Hamblin Dental Compared to Clear Choice

It is my opinion that 'chain' clinics tend to have a cookie cutter approach to every patient. That has been my experience with patients that have come to see me after going to a ClearChoice center. Most people who have come to me for a second opinion were given only one option at Clear Choice. Their ONE choice was the 'All On 4' surgery and hybrid screw retained denture. If you have been to one of these centers please let us know what your experience was like.

One patient that came to us after going to ClearChoice for their free evaluation felt suspicious when they felt pushed to start treatment immediately. We feel that with big decisions like this you should feel comfortable and be given ample time to discuss things with your family.

I am not certain as to their exact fees for implant surgery, the temporary prosthesis, or the final prosthesis. I do know that patients i have treated with dental implants have told me that they 'wished they had done this years ago'. So I am saying, that from my experience, patients have felt that they value they have received from us was well worth it. I know that no matter where you go to have dental implants surgery, the feel you will be quoted will probably be twice what you expected. You need to decide if the improved quality of life is worth it, if the doctor is experienced, and if you are getting the best VALUE and the best care for YOU.

Clear choice, being a chain, may have some of these problems and complaints nationwide. It is important to know that dental implant surgery fees are not just the cost per implant. If the treatment plan is given too aggressively the cost of the surgical phase and the prosthetic phase could be more than is what is best for you and your budget. It is always in your best interest to go to a dentist you trust who is more conservative in their treatment and gives you options.

You should never feel pushed or rushed into making a decision. We had one patient who felt that they were too expensive and asked for other options. She said when ClearChoice was asked for optional treatment, she was given no choice. We believe that patients should do what they feel is best for them. Not what a certain doctor or clinic does. You have heard that 'when a carpenter has a hammer, everything looks like a nail'

Clear Choice Dental Implant Centers can be found in many cities now. You have seen their TV ads, radio, billboards and large full page newspaper ads. They are very agressive in advertising.

The 'All On 4' technique was developed by Nobel Biocare and Paulo Malo from Portugal. Nobel is a reputable dental implant company and Dr. Malo is one of the most knowledgeable dentists I have heard. I agree with his concern about helping patients by avoiding extensive bone grafting and trying to keep the costs affordable. I just feel that for the same fee as placing 4 implants, I can place 6 implants. With the 'All On 4' technique, if just one implant fails, the prosthesis or final teeth will not function properly. If I place 6-8 implants for the same fee, and if one implants fails, the final prosthesis can still function properly.

I also like using a porcelain fused to gold or porcelain fused to titanium final prosthesis, as this looks very natural, involves less maintenance, and doesn't pick up bad odors over time as an acrylic prosthesis will. Regardless of which final prosthesis you opt for (acrylic or porcelain) be sure your dentist is highly experienced and willing to stand behind his or her work.

Some patients ask me if age is a factor, or "Should I do this at my age?". I think The question you have to ask yourself is, "Can I live with these dentures or these teeth for even 5 more years?". To be a good dental implant candidate, you need to be in good general health but age is not a factor. It really is a quality of life issue for most of our patients. They just want to be able to chew and smile without showing unsightly or painful teeth. one thing I will say about being a good dental implant candidate, you have to promise to take immaculate care of your new teeth. If you can't do that, there really is no reason to go on with treatment. It would just be a waste of your time and money and a waste of my time as well. So, if you are in good general health, and you promise to take immaculate care of your new teeth, you qualify as a candidate for dental implants in our office. One more thing to know about dental implants is that smoking increases the risk of failure. Smokers are 2 1/2 times more likely to have implant failure than a non-smoker. Don't even think about having dental implants placed if you plan on staying a heavy smoker.

In order for dental implants to be able to be placed in your jawbone, there needs to be enough bone present. If you are lacking good quality and quantity of bone, there are bone grafting procedures that may be able to give you back enough bone to now place dental implants. I try yo avoid bone grafting, but when it is in the patient's best interest, know that i will discuss this with you as an option.

Dental implants cost is made of two parts. There is the cost of the surgery-placing the implant fixtures in the jaw. Then there is a cost for the crown or false tooth that is placed on the implant. Quotes from dentists are ordinarily separated into these two parts because the procedures are often done by 2 different dentists. This is not the case in our office just 20 minutes outside of Salt Lake City in Sandy. We take care of you from start to finish.

Utah has some of the most competitive fees in the country. In fact, we have had many patients fly in from California, Florida, Georgia and save tens of thousands of dollars. To give you some guidelines though, you are looking at from $1000 -$2500 for the surgical fee for a single dental implant. That is assuming that no bone grafting or special procedures are required. Placing the crown or false tooth is an additional $1000- $2500.

If you are having a complete set of teeth placed with dental implants, there is more variation possible because there are so many different ways to tackle that problem. For example, a simple snap-on denture for the lower teeth, retained by two dental implants, can cost from $2500-$7000. If you want to go first class with your new smile, you could spend $50,000- $100,000 for complete replacement of each tooth of both upper and lower teeth.