It seems that you can’t pick up a newspaper, daily circular (any New Yorker going into the subway knows what I’m talking about), listen to the radio or even watch TV, especially late-night TV, without reading, hearing or seeing some advertisement about dental implants. “SAME DAY TEETH” “ALL ON FOUR” “CLEAR CHOICE” are some of the most visible examples media of promotion for dental implants.

Claims that you can walk into to a dental office edentulous (without teeth) and walk out the same day with a full set of “permanent” choppers are not uncommon. And while the field and practice of implant dentistry has exploded over the last decade with many great advances made, dental implantology remains a surgical and restorative discipline requiring great care, skill and judgment.

Dental Implants are not a “one size fits all” procedure as many of these promotions seem to suggest and is certainly not an assembly line production where an implant(s) is stuck into the jaw and a tooth is slapped on (“next!”). It is not my intention to denigrate any skilled conscientious clinician who happens to have a successful marketing campaign. I just want to make the uninformed aware that implant dentistry, especially the surgery, requires careful individualized planning (including thorough evaluation utilizing appropriate diagnostic imaging) and meticulous execution.

Dental implant surgery gone awry can lead to disastrous consequences including:

• Serious infection

• Nerve damage causing permanent loss of sensation (numbness)

• Uncontrolled bleeding

• Sinus perforation

Additionally, improper alignment of the dental implant may render actual tooth replacement impossible. In reality, patients are not really seeking implants, they want teeth! So while implant dentistry is truly remarkable and can be a life-altering experience that can enhance the quality of one’s life immensely, I can’t over-emphasize the importance for those of you seeking implant dentistry to educate yourself and don’t be persuaded merely by cost.

That $395 dental implant just may end up costing you a helluva lot more.

Dr. Michael Sinkin is a NYC dentist that has been in practice for over two decades. He truly cares about the experience his patients have and takes great pride in making them feel relaxed and comfortable during every visit. Come in for an appointment and experience a different kind of dental practice. To find out more about Dr. Sinkin, please click here.