Dental implants are suitable for you if you meet the following conditions:

• No presence of active and uncontrolled gum disease or active dental decay
• Are a healthy individual with no uncontrolled acute systemic disease
• Have adequate bone and thickness of gums in the area that you intend to place dental implants
• Do not have an unstable bite
• Are not taking long-term medications for chronic disease management or blood thinning medication.

If you are taking long term medications for chronic disease management, or blood thinning medication, your medical physician will have to clear you for dental implant surgery with all the necessary precautions

We highly recommend heading to an experienced dental surgeon for a proper professional consultation to evaluate your suitability for the dental implants procedure.

The cost of dental implant treatment is often influenced by the following factors:

• The skill and experience of the dentist or dental specialist
• The reputation of the dentist or dental specialist 
• Whether or not the dental professional has received post-graduate training and qualifications ( specifically in dental implantology)  
• Whether the dental surgeon and the supporting clinical team is trained to meet the needs of the patient looking for dental implants
• The complexity of the dental implant case
• The brand of dental implants used during the procedure
• The material of the dental implant ( titanium vs ceramic implants)
• The quality of the dental laboratory used to fabricate the dental implant prosthesis and the cost of such materials
• Whether or not advanced technology such as computer guided surgical planning and plasma activation of dental implants are employed
• Whether or not there is sedation such as IV sedation or GA sedation needed
• Whether or not there is a need for bone grafting, gum grafting or sinus lifting either before or during the dental implant procedure
• The geographical location of the dental practice

The dental implant procedure often requires careful and detailed clinical examination, diagnosis and treatment planning. This also means that technical skill and expertise is needed to ensure that this advanced procedure goes smoothly. 

As such, the cost of dental implant treatment is very often more expensive than other basic dental procedures.

The costs of dental implants can range from SGD2,000 – SGD6,000 before Medisave subsidy. The costs can vary depending on the following factors:

• How experienced the dental surgeon is
• How complex the dental implant case is
• The brand and material of the implant used

Dental implants can be a huge financial decision, especially when multiple dental implants are required.

Before splurging on dental implants, it might be wise to book a consultation to find out whether you are suitable for dental implants.

Globally, there is no such thing as a dental implant specialist.

There is no dental implant specialist in Singapore or anywhere else in the world.

There are however, dental surgeons or dental specialists who have additional training or have gone for rigorous two-years postgrad implantology training from the Faculty of Dentistry, NUS.

Dental surgeons or specialists who complete the program obtain post graduate qualifications in Dental implantology that is displayable and registrable with the Singapore Dental Council as proof of higher training in Dental implant therapy. 

In addition, a dental surgeon can attend a myriad of short dental implant training courses/lectures, hands-on workshops and conferences to keep up to date in the latest developments in the field. These trainings act as a form of continual dental education and training.

It is interesting to note that the Singapore Dental Council does not recognize the vast majority of such short post grad dental implant courses as a registrable additional qualification

Dental implantology and dental implant surgery is not recognized as a dental specialty anywhere in the world for reasons too complex to explain in this short article. 

In Singapore, the current law allows for ANY qualified dental surgeon to perform dental implant surgery. This is regardless of age, experience and post graduate training of the dental surgeon. Therefore, a fresh dental graduate could legally perform dental implant surgery for a patient, if he or she simply feels confident enough to do so (presuming informed consent has been taken properly)

To find a dental surgeon who can fit your needs and requirements, it is highly recommended to do the following:

• Look out for the qualifications of the dental surgeon. Has the dental surgeon undergone training to do dental implants?
• Look out for the post- graduate qualifications of the dental surgeon. Has the dental surgeon undergone advanced training in dental implantology?
• Look out for the experience of the dental surgeon. Has the dental surgeon been performing implant surgery for months or years?
• Ask for previous dental implants cases that the dental surgeon has performed. Do they meet your expectations?

Dental implant surgery should not be taken lightly. A good dental implant surgeon will be able to guide you through the process and ensure that you receive the care and long term final results that you expect, with as little long term maintenance headaches as possible.

The duration of the dental implant procedure is dependent on the complexity of the procedure. The procedure is tailored to the unique needs of the patient. 

For a simple routine dental implant surgery that is uncomplicated, is computer guided, and does not require any grafting, the surgery can be as quick as 15 minutes (in experienced hands)! 

 This could be even quicker than going for dental scaling and polishing in some cases!

Your dental implants are designed and created to be a permanent teeth replacement solution.

However, while the implant itself is designed to be permanent, the crown that is attached to it might need to be replaced from normal wear and tear. The lifespan will depend on the following factors:

•  Your overall oral hygiene
• Whether or not you are disciplined with regular maintenance visits to your dental implant surgeon
• Your consumption and chewing habits. For example, patients who suffer from bruxism could experience more dental implant prosthesis wear and tear and prosthesis complications)

Yes, it is possible to remove your mini dental implants if they have failed. Failed mini dental implants can be due to the following reasons:

• Surgical incompetence or suboptimal clinical indications and treatment planning
• Severe gum infection around the mini implant
• Unsuccessful osseointegration around the mini implant
• Too much biting forces and stress subjected onto the mini  implant
• Mini-implant supported prosthesis being designed and fabricated in a sub-optimal manner

If you suspect that your mini dental implants have failed, book a consultation with us to address them as soon as possible.

Untreated infections around failed mini-implants could cause bone destruction and spread to neighboring teeth. 

You can book a non-obligatory professional consultation with Dr Gerald Tan at Elite Dental Group via our clinic number or through our WhatsApp.

All enquiries and booking appointments will be responded to within 24 hours.

After a detailed physical and radiographic examination and consultation, Dr Tan will explain to you the following:

1. Intended benefits of any suggested treatment plan option
2. Common and rare complications that could occur with treatment, and how to manage these complications should they occur.
3. Pros and cons of any alternative treatment options.
4. Financial considerations and fees, including any potential hidden costs and interest free payment plan options
5. Medisave as well as any dental insurance or personal accident insurance considerations
6. Considerations to your general health and overall well-being 

Only then will you be able to make an informed and transparent decision of which treatment plan option would be most suitable for you and what you value most.

Yes you can!

You are able to claim Medisave for up to SGD1,250 per tooth. To view the terms and conditions, find out more here.

Should you be on a corporate dental plan, do let us know so that we can advise you on the maximum amount of claims you can file for.

Elite Dental Group also accepts corporate flexi-payments. To find out more about the payment modes that we accept, check out this page or drop us a WhatsApp text.