It’s safe to say that nearly everyone likes saving money. In fact, between extreme couponing, rewards point apps, and social media marketplaces, there are no shortage of ways to find a bargain out there. But one place you should never cut corners is when it comes to your oral health. While you may have seen ads for “discount” dental implants, these can be misleading at best and often offer inferior products or “gotcha” deals that don’t fully explain the costs involved. Worse yet, these so-called bargains can eventually end up costing you more in the long run than if you’d just trusted an expert from the start. Here’s a closer look at the dangers of discount dental implants, and why when it comes to your smile, quality matters.
Deal or No Deal?
Many patients are familiar with advertisements that promise deep discounts on dental implants, or to restore your smile in just one day. Often, they’ll arrive in your mailbox in a packet of home repair coupons, or you may even see them on billboards or on the side of a bus. But these supposed deals are rarely as straightforward as they seem. In fact, in many cases they use poor quality restorations, don’t offer a warranty or follow-up care if you have complications, use improper diagnostics, hire underqualified professionals, or simply don’t include things like CT scans, temporary restorations, anesthesia, or follow-up care in the advertised price. Thus, while a $799 dental implant seems like a great deal, that cost skyrockets when you factor in the additional $300 CBCT scan, $900 bone graft, and $1,200 crown. Now what started at less than $800 has quadrupled in price to $3,200!
Unfortunately, while these bargain dental implants often seem like a great deal up front, they inevitably end up costing a lot more by the time you get the final bill. Worse yet, low quality restorations often mean you’ll end up needing to replace them or pay for costly implant salvage procedures later on!
Buyer Beware: How to Protect Your Money and Your Mouth
The good news is that it is possible to avoid the dangers of inferior quality dental implants by choosing a reputable, well-qualified dentist from the start. You can learn more about your dentist’s credentials and experience by visiting their website, reading patient reviews, and visiting them in person for a consultation. At this appointment, you can ask questions about treatment, voice any concerns, and learn more about your dentist’s experience and expertise.
Your dentist will also go over all the important details of dental implant treatment, including any necessary preliminary procedures, the best materials for your smile, the estimated timeline for your procedure and healing, and of course, the total price. They can even verify your dental insurance and maximize your coverage if any of your treatment qualifies and may even have financing options available to make your dental implants more budget friendly.
Remember, while it may be tempting to cut corners and trust a discount dental implant advertisement when seeking to restore your smile, the truth is that you’ll likely save more money and frustration by choosing a qualified, credentialed dentist from the start!
About Our Practice
At Smile Design Implant Centers, Dr. Ricciardi, Dr. Silvaroli, and Dr. Lim are proud to offer high-quality dental implants at a reasonable price, all without cutting corners by ignoring important preliminary procedures or selling you inferior prosthetics. We do it the old-fashioned way, by doing it right the first time. To schedule a consultation for dental implants and learn more about how we can save your money and your smile, visit our website or call 775-391-6636.