BUDAPEST All-On-4: 75% LESS BUT JUST AS GOOD

Why did I choose to do this? One reason I’m writing this is that there are not enough people willing to share their experiences in detail, and I know the experiences of others help to make the right decision. Over the years my teeth had been repaired, replaced, and rotted. It got to the point that I no longer had a bit, nor molders to chew with and the remaining teeth were either capped, bridged, or filled. I knew I would end up with either a partial or dentures. So, when I discovered that my upcoming European river cruise was ending up in Budapest and that Budapest, (which has more dentist offices than any other city in the world) offered dental work 60--70% cheaper than the US prices, I had to learn more. So, I read how people came from all around the world because they have some of the lowest dentist prices for All-on-4 implant dentures! After more research, I realized I found the solution to how to afford dental implants. I then read how the procedure required three trips to Budapest, (1st trip: Extractions -5 days; 2nd trip, Implants -3 days; and 3rd trip, Abutments/dentures -10 days). I figured I could save one trip by getting extractions done here at home using my insurance. Then I thought I might avoid the last trip by using my local dentures here at home. I inquired with my local dentist about how much a set of All-on-4 dentures would cost, thinking the implants were the most expensive part of this procedure, and I was quoted a rough estimate of $45,000--just to place the abutments and dentures onto the implants! So, I made the decision to have my teeth pulled locally and then to get the ALL-on-4 done in Budapest with two trips. The first thing I did was to get a treatment plan from my local dentist to have 17 teeth extracted and a set of temporary dentures made. I was quoted $2,075 from my local dentist. Then I got a second opinion from Aspen Dental who quoted me $1,505. Since Aspen has their own denture lab, I thought I would go with them, but money is just part of my decision process and to know which one is better at their job I let the first dentist pull three teeth and I was not pleased. This dentist extracted my teeth with great difficulties, charged me more than I was quoted, and then recommended I go without temporary dentures for months after the extractions while my mouth healed. I then had Aspen Dentist pull two teeth and they made me feel more relaxed and reassuring and promised a full set of temporary dentures the same day. So, I choose to have Aspen Dental extract the remaining 12 teeth and make a set of temporary dentures. They placed the dentures in my mouth after the extractions but I couldn’t deal with the pain. so I ended up going weeks without dentures anyhow! It took about five weeks for my gums to heal enough for me to finally be able to use my dentures. (Let me share some details that really don’t apply to the All-on-for decisions. When I had my extractions done both dentist offices screwed up on filing my insurance. The first dentist was new, she just took over that office and they confused my EPO policy, which only covers the dentist, with a PPO policy that covers the dental office, so when they filed for reimbursement, they were denied because the new dentist was out of my network. Thankfully this new dentist never contacted me about paying the denied claim. The second dentist at Aspen did a fine job pulling two teeth and was reimbursed because that dentist was in my network. The problem occurred when I returned to have the additional 12 teeth pulled and the temporary dentures made. The previous dentist was absent that day so they assigned me another dentist who was not in my insurance network, and their claim was also denied. Then Aspen came after me for not only the insurance claim amount but they wanted the full price one pays without the reduced price offered by the insurance. I refused to pay because they were the ones who made the decision to change dentist and that was a breach of contract, according to the treatment plan we agreed upon. The dentist company retracted their demand for payment and we parted ways. I also parted ways with the insurance company and found one that covered all dentists, worldwide, and offered coverage for implants as well.) Using my new dentures was not an option because now I had NO Teeth! This was an awful experience that required enduring the pain of sore gums, especially when bone spurs (little fragments of bone broken off the socket where the teeth were extracted) were still working their way out. It takes weeks for some of those splinters to work their way out of my gums. At first, my gums looked like ruff ridges and my dentist compared this to the knuckles on your fist. Initially, I had the typical gagging reflexes when trying to wear dentures until I overcome this psychological effect, “it is all in my head”, and soon I adjusted to having these “things” float around in my mouth. I also had to get used to the fact that the dentures were causing me to have excess saliva, but that to become an adjustment my body soon made. When the dentures got loose and mixed with my food, it was a real mess. I had to learn how to keep them in place and found that glue really helped—but this become a love-hate relationship as the glue kept my dentures in place but getting that glue out of my mouth is disgusting. I soon found “Seabound” pads are much easier to deal with. My speech was slurred, so I practiced speaking and I learned that singing helped me learn to speak better. I also learned to use gum pain relief mouth wash. It turns out there is a whole selection of denture supplies in the grocery stores that I never knew existed before. The first few days of being toothless were really depressing and I felt that I had made the biggest mistake of my life. The bleeding stopped within a few hours after the extractions and I was able to drink fluids, and it took only a few more hours before I was able to start eating soft foods, like yogurt. I rinsed my mouth with one teaspoon of salt to one cup of water about four times a day for the first few weeks. After six weeks there was still some pain when I was wearing the dentures but if I wanted to eat real food, so I had to learn to wear them, I had no other choice, even if it was painful. I would put them in just before dinner and take them out immediately afterward. After two months and about six adjustments at the dentist's office, my temporary dentures were realigned with a comfortable lining. I was finally able to wear my temporary dentures will little or no pain and was able to eat solid food again, Hurray! I was still unable to bit into an apple-like before and avoided hard foods like nuts and raw vegetables, but I knew when I got my implants, I would be closer to normal than I would ever be with just glued in teeth. I was committed to getting implants to hold these dentures in place so I started an earnest search for the best dentist in Budapest. To be honest I also considered other countries and some, like Mexico and Costa Rica, were comparable but others those that were cheaper didn’t have the standards, equipment, or training as those in Hungary. Comparing the quality of education and training of various dentists, with their success rates and experience with implants, I found a number of professionals in the All-on-4 field in Budapest. Previously I had a panoramic x-ray taken as part of my teeth extraction plan, so I sent copies by email to a number of different dental offices for quotes. I soon got offers for upper and lower All-on-4 dentures ranging from $6,500 to $26,000. Some Budapest dentists were offering cheaper ALL-on-4 dentures because they use cheaper materials. The quality of the material that is used is important because I wanted them to last a lifetime and if anything goes wrong, I would need to have it repaired or replaced with US dentist and dentists in the USA don’t use that cheap material. I was only interested in getting implants that are world-renounced and made of the best material, which is available and well known to dentists in the US. I learned the best implants are made by Straumann and Nobel-bio. Nobel is the original designer of the All-on-4 implants system and is the leader in the implant market. Straumann is just as well known and as good as Nobel, but because they are in second place for overall sales and they are striving for first place, so they are offering sizable discounts on their products. I learned, although too late for me, that because the All-on-4 system doesn’t give the same tactile feedback as normal teeth, it’s harder to know how much force one is actually applying to their bit when chewing. Therefore, it’s wise to keep a couple of teeth if possible, so you can feel how much pressure your bit is applying. All-on-4 dentures are sometimes damaged from too much force being applied so it’s important to use a material for the dentures that are very durable. Cheaper quotes offered acrylic dentures, basically plastic, and no reputable dentist would use acrylic for All-on4 dentures. Then there is ceramic, which is much stronger and the porcelain looks beautiful. Ceramic on a metal base has been the most used and performs well with a beautiful finish. I read that Zirconia, is the best, because it is a stronger form of ceramic that doesn’t need a metal base, and it’s the most durable, with the least weight and a great appearance. But they cost more and everyone bosting on the value of the “new and Improved” Zirconia has a vested interest in getting you to spend more, so go figure. But after getting my jaw x-rayed and examined by my Budapest dentist, I was convinced that I would do best with ceramic covered metal dentures because of my strong bite and because of jaw bone structure. I felt like arguing with the dentist because I really wanted Zirconia, but then I figured the dentist knows best. Also, he was actually losing out on the opportunity to charge me hundreds of dollars more by just letting me get the Zirconia, so he must have good reason to recommend the metal covered with ceramic. Before making the trip overseas I talked with numerous dentists around my town and did research about the aftercare cleaning and inspection treatment I would need every six months. I would not be able to return to Budapest to get follow-up care if needed, so what if? Most dentists stress that finding a dentist who would fix “other dentist’s work” would be difficult, therefore you should spend your money getting the All-on 4 done from their office. I started to find dentists who were more accommodating and willing to help as needed. Many independent dentists on the internet stress how important it is to get a new set of temporary dentures after the implants. They stress how I should not try to make the previous set fit over the implants because it’s important not to disturb the implants while healing. I don’t want anything to go wrong, and it’s wiser to be safe, so I planned on having my Budapest dentist provide a set of temporary dentures after he installed the implants. As it turned out when I had my initial interview with my Budapest dentist, he looked at my temporary dentures then advised me that they would work just fine. My implants would be buried in my gums and my temporary dentures would not bother the implants. So, I saved all the extra cost of getting a new set of temporary dentures. Again, he was more concerned about doing the right thing than he was in making money! Before choosing a Budapest dentist, I’m read every article I could find on the internet and watched every YouTube there is on every aspect of implants, just so I could make a wise decision. I was templated to go with the dentist who had the best reviews from their patients, the most popular, but I believe most of that kind of success is from marketing. I value reviews that give personal experiences, with details, especially the little things you can’t find anywhere else. So, after reading reviews and researching a number of Budapest dentists, I chose MDental because they have experience with thousands of implant procedures, a 96% success ratio, modern equipment, and highly trained professionals, quick responses with full details on the procedures, and they are offering 15% discounts, plus they are located in one of the major hospitals, just in case. I exchanged numerous emails with their associates who coordinate dental tourism for MDental: (DentalTreatment.EU - Budapest Top Dental