. If there are problems around dental implants it is important to spot any issues early and act quickly.
It is important that the implant is kept spotlessly clean, so we highly recommend at least 2 hygienist visits per year. It is also important that your bite is routinely reviewed, as an increase in biting pressure on an implant can result in rapid bone loss. It is vital that regular X-rays are taken to assess the integrity of the bone around the implant. And finally, it is imperative that your dentist knows their ‘way around’ dental implants.
So, unless you are prepared to travel or you can find a dentist willing to take you on, I would strongly advise anyone looking for implants to find a dentist closer to home.
Why it’s safer to have treatments carried out locally in the UK.
There are safeguards in place in the UK that do not exist abroad. Dentists here are insured and though nobody enters into any treatment fearing the worse, if things do not go to plan then there are procedures in place to protect your investment. Dentists in the UK have to have completed postgraduate training to be insured to offer implants.
The General Dental Council are also on hand to ensure you are cared for in a professional way, in a safe environment.
Implant costs range from £1,500.00 for one tooth to £20,000.00 for a full set of top and bottom teeth. They can be positively life changing but at some cost, so my final message is ensure your aftercare is in place before you chose your implant clinic because implant problems are often catastrophic.
For a free consultation on whether dental implants would be beneficial to you please do not hesitate to connect with our Manchester or Stockport Clinics on 0161 830 7300.
