If Implant Denture Costs Become a Burden

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Director Lee Jang-wook

Hello.

A place that does its best

for a healthy smile

is Etoile de Seoul Dental Clinic.

Today, I have a story I especially want to share with you.

I’m sharing this in the hope that it will bring encouragement to many people who are hesitating to receive treatment because of implant denture costs.

We take responsibility for your dental health.

"A Meeting That Began with Tears"

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Let me tell you about Ms. Kim Young-hee (67), who visited me last month.

When she first came into the treatment room, she was in tears and said, "Doctor, I’m truly hopeless. My dentures keep coming out, so I can’t even eat properly, and I’m embarrassed to speak, so I’m afraid to meet people."

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Times that also hurt her family

Ms. Kim Young-hee had been using dentures for more than 10 years, and as her gum bone gradually resorbed, the dentures no longer fit properly. In particular, she was preparing for her daughter’s wedding, and she was upset, saying, "I can’t even smile when taking photos." Her husband came with her and said, "My wife has been speaking less lately, and she avoids meeting friends."

The decision that became a turning point

But the visitor had one major concern: implant denture costs. She worried, saying, "Doctor, the burden is just too great for ordinary people like us to handle." However, she said her daughter persuaded her by saying, "Mom, money can be earned. What matters more is that you live happily." I suggested the full-arch method to Ms. Kim Young-hee.

First, I explained the insurance coverage. I told her that currently, seniors aged 65 and older can receive National Health Insurance coverage, which greatly reduces out-of-pocket expenses. Since Ms. Kim Young-hee was 67, she was in a position to receive sufficient benefits. I explained that with insurance coverage, a significant portion of the cost per implant is supported, helping reduce the financial burden.

I also explained in detail why I recommended the full-arch method. If every tooth were replaced with individual implants, 14 to 16 implants would be needed, but a full arch can restore the function of all teeth with just 4 to 6 implants. This is a method that replaces all teeth with a prosthesis attached to implants that serve as sturdy pillars.

What appealed most to Ms. Kim Young-hee was the economic efficiency. She liked the fact that she could regain full dental function at about half the cost of individual implants. She also greatly appreciated that temporary teeth could be fitted on the same day, so she would not have to go home with an empty mouth.

That helped ease Ms. Kim Young-hee’s worry when she said, "I don’t want to spend even one day without teeth."

Small changes adding up

A few days later, Ms. Kim Young-hee called me. "Doctor, for the first time, when I woke up in the morning, my mouth felt comfortable. And yesterday evening, when I was talking with my husband, I noticed I was smiling." Her voice was full of joy. Two weeks later, there was an even more remarkable positive change.

"Yesterday, my grandson said, 'Grandma, you’re pretty now.'"

A moment filled with joy

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A month later, it was the day we fitted the final prosthesis.

Ms. Kim Young-hee looked in the mirror, smiled brightly, and said this to me: "Doctor, thank you so much. I never thought I would be able to smile this confidently. Implant denture costs were a burden, but now that I think about it, it seems like the best decision I’ve ever made in my life."

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Another story of hope

There was another visitor like this.

Mr. Park Cheol-soo, a man in his mid-50s who runs a business, said that because of his dentures, his pronunciation became slurred and he lost confidence in important meetings.

He was also concerned about implant denture costs, but he decided, saying, "It seems better than having problems in daily life." Now he is satisfied, saying, "Being able to speak confidently in meetings is actually helping my business."

Sharing my thoughts

Even now, Ms. Kim Young-hee comes in for regular checkups. Each time she visits, she says, "Thanks to you, Doctor, I’m living a new life," and every time she says that, I feel deeply moved as well. Among you, there may also be people who are worried right now. You may be concerned about implant denture costs, hesitate because of your age, or worry about pain.

But after seeing so many people, one thing I have become sure of is this: if you do not give up hope, a happier tomorrow is definitely waiting for you. The day when you can laugh with your family with healthy teeth, enjoy delicious food to your heart’s content, and meet people with confidence is closer than you might think.

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