I want to get dental implants but don’t have a lot of bone. I was considering getting all-on-four dental implants which can work with less bone. Clear Choice offers them but they have terrible reviews. I was thinking about going to Costa Rica because the cost is so much less. I wondered what you thought. Do you know why Clear Choice has bad reviews? I’d rather stay in the states if possible.
Margie
Dear Margie,
First, Clear Choice. There are two big reasons for their bad reviews, the first is their pressure tactics. They seem to find people in desperate circumstances and pressure them into feeling like there is only one choice and they have to make it right then. The second is their lack of follow up. Once the procedure is done, you are pretty much abandoned.
As for Costa Rica, that’s going to get a big no from me. You want to talk about lack of follow up? Once you leave the United States, you also leave behind all those safety regulations that ensure the patient is hygienically treated. You will have zero legal leverage if anything goes wrong and will be at the mercy of their health care system.
You do have options in the United States, though. If you are set on getting the all-on-four procedure, I’d suggest going to a dentist or periodontist who does it. You don’t have to go to a chain center, like Clear Choice. With a private office, you’ll get better, more personalized care.
It’s also important you know you aren’t limited to a single procedure because of your lack of bone. There is a way for you to get traditional implant overdentures. The key is having a bone grafting procedure done to build back up the missing structure. While all-on-four can work for many patients, if one part of the unit fails or breaks, the entire system has to be replaced.
Always be certain to check the training qualifications of any dentist doing an implant procedure, regardless of the type. This isn’t a recognized specialty and too many dentists attempt it without adequate training.
This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.