TAKE A HOLIDAY – BUT NOT TO TREAT YOUR TEETH
Patients taking a trip overseas after seeing tempting website offers of cheaper treatment may gain short-term financial benefits, but a lack of aftercare can cause long-term problems for the ‘dental tourist’, warns an article in the dental magazine ‘The Probe’.
 Some in search of quick-fix and cheap cosmetic dentisty, particularly for implants, are travelling to clinics as far away as Mexico, Thailand and India, while European countries are becoming increasingly popular.
Overseas dentists may be as professional as their UK counterparts, but many patients go abroad for implants only to discover there has been little treatment planning prepared, and that when there are problems there is no follow-up strategy in place.
The article makes the point that “In order to get the treatment right, you must know the patient’s history”, be able to communicate clearly with the patient, have the correct equipment and know how to use it, and be conveniently placed for aftercare.
An added complication is that the British NHS will only provide a returning dental “tourist” with emergency treatment for such problems as infection or bleeding, and any other problems with an implant, for example, will have to be solved at the patient’s expense – often a costly exercise.
With more than 800 implant systems available worldwide, if can often be a major exercise for a UK dentist to identify exactly what the overseas clinic used in its treatment before starting to sort out the post-operative problem.
“Many of those who go abroad for impant treatment wont return to the (overseas) clinic for maintenance care as they expect their own UK dentist to provide it. Long-term care is often an after-thought”, says the article.
The good news is that your Chelsea Dental Clinic specialists are more than capable of providing expert implant treatment, as well as a range of other cosmetic dentistry solutions, with a financial plan that means you need not travel overseas – unless you fancy a holiday.
TAKE A HOLIDAY – BUT NOT TO TREAT YOUR TEETH
Patients taking a trip overseas after seeing tempting website offers of cheaper treatment may gain short-term financial benefits, but a lack of aftercare can cause long-term problems for the ‘dental tourist’, warns an article in the dental magazine ‘The Probe’.
Some in search of quick-fix and cheap cosmetic dentistry, particularly for implants, are travelling to clinics as far away as Mexico, Thailand and India, while European countries are becoming increasingly popular.
Overseas dentists may be as professional as their UK counterparts, but many patients go abroad for dental implants only to discover there has been little treatment planning prepared, and that when there are problems there is no follow-up strategy in place.
The article makes the point that “In order to get the treatment right, you must know the patient’s history”, be able to communicate clearly with the patient, have the correct equipment and know how to use it, and be conveniently placed for aftercare.
An added complication is that the British NHS will only provide a returning dental “tourist” with emergency treatment for such problems as infection or bleeding, and any other problems with an dental implant, for example, will have to be solved at the patient’s expense – often a costly exercise.
With more than 800 implant systems available worldwide, if can often be a major exercise for a UK dentist to identify exactly what the overseas clinic used in its treatment before starting to sort out the post-operative problem.
“Many of those who go abroad for dental implant treatment won’t return to the (overseas) clinic for maintenance care as they expect their own UK dentist to provide it. Long-term care is often an after-thought”, says the article.
The good news is that your Chelsea Dental Clinic specialists are more than capable of providing expert dental implant treatment, as well as a range of other cosmetic dentistry solutions, with a financial plan that means you need not travel overseas – unless you fancy a holiday.
Mini Implants can keep those Dentures in place
One problem that is frequently raised by patients at our Chelsea Dental Clinic is how to ensure that their dentures remain in place, even if they use one of the varieties of adhesives available.
Discussions with patients wishing to take advantage of modern advances in cosmetic dentistry, and dental examinations at our clinic reveal that many people are concerned about loose-fitting dentures, and the embarrassment and stress this problem can cause.
While dental adhesives do work, these days there is a permanent solution to an ill-fitting denture, and the need to keep it in place with an at least daily application of adhesive gel, which can in itself restrict a wearer’s choice of food.
Welcome to the world of mini-implants, which are small screws fitted by the dentist to fuse with the jawbone and tissue and act as an ‘anchor’ for your dentures. Once the implants are firmly in place, your dentures can be adjusted to fit, and clip on and off the new fixtures.
Having provided you with dentures that will stay put, and the freedom to eat as you choose, your Chelsea hygienist will advise on the proper care and cleaning of dentures, as well as how to look after the soft tissues and remaining teeth.
Daily cleaning is a must to prevent build-up of plaque and stains, use water or a mouthwash after eating, electric brushes are safe to use but care should be taken with dentures, and your hygienist may also recommend a clasp or denture brush.
Dissolved denture cleaning tablets can reach surfaces missed by brushing – but household detergents should definitely be avoided – and your mouth will benefit from a rest if you can remove your dentures for six to eight hours in 24.
Always feel free to telephone or email the Chelsea Dental Clinic for advice, or make an appointment to see one of our specialists.
A guide on Dental Implants
A Dental Implant is used to support multiple or single false teeth and are placed in the jaw bone. They are constructed from a titanium metal rod and have a very high success rate. 90 percent of modern dental implants last no less than 15 years and are proven over the long term. They have a well established long term success.
Patients with a few of their own teeth can still have the other missing teeth gaps replaced with dental implants. The condition of the bone in the jaw can dictate the number of implants the patient can have.
There are a number of tests an implant dentist can carry out to allow him/her to assess the amount of bone present. A bone graft may be necessary if there is not enough bone present or the quality of the remain bone is poor.
A small procedural operation is required to place dental implants. Some discomfort can be expected for upto a week after the procedure but during the procedure no pain will be experienced. The operation is carried out with local anaesthetic and some light conscious sedation or it is possible to have general anaesthetic. The dentist will place implants to close the wound.
During the healing phase a complete or partial denture can be used. Alternatively a temporary crown or bridge may be used over the healing titanium implants. Healing time varies for the upper and lower jaw but generally is 6 months for the upper jaw and up to 3 months in the lower jaw. You must wait before the dental implants are restored and they must not be restored straight away.
Once the surgery is done to place the dental implants the dentist can give a more accurate indication of the amount of time it will take for the implants to integrate. If the process is complex then it may take up to 12 months to finish but sometimes it can be completed in as few as 5 months to attach the final false teeth or dentures.