The Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

Clear Choice spent a fortune on huge newspaper ads touting their 1 day service which was not true as I thought. They also spent a fortune on a posh Marriott Hotel banquet room giving hundreds of people a very expensive cocktail party including beer, wine, other mixed drinks, plus a huge array of food. Next they gave an hour speech about how all kinds of people had their teeth done in a day. They would not quote prices or costs, though. I went to the offices (in St. Louis)  for an interview with a very inept Marketing Business major who could not get the xray machine to work. She came back after a visit with a dentist we never even got to meet and said I needed all my teeth pulled and it would take much longer than 1 day, plus the cost would be close to $60,000 and that was the minimum he would do for me. What a big, hideous joke.
- Carol from Missouri

Carol,
Thanks for the information. I have heard from several sources of this type of treatment plan being given out at Clear Choice, and it’s beginning to look like this is typical for them. I am highly suspicious. I would not believe that all your teeth need to be pulled just because they said so.

I think you’re smart to get a second opinion.
- Dr. Hall

Dr. Hall
It appears my wife needs completely new upper and lower arches. Assuming that’s true, how can I determine the best implant provider in the Chicago area? We have been to Clear Choice and Your Implant Solutions. They seem more interested in getting a commitment. Have you heard anything about A Center for Dental Implants (ACDI) and their affiliation with Resource 1?
- Jim in Chicago

Jim,

I have heard some patient experiences with Clear Choice Dental Implant Centers that make me very wary of them. I don’t know anything about Your Implant Solutions. But I do know this. When dentists try to push people into treatment, offer specials if you start right away, or use any kind of salesmanship tactics, it is very low class. I would not trust any dentist affiliated with an organization that uses any kind of pressure sales technique. I have heard of several such experiences patients have had with Clear Choice. So I would trust your instincts in not wanting to go to either of those places.

I don’t know anything about A Center for Dental Implants, either. I don’t trust large, impersonal dental clinics in general. I don’t know if that’s what they are. Pick the dentist, is my advice.

As far as dental implant providers in the Chicago area, I know an excellent one, and that is Dr. William Cohen of Glenview. He is highly ethical and will present all your options without any pressure of any kind. When I lived in Iowa, I drove to Chicago for my dental care and he was the one who did my dentistry. He has a website, so you can Google him. He has a surgeon in the office who does the implant surgery, and he does the restorative part.

Dr. Hall

Dr. Hall

I have had over $50K dental work the past 25 yrs. Porcelain Bridges, crowns, etc. I have gotten comments for years about my beautiful teeth and smile. I am replacing with full lower & upper implants. 4 implants holding top and 4 on the bottom. I have financed the upper at $25K and keep postponing the surgery for fear of implants looking fake and not working properly. I must obtain remainder of $$ to have bottom surgery at same time. Somehow, the Dr. I met did not sit well with me.

Is it reasonable to expect the implants to look real, even though they will not be porcelain? May I expect to keep my mouth clean after the permanent implants? I floss my bridges, etc a couple times a day and assume this will keep the implants clean as well?

They misled me in the beginning to believe the entire process would be 6 months. After the second visit, I realized I should assume 1 year for full recovery. When questioned, the Dr. insinuated I misunderstood. Now trust is an issue. Thanks for your help.
-Linda from Georgia

Linda,
Everything may be on the up-and-up with this dentist and the Clear Choice center, but I’m suspicious, and I would suggest getting a second opinion.

If you haven’t had the surgery yet, you’re entitled to get your money back. You have that right.

I have heard stories that the Clear Choice Dental Implants Centers tend to want to push this “All on Four” technique. Is that what is being proposed for you? Which would mean they are suggesting that you have all your natural teeth extracted. Is that something they have also told you?

A couple of days ago I got a threatening letter from lawyers representing Clear Choice, who basically are demanding that I not try to solicit comments like yours from people who have been to Clear Choice centers. This also makes me question their ethics. So trust is an issue with me with these people as well.  So maybe you need all your teeth extracted, maybe you don’t. My advice is to play it safe and get another opinion.

Trust is very important in health care, and if you have come to not trust this dentist, I think it’s time for you to look around for another.

About your other questions: Yes, it is reasonable for you to expect your implant-supported teeth to look perfectly natural. And as far as cleaning, that depends on how the dental implants are done. You should ask specific questions about how you keep them clean afterward. It’s important to keep them clean for them to last long.

Dr. Hall

We have two reports now where Clear Choice Dental Implants Centers appear to be using intimidation to silence complaints. This information was received from Dr. Arthur Chal in Phoenix and Dr. William Cohen in Chicago in early September.

These dentists had received patient complaints about Clear Choice and had posted those on their websites, along with responses to those complaints. Subsequently, they received threatening letters from attorneys representing Clear Choice alleging trademark infringement.

I believe that Clear Choice and their attorneys know full well that such claims of trademark infringement are bogus. Trademark law specifically allows for the use of a competitor’s trademark in comparative advertising or for the purposes of news commentary or criticism. I also believe they know that many dentists will simply agree to their illegal demands to avoid a possible legal battle, and that this will silence criticism.

I am very disappointed in this action by Clear Choice Dental Implants Centers. When I first heard of their operation, my opinion was that they probably operated high quality treatment facilities backed by a strong marketing program. Reports I have been hearing recently, however, are giving me the impression that they have some questionable ethics. We have this legal bullying tactic, which I associate with enterprises that feel they can’t stand reasonable scrutiny. I have also heard a couple of unsettling reports of patients being pressured into tooth extraction or expensive dental implants treatment when there are other options that would be better for the patient.

Accordingly, I have posted a form for Clear Choice complaints. If you have had a bad experience at a Clear Choice Dental Implants Center, please let us hear from you.

I’ll post more on this later and on regular pages of our website in the dental implants section.

Dr. Hall,
What do you know about clear choice dental implants. I was going to try them becuse my dentist is so expensive.
- Kay in Dallas

Kay,
Each Clear Choice dental implant center is different. You have one in Dallas. We have one here in Phoenix. They aren’t going to be the same.

I did hear a report from a patient who was asking specific questions about the risk of failure of the particular type of dental implants she was going to get from them here in Phoenix, and was confused because everyone at the Clear Choice Center that she asked gave her a different answer. This didn’t create a good impression in my mind. I have heard other reports that they feel that the treatment isn’t very personal – that there is a one-size-fits-all approach, rather than individualized treatment plans. This wouldn’t be surprising in a large corporate-style clinic.

That’s all I’ve heard.

I don’t believe that Clear Choice is really an inexpensive place to go. Having said that, I would be extremely careful about selecting your dental implants by going to the cheapest place. Dental implants is the single largest source of business for dental malpractice lawyers. There are too many opportunities to cut corners, and the result is that the implants don’t last as long as they should.

- Dr. Hall

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