Can't choose Dentist!!!

iLost

I need major dental work done,
7-8 Implants, bridge/crowns, etc (total cost around 20,000)
Thankfully i can afford this, i saved for many years.
However i can only afford to do this ONE TIME ONLY!
If something goes wrong or i don't like the look of the finished teeth,
I can't afford to get them redone.
Therefore, i'm finding it very difficult to choose and put all my faith in one dentist.

In the past few months, I've visited 5 different dentists for implant consultations.
The dentists have all been very nice & kind, but i can't commit to one.
It's a lot of money, and i want to make sure it's money well spend and the finish teeth look amazing.

There are too many dentist's to choose from!!!
What should i do?

Thank you.

Oral Surgeon

iLost wrote: »

I need major dental work done,
7-8 Implants, bridge/crowns, etc (total cost around 20,000)
Thankfully i can afford this, i saved for many years.
However i can only afford to do this ONE TIME ONLY!
If something goes wrong or i don't like the look of the finished teeth,
I can't afford to get them redone.
Therefore, i'm finding it very difficult to choose and put all my faith in one dentist.

In the past few months, I've visited 5 different dentists for implant consultations.
The dentists have all been very nice & kind, but i can't commit to one.
It's a lot of money, and i want to make sure it's money well spend and the finish teeth look amazing.

There are too many dentist's to choose from!!!
What should i do?

Thank you.

Sounds like specialist treatment and proper money op so you are right to seek the best care and clinicians...

For that treatment and money, be certain of the specialist qualifications of the clinicians involved. I say clinicians as generally you would see an oral surgeon or periodontist for the surgical implant placement and a prosthodontist to complete the crown and bridgework. Very few/ none do both at specialist level.

Also you say that you don't want to pay twice... You should know that the implants should last for life but the crowns and bridgework on them are like other crowns and bride work and subject to wear and tear in the mouth. They generally are more durable and better fitting than crowns and bridges on teeth and the replacement is usually straight forward nuts bolts and impressions but do plan to redo some of this work in 20 years ish....

If done correctly you should have a wax mock up of your planned teeth, you should have temporary or provisional crowns to help tweak the size and shape of the new teeth before being made in the lab.

Advice, go with specialists, go with a clinic you trust and don't fall for bs, don't go with short speedy treatment plans as in the rush you lose quality and time to give your input.

Quality operators will not want to rush this, will give you time to heal and allow you the chance to approve crowns before cementation. A quality clinic will sort out any short term problems at their expense and time... Ask to see before and afters of similar cases, ask the timeframe, number of appointments and cost to compare... You're probably looking at a 9 month ish plan there??

Good luck,
Os

btkm8unsl0w5r4

This defiantly sounds like a specialist job, big restorative work is best planned by a prosthodontist and then farmed out for the other jobs. Have you seen a prosthodontist yet?

georgieporgy

I dunno. I've heard specialists are really short of work these days .

A 50,000 treatment plan might be a bit complicated but what you are describing sounds pretty routine and should be within the remit of any experienced dentist. These days dentists can do more than just pull teeth.

Do as Oral Surgeon says. Ask to see examples of other similar cases done by your dentist. That should set your mind at ease.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

georgieporgy wrote: »

I dunno. I've heard specialists are really short of work these days .

I have heard that retreatment is going to be a big earner in the future

iLost

Oral Surgeon wrote: »

Sounds like specialist treatment and proper money op so you are right to seek the best care and clinicians...

For that treatment and money, be certain of the specialist qualifications of the clinicians involved. I say clinicians as generally you would see an oral surgeon or periodontist for the surgical implant placement and a prosthodontist to complete the crown and bridgework. Very few/ none do both at specialist level.

Also you say that you don't want to pay twice... You should know that the implants should last for life but the crowns and bridgework on them are like other crowns and bride work and subject to wear and tear in the mouth. They generally are more durable and better fitting than crowns and bridges on teeth and the replacement is usually straight forward nuts bolts and impressions but do plan to redo some of this work in 20 years ish....

If done correctly you should have a wax mock up of your planned teeth, you should have temporary or provisional crowns to help tweak the size and shape of the new teeth before being made in the lab.

Advice, go with specialists, go with a clinic you trust and don't fall for bs, don't go with short speedy treatment plans as in the rush you lose quality and time to give your input.

Quality operators will not want to rush this, will give you time to heal and allow you the chance to approve crowns before cementation. A quality clinic will sort out any short term problems at their expense and time... Ask to see before and afters of similar cases, ask the timeframe, number of appointments and cost to compare... You're probably looking at a 9 month ish plan there??

Good luck,
Os

Thanks for the advice, i really appreciate it.
I'm only 25 and as you can imagine it took be a long time to save up 20,000 so i'm very cautious where i spend it.
I should've had this done last year, too much procrastination

I've been to a dentist who offered to perform a bone graft, place implants and create a bridge.
(i was thinking to myself that's a lot of work for one dentist ^ ^

I agree with you about seeing a surgeon for graft and implants and then prosthodontist for bridge/crowns, that sounds like the best way to go.
Which leads me back to the original problem of choosing a dental clinic.

I found a website ''Irish dentistry awards''
Are these awards based on merit or just some sort of voting/popularity awards.

Can you recommend a clinic? (via PM)

Thanks again

Dianthus

If you don't mind me saying, OP, at 25 you're very young to require this type& volume of treatment What happened your natural dentition- trauma/decay/gum disease/congenitally absent teeth?
Specialists will generally be able to show you xrays, photos, ect, of their past work. Re who to choose, often your general dentist will be able to point you in the right direction.
Whilst it's not the most important factor by a long shot, it's worth considering a clinic in reasonably close proximity to where you now live. The work sounds complicated, and will likely require numerous visits over a prolonged period; the last thing you need on top of that is a 4-6 hour round trip for every single visit (a recent poster on this forum had 11 visits to the dental practice for 1 implant alone, over the course of a year, and their case was "routine"; without any complications).