Many patients in the U.S. are seeking for dental implants abroad. If you’re considering traveling to get affordable dental implants abroad, below you will find some great answers to the 10 most frequently asked questions about affordable dental implants abroad.
1. What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root made of titanium that is surgically placed in the jawbone. A replacement tooth, called a crown, is then fitted onto the implant in order to replace a missing or broken tooth.
2. What Are the Advantages of Implants Over Dentures?
Permanence
One of the main advantages is that dental implants are a more permanent solution for lost teeth and do not require daily maintenance unlike dentures that require constant maintenance.
Appearance
Another advantage of implants versus dentures is that they are very strong, reliable and can resemble your own teeth, allowing you to smile with confidence.
Strength
Thanks to their strength, they can improve any chewing difficulty caused by missing teeth.
Health
Most importantly, improved oral health promotes better overall health. If you can find a way to pay for the implants instead of the dentures, you may want to discuss the options with your local or international dentist.
3. How many trips to the dentist will I need to make?
Your stay will depend on the number of implant procedures you need, as well as the body’s own proclivity to heal.
Some patients require conventional dental implants, so they require two trips over a period of three to six months. And each trip requires three to five days.
4. How long will dental implants last?
It is complex to say that a treatment will last a lifetime, especially in the case of dental implants, since teeth are a tool that we use every day, subjecting them to a great amount of forces and pressures.
However, multiple studies of more than 35 years show very high long-term success rates for dental implants.
Recent studies show that 90% of implants placed 10 years ago still work correctly today. Compared with 50% of the success rate for dentures or dental bridges.
5. What material is used for dental implants?
Many materials have been used for dental implants through the years. But currently the most common material is titanium.
Titanium is an extremely resistant material, lightweight, resistant to corrosion and very durable. In addition to having proven that titanium has a high biocompatibility, which gives it the ability to interact with the body without causing damage. Therefore, it is strongly fixed to the bone (osseointegration) providing long-lasting implants.
6. Is dental implant treatment painful?
The short answer is no. Although, a treatment with implants involves a surgical procedure, therefore, after the surgery you will feel some pain in the jaw for several days. The pain can be relieved with an over-the-counter pain medication.
7. Is there an age limit for dental implants?
A candidate for dental implants is not determined by age. But the advisable age is from 15 or 16 years, because maxillary growth is not yet complete.
Older patients can receive implants with the same success rate as younger patients.
8. Why are implants much less expensive in some other countries?
According to BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), dentists earned a median salary of $150,000 to $170,000 in the U.S. In addition to general expenses, including office supplies, insurance and other indirect costs, rates are reflected to patients, particularly for elective treatment not covered by private health plans, Medicare or Medicaid.
On the other hand, the salary of dentists abroad is not so high. Personnel costs, leases and medical malpractice insurance are much less expensive abroad.
Costa Rica is one of the countries with the highest demand for dental tourism for patients from the United States, Canada and Western European countries.
9. Am I an ideal candidate for dental implants?
You may be considered an ideal candidate for dental implants if any of the following questions apply to you.
- Have you lost one, some or all of your teeth?
- Do you have difficulties with your removable dentures? (bad retention, pain, etc.)
- Do you feel insecure when you smile, talk or eat?
- Has a dentist told you that you have teeth in very poor condition?
- Is there an area in your mouth where the corresponding tooth never came out?
10. Can dental implants fail?
Dental implants have a success rate of 93 to 97%. Which means that there is a 3 to 7% rate of failure. Nevertheless, there is no other dental treatment wich such high long-term success rate as the dental implants procedure.
Find information about getting implants abroad
Feel free to call us to request more information about implants, cosmetic dentistry, crowns, and other dental treatments in Costa Rica. Compare prices, get an instant quote or contact our agents at +506 2203-2605.