Dentaltown August 2018 - 40

message board

Implants are not a panacea; they come with their own set of problems. Knowing how to
address these will be crucial, especially when you start having everyone and their mother placing
implants. A significant number are going to have problems ... and if you can treat these problems, you can find a nice niche. ■

4/24/2018

DangerousDentist
Member Since: 03/14/18
Post: 26 of 309

When an implant fails, I don't want to clean up the mess. Plus, it is typically older patients
with complex med histories that need implants. I'm sure I will get there one day, but right now
it doesn't seem to be worth the hassle. ■
4/24/2018

Eazy Breezy
Member Since: 03/08/09
Post: 28 of 309

Demographics are the No. 1 reason I don't place implants. My practice is in a place where
most patients don't care if they've got some missing teeth. If they did have the money, they
wouldn't spend it on a tooth-they'd spend it on a tractor or something.
I selected a demographic like this very intentionally. I like bread-and-butter dentistry.
Fillings, extractions, dentures, and a few crowns per week.
No desire to put my free time into learning implants or my free money into the training. ■
4/24/2018

drteeths
Member Since: 10/21/12
Post: 36 of 309

For me it's the same reason why I don't do much endo: My patient population is relatively
stable and healthy. I restored about 25ish implants last year; if I am being generous and saying
half are GP doable (straightforward, easy access, etc.), that's about 12 implants in-house, which
is about one a month.
I feel like to really warrant the equipment, my own training and my staff's training, I
would need to really start marketing implant dentistry, and really don't have the desire to be
an "implant dental center." I like being a family dentist vs. a general dentist. Keeping those 12
implants in house may end up being an extra $12K in income after insurance/overhead etc.,
which is money, but not enough to make me jump into implants head-first. ■
4/26/2018

davidpalmer
Member Since: 04/14/00
Post: 54 of 309

There are simply not enough patients (willing and able) agreeing to such a high-cost procedure with no insurance. Of course there are a gazillion people who need implants, but they are
not going to get them done-too expensive, no insurance help and often a lack of concern for a
tooth that has been missing for years.
I placed implants for many years but have all but abandoned the procedure. Why? Because
I can't get comfortable with a procedure I don't do often enough. I also don't have a CBCT.
Let's just face it, shall we: Not every GP can become an "implant dentist," because the
demand is not great enough for every GP to do them. Are you planning to get referrals from
other GPs when every OS and periodontist places them as well?
It is far more profitable to concentrate on the things that are in great demand. Nearly every
kid needs ortho and WT extractions. Patients in pain will pay for molar endo.
No one is going to beat your door down for implants, no matter how much fun they are to
do for the dentist. ■
4/27/2018

Mattcosta
Member Since: 07/02/09
Post: 60 of 309

Moving forward, the cost of dental implants (for the patient) will come down.
The "standard of care" will increase to include CBCT and some form of guide (at least for
pilot osteotomies), which will require more financial investment for practitioners or pre-existing

AUGUST 2018 // dentaltown.com

http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown August 2018