Should He Trust Clear Choice Dental Implants?

I was about to go to a Clear Choice Dental Implant Center after seeing their commercials. Then I saw some reviews that make me nervous. Can they be trusted? Should I go somewhere else? I don’t want to waste time and money on something that won’t work.

Paul

Dear Paul,

Each Clear Choice Implant Center has different employees and dentists and I am sure that many of them are good, ethical people. That being said, there are a few things that cause me concern with the way their corporation is run.

First, there is a big emphasis on marketing. I have found that tends to mess with the patient’s best interests.

Another concern I have is that I hear they have a tendency to recommend removing all of your teeth and replacing them with all-on-four dental implants when other dentists may give people an option of saving their teeth. I don’t have anything against that particular procedure as a whole. In fact, we do the procedure ourselves. But if you have teeth that are savable, I think you should be given that option.

There are also drawbacks to the all-on-four procedure. If that is the treatment plan they’ve given you, I’d suggest getting a second opinion to see if there are other options. For instance, if one dental implant in an All-on-4 denture fails, then the whole appliance has to be redone. Other options would be an implant overdenture or an implant bridge. Either of these could allow you to have more dental implants, making your denture even more secure. Plus, if an implant fails it is only that implant that would need to be replaced.

 

I also have heard complaints from some patients about a lack of follow-up with their patients. To me, follow-up is important. This is especially true with such an advanced procedure as implants.

My suggestion would be to go to Clear Choice and get their recommendation. However, don’t let them pressure you into signing anything. Insist that you want to get a second opinion. Then, go to a reputable dentist with post-doctoral training and a good amount of experience in dental implants. See what he or she has to say. Compare their treatment plans and make your decision based on that. Your teeth are really important, even if they are fake. You’ll want to go with the plan that will give you the highest quality of life.

This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.