My initial experience was pleasant from the viewpoint of personal interaction with the staff. However, although I was told that I was an “Ideal” candidate for their procedure, I was unable to obtain financing for the $54,700 that was the quoted cost for full upper and lower implants. Understand that I had already had all my teeth extracted more than a year prior to my visit to ClearChoice Dental Implant Center. I has assumed that part of the cost of dental implants involved required extractions and that the price should be considerable lower. I was informed that there is no charge for the extractions as they are included in the procedure itself. Sounds very much like a ripoff/scam to me. Particularly when, about 18 months prior to my visit, I had consulted another dental facility that specializes in dental implants and was told it would cost about $27,000, including the 18 extractions that would have been necessary, at that time. Of course, ClearChoice did not leave me alone and after 8 months, they solicited me attending a seminar with the intent “showing me the benefits”, as if I were not already well aware of this. Since I was unable and unwilling to attend their seminar, I was convinced to return to the office for a follow-up, with the promise that they could “significantly” lower the cost of my treatment. At that meeting, I find that I’d been conned. They had simply wanted to resubmit me to a different creditor to arrange financing for the full $54,700 that I had been previously quoted. While I realize that titanium is a somewhat expensive metal and is used for the mounting hardware of permanent dental implants, it is not so costly as to explain $54,000. And since dental insurance sees implants as a cosmetic procedure rather than one of restoration of proper eating function and normal speaking ability, full dental implants will remain available only to the affluent and those with perfect credit and no fear of unemployment. ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers charges what they do simply because there is nothing to stop them from charging such outrageous prices. Here is what ClearChoice states is the cost of replacing just a single tooth: “A single implant, including imaging, treatment planning, surgery, lab work and tooth placement generally will cost between $4000 and $9000. The fee varies based on the treatment required as well as the location of the tooth.” There is absolutely NO justification for such a fee structure, much less the wide range of potential cost for a single tooth replacement. Dental implants are the best medical choice for anyone needed to replace all upper and or lower teeth but so long as ClearChoice has it priced out of the range of the vast majority, permanent dental implants will NEVER become mainstream and supercede existing denture technology. I will never recommend ClearChoice to an enemy, let alone a friend. They are a shiny example of EXACTLY what is wrong with American medicine.
– Shawn
Shawn,
I’m just posting your comment unedited. I think it speaks for itself.
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About David A. Hall
Dr. David A. Hall was one of the first 40 accredited cosmetic dentists in the world. He practiced cosmetic dentistry in Iowa, and in 1990 earned his accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is now president of Infinity Dental Web, a company in Mesa, Arizona that does advanced internet marketing for dentists.