3 Things to Check When Considering Implants at Sagajeong Dental Clinic

Hello,

I’m Director Dentist Shim Seong-hwan.

What are the worries that most patients considering implant treatment have probably had at least once?

“Is this really the right treatment for me?”

“Will the satisfaction be worth the cost?”

“What should I do if a problem comes up?”

You may have these kinds of realistic questions.

In particular, for patients aged 65 and older, the scope of insurance coverage and post-procedure care become even more important.

Because implants are teeth that you will use for a long time once placed, they need to be approached carefully from the start.

Rather than deciding simply based on cost or the size of the dental clinic, it is important to carefully consider several factors, such as whether the medical staff can provide treatment suited to your oral condition, whether systematic care is available if a problem occurs after the procedure, and whether government support benefits can be fully utilized.

Therefore, today I will explain three key factors that you must check when considering implants.

Sagajeong Dental Clinic, Whether Bone Grafting Is Needed and Whether Customized Treatment Is Possible

The most basic condition for implant treatment is whether there is enough jawbone.

Because implants are anchored in the alveolar bone (jawbone), if there is not enough bone, the implant may not settle properly or the procedure may be more likely to fail.

However, not having enough jawbone does not mean implants are impossible.

There is a method of placing implants after securing sufficient bone volume through bone grafting.

Bone grafting methods are broadly divided into autograft, allograft, and synthetic grafting.

An autograft uses bone taken from the patient’s own body and has a high success rate, but it requires an additional harvesting procedure.

Allografts and synthetic grafts use artificially made bone, and they have the advantages of faster recovery and less burden.

Also, because each patient has different gum conditions and alveolar bone density, the size, angle, and placement method of the implant must also differ.

Not all patients can be treated in the same way, and an individualized treatment plan is essential.

Because I also consider this an important part, when providing implant consultations, I thoroughly analyze the bone thickness and density through 3D CT scans before establishing a customized treatment plan.

Some patients ask, “Can’t it be placed right away without bone grafting?”

Of course, in some cases, implants can be placed without bone grafting, but proceeding forcefully when there is insufficient bone can increase the risk of failure.

Therefore, before the procedure, it is important to have 충분한 상담 with the attending doctor and find the method most suitable for you.

Sagajeong Dental Clinic, Post-Implant Side Effects and Failure Case Management System

There is no dispute that implants are an excellent way to replace teeth.

However, as with all surgeries, implants also carry the possibility of side effects.

Common issues can include peri-implantitis, screw loosening, and prosthetic damage.

What matters is how systematically the dental clinic can respond when such problems occur.

Peri-implantitis is a condition in which inflammation develops in the gum tissue around an implant, and if left untreated, the implant may eventually need to be removed.

The main causes are poor oral hygiene, gum disease, and incorrect treatment methods.

Therefore, it is important to check whether there is a regular care program after the procedure.

I tell patients, “Implants must be cared for just like natural teeth.”

After the procedure, you should have regular checkups every 3 to 6 months to assess the implant’s condition, and if necessary, undergo scaling and cleaning.

Also, since implants are prosthetics intended for long-term use, it is important to check whether free repairs are available within the warranty period if a problem arises.

Some dental clinics operate warranty programs for a certain period after implant procedures, and some even offer benefits that reduce maintenance costs if you receive regular checkups.

In this way, implants require regular examinations and care after the procedure, and in my case, I send text messages to patients at each checkup interval to remind them of their appointments.

Sagajeong Dental Clinic, Whether Health Insurance and Senior Implant Policies Can Be Used

Patients aged 65 and older should be sure to know that health insurance coverage may apply to implant procedures.

If health insurance applies, up to two implants for life can receive support for 70% of the implant cost, reducing the patient’s out-of-pocket share to around 30%.

For example, if a standard implant that is not covered by insurance costs 1.5 million won, the patient would pay only about 450,000 won with insurance coverage.

However, there are several conditions for health insurance coverage to apply.

First, it must not be a completely edentulous jaw (a state with no teeth at all); some teeth must remain.

Second, the patient must be 65 or older and enrolled in the National Health Insurance program.

Third, you must confirm whether the implant type and materials used are eligible for health insurance coverage.

Also, some local governments provide additional senior implant subsidies.

Therefore, if you are considering implant treatment, it may be financially helpful to accurately check with the dental clinic whether health insurance coverage applies and to take advantage of any additional subsidy benefits as well.

Choose Carefully, And Use It Healthily for a Long Time

An implant is an important choice that affects a patient’s quality of life.

That is why you should not decide based only on cost or the size of the clinic, but should thoroughly consider whether bone grafting is needed, the post-procedure care system, and the possibility of health insurance coverage.

If you fully consider the three factors I mentioned today, you will be able to choose a more trustworthy dental clinic and achieve satisfying treatment results.

Because an implant is a tooth you will use for life, I hope you make a careful decision from the start.

Thank you for reading this long post.