Dental implants have become an increasingly popular option for permanently replacing missing teeth. Unlike bridges or dentures, implants are designed to last a lifetime when properly cared for. Clear Choice is one of the leading providers specializing in dental implant solutions. With over 100 centers across the United States, they have established themselves through innovative technology and patient-centered care.
This article provides an in-depth exploration of the 14 pros and cons of Clear Choice dental implants, including comparisons to traditional implants and other tooth replacement alternatives. Thoroughly examining the advantages and disadvantages can help readers make an informed decision on whether Clear Choice implants suit their needs and preferences.
Pros
- High Success Rates
- Innovative Technology
- Aesthetic Appeal
- Durability and Longevity
- Improved Oral Health and Function
- Convenience and Time-Saving
- Boosted Self-Confidence
Cons
- Higher Cost
- Lengthy Treatment Process
- Potential Complications and Risks
- Not Suitable for Everyone
- Limited Locations
- Dependency on Technology
- Potential for Overtreatment
Table of Contents
What are Clear Choice Dental Implants?
Clear Choice dental implants are prosthetic tooth roots surgically inserted into the jawbone to permanently replace missing teeth. They provide a stable, secure foundation for lifelike artificial teeth custom designed to blend seamlessly with surrounding natural teeth.
Clear Choice implants differ from traditional implants due to their:
- Materials – Crafted from biocompatible metals like titanium and zirconium dioxide to integrate with bone and gum tissues
- Technology – Utilization of advanced 3D imaging, computer-guided implant surgery, robotic-assisted techniques
- Approach – End-to-end coordinated care across a network of dedicated offices for streamlined treatment
This combination of cutting-edge science and patient focus aims to achieve successful, aesthetically pleasing outcomes that rival natural teeth in both look and feel.
The Pros of Clear Choice Dental Implants
Clear Choice implants offer a variety of potential benefits that make them an attractive solution for permanently replacing missing teeth.
High Success Rates
With over 500,000 implants placed, Clear Choice reports industry-leading cumulative success rates of over 98%. These favorable results stem from precision-guided techniques, expert specialists, and strict sterilization protocols minimizing risk of failure or complications.
Independent studies in implant dentistry confirm success rates of 95-97% for modern dental implants after 10 years, on par with Clear Choice outcomes. Their coordinated approach and strict quality control could contribute to consistency in achieving optimal results.
Innovative Technology
Clear Choice utilizes advanced technologies like cone beam 3D imaging, intraoral scanning, computer-aided implant design, and robotic-controlled surgery to enhance accuracy, precision, and efficiency.
These innovations create a detailed surgical plan unique to each patient’s anatomy prior to the operation. Guided by this plan, implant placement achieves sub-millimeter precision. Such minimally invasive accuracy can lead to less tissue trauma, faster healing, and greater success rates.
Ongoing investments in state-of-the-art technology aim to continuously improve patient experience and outcomes. Clear Choice also leads training initiatives to share best practices across their doctor network.
Aesthetic Appeal
Artificial teeth secured to Clear Choice implants are beautifully customized to patient preferences for shape, size, color, and contour to seamlessly blend with natural teeth. The lifelike realism achieved makes it difficult to discern from natural dentition.
Zirconia abutment posts connect the artificial teeth to the implant fixture within the bone, providing extra stability and support. Their tooth-colored hue prevents shine-through of metallic components often seen with traditional implants for incredibly natural looking results.
Durability and Longevity
When cared for properly, Clear Choice implants can last several decades, on par with natural tooth longevity. The fused connection between titanium implant and bone creates a highly durable anchor able to withstand normal biting and chewing forces.
In comparison, other tooth replacement options like bridges or dentures rely on less secure connections to neighboring teeth or bone that may deteriorate faster. Independent studies found properly integrated implants still functioning after 35-40 years.
Improved Oral Health and Function
Clear Choice implants transmit biting and chewing forces to the jawbone like natural tooth roots. This halts progressive bone loss after extractions that lead to facial structure changes or compromise for denture stability.
Implants also benefit long term oral health by:
- Preventing unwanted tooth migration or shifting
- Restoring chewing efficacy closer to natural teeth
- Enabling easier cleaning access to maintain better hygiene
- Allowing more comfortable speech and eating
Convenience and Time-Saving
The extensive Clear Choice network provides comprehensive implant treatment coordination across dedicated offices for an efficient experience completing the multi-step process. This saves considerable time researching solutions or traveling to unaffiliated specialists.
Their unique same-day teeth protocol also allows fixed temporary teeth placed from the very first day. Patients leave their initial surgery with functional temporaries to use while waiting for custom permanent teeth. This minimizes disruption to daily life which could take weeks with traditional implants.
Boosted Self-Confidence
When dental issues like missing, damaged, or ill-fitting teeth contribute to embarrassment or lack of self-esteem, Clear Choice implants can provide transformative improvements beyond just oral health. Their lifelike solutions create smiles patients can enjoy displaying with regained self-assurance and confidence.
Numerous patients share stories across Clear Choice’s website and testimonial videos about how refreshing their smile, bite, and outlook gave them emotional uplift in social, professional, and intimate aspects of their life.
The Cons of Clear Choice Dental Implants
Despite the benefits, Clear Choice implants also come with several potential drawbacks to consider depending on individual circumstances and priorities.
Higher Cost
Clear Choice dental implants typically range from $3,000 to $4,500 per implant depending on the number of teeth replaced and restoration extent. This generally falls on the higher end of pricing scales compared to independent dentists.
The elevated cost accounts for advanced technologies used, highly trained specialists, premium quality materials, and coordinated office network. Complex cases with additional needed bone grafts or procedures also increase charges. However financing plans or insurance coverage can offset costs for some patients.
Lengthy Treatment Process
The total process spans several months from initial consultation and diagnosis to implantation surgery, bone integration, abutment/crown attachment, and completion. This requires a substantial time investment for the complete sequence of treatment steps before full function and aesthetics are achieved.
In comparison, alternative options like removable dentures may take only weeks to go from extraction to final dentures whereas Clear Choice implants take 4-6 months on average. However, implants achieve superior long-term permanence and benefits than other quicker tooth replacement options.
Potential Complications and Risks
Although rare in expert hands, Clear Choice implants carry low risks inherent to any oral surgery like:
- Infection
- Nerve injury
- Excess bleeding
- Sinus complications
- Implant failure
Smoking, diabetes, osteoporosis and other health conditions can increase complication risks. Their reported 1-2% failure rate still compares very favorably to alternatives like dental bridges which fail more than 10% of the time within 5 years. Strict sterilization protocols and advanced imaging aim to limit preventable errors.
Not Suitable for Everyone
Clear Choice only treats healthy patients after thorough examination determines sufficient bone density and ideal anatomy for support. Contraindicating conditions like recent heart attack, osteoporosis, or immune disorders may disqualify candidates. Recent extractions sites also require months of healing before implant eligibility.
For those unsuitable for implants, conventional bridges, partials/full dentures or non-removable tooth replacements remain possible alternative options.
Limited Locations
With just over 100 offices nationwide concentrated in certain metro regions, accessing Clear Choice treatment may prove challenging at distant locales requiring air travel and lodging expenses. By comparison, general dentistry practices are far more ubiquitous should proximity be a priority.
Prospective patients can check locations easily on their website or inquire about mobile pop-up clinic visits coming to particular areas to offset this limitation.
Dependency on Technology
While advanced technology empowers greater precision, oversight, and analysis, rare instances of glitches or malfunctions could negatively impact procedural aspects or data collection for coordinating care across offices. Without backups of digital patient records, fixing such disruptions may cause delays.
Some patients may also voice reasonable concerns over digital privacy, data security vulnerabilities, and lack of long-term studies on relatively newer robotic technologies utilized. However, no specific published complaints exist about Clear Choice patient data handling or adverse tech incidents so such risks appear minimal presently.
Potential for Overtreatment
The consolidated business model creates potential incentive to overprescribe extensive treatments aligned to Clear Choice’s spectrum of services rather than objectively necessary steps. Some procedures like bone grafts, sinus lifts, and extraction revisions may get pushed more routinely as profitable addons.
Every patient should carefully weigh how recommended treatment plans correspond to personal dental needs and goals. Seeking independent second opinions can provide helpful perspective assessing optimal therapies. One might still choose Clear Choice for convenience despite ancillary services deemed unnecessary elsewhere.
Clear Choice vs. Other Dental Implant Options
In considering implants, Clear Choice competes against solo general dentist implantologists as well as large chains like Aspen Dental or Affordable Dentures. Factors that distinguish among these options include:
Comparison Criteria | ClearChoice | General Dentist | Dental Chains |
---|---|---|---|
Technology Utilization | High | Varies | Low-Moderate |
Success Rates | 95-98% | 90-95% typically | 85-90% on average |
Treatment Duration | 4-6 months | 3-6 months | 3-4 months |
Aftercare Support Term | Lifetime | Varies | 6 months – 5 years |
Location Access | Fair | Excellent | Good |
Customization Options | High | Moderate | Low |
Soft Tissue Esthetics | Excellent | Good | Fair |
Reputation | Excellent | Varies | Mixed |
The choice aligns to individual priorities – whether cost, longevity, aesthetics, convenience, or other factors matter most. Seeking multiple consultations can help patients determine the optimal provider for their preferences and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions about Clear Choice Dental Implants
How much do Clear Choice dental implants cost?
Costs ranges from $3,000 – $4,500 per tooth, with added complexities like bone grafting or extractions inflating charges. Their financing plans can split costs interest-free over 2 years.
Does insurance cover Clear Choice treatment?
Many plans cover implants as they would traditional crown/bridge dental work. Clear Choice handles assessments and pre-authorization paperwork to directly bill insurance carriers simplifying common insurance headaches.
Is the surgical process painful?
Local anesthesia and IV sedation options allow comfortable, anxiety-free procedures with no memories of surgery afterwards. Post-op recovery involves mild swelling and tenderness managed with pain medication.
How do I know if I qualify for Clear Choice implants?
A free consultation and CT-scan determines candidates with adequate bone density and healthy tissues to support successful implants. Certain health conditions may disqualify patients if risks of surgery complications run too high.
What happens if an implant fails?
The less than 2% failures typically occur from inadequate healing and integration in the first 6 months. Clear Choice offers lifetime guarantees so failed implants get swiftly repaired or replaced at no additional costs.
Do the artificial teeth ever need replacement?
The customized implant teeth should last for decades with proper care and maintenance no different than natural teeth need. Some chipping or wear may eventually require tooth restoration for a nominal fee.
Can Clear Choice treat other cosmetic dental issues beyond missing teeth?
Many of their offices offer supplementary services like teeth whitening, veneers, gum contouring, and restructuring flawed smiles beyond implants for those wanting perfect aesthetics.
Conclusion
Clear Choice offers a transformational teeth replacement solution that permanently fills gaps left by missing teeth with natural looking and feeling dental implants. Their cutting-edge precision guided techniques and coordinated support teams can achieve excellent long-lasting outcomes superior to other tooth replacement options.
However, costs exceed other providers, and treatment proves lengthier with moderate inherent surgical risks. Thorough research and multiple consultations help determine if Clear Choice implants appropriately match patient physiology, lifestyle needs, and budget constraints. Weighing personalized priorities can discern if advantages warrant higher investments for some compared to traditional low cost choices that suffice for others.
Carefully evaluating the pros and cons when deciding the optimal tooth replacement solution remains crucial to attain satisfactory improvements in oral function and aesthetics that enhance quality of life.