A dentist near my home has a large sign bearing his name and the words “Dental Implantologist.” Until I saw his sign, I had never come across the word “implantologist,” not even while watching the National Spelling Bee. But I had certainly heard of dental implants, because companies that send targeted ads through the internet are certain that I need them. And they want to sell them to me, trying their best to convince me that dental implants could be life-changing, giving me the ability to smile my way out of any problem.
I’d smile at the police officer when she pulls me over for driving 75 miles per hour in a school zone, smile at the judge when she asks me if being on time to work was worth endangering so many young lives, and smile at my wife when she brings the “Notice of Deportation” letter to my prison cell.
My dentist has also tried to convince me to get a couple of implants. He talked to me about implants after my last extraction, telling me that he’d be willing to schedule another extraction — from my bank account.
Even if I wasn’t concerned about the cost of dental implants, I’d be reluctant to get them, because I don’t consider them a necessity for me quite yet. When would they be a necessity? When I need them to chew pancakes. I’m signing up for implants the day that my wife says, “Here are your pancakes, fresh out of the blender.”
It’s not just the cost of dental implants that concerns me, it’s also the fact that I’d need to sit in a dental chair. I try to avoid dental chairs as much as possible. In fact, any chair that reclines makes me worry that someone is going to poke a sharp object into my mouth.
I’m also not too keen on anesthesia, whether it’s local or general. Local anesthesia usually involves injections, while general anesthesia is like fighting Oleksandr Usyk: I’d be knocked out cold. But unlike getting a punch from the heavyweight boxer, I’d feel no pain. I’d just be unconscious until the procedure was over. Then I’d wake up and say, “What happened to all my teeth?” And the dentist would say, “I removed them all. While you were under sedation, I decided that none of your teeth were worth saving. I’m going to replace them all with implants. Don’t worry about the cost. I take Visa and MasterCard.” This would be truly frightening, because all I have is Discover.
A nightmare scenario like this is extremely unlikely to happen. But every now and then, someone has the misfortune of seeking treatment from an unethical dentist or dental clinic. That’s what happened to a 63-year-old Chinese man, surnamed Li.
As the South China Morning Post recently reported, Li, who lives in Baoji in Shaanxi province, went to the Datuanyuan Dental Clinic to have an aching tooth examined and potentially replaced. Li had been drawn to the clinic through ads that said “Have a complete set of teeth, live past 100,” and “Get a dental implant in the morning and eat meat in the afternoon.” (As you can guess, Li is not a vegetarian.)
Li expected to have one tooth replaced, but he instead lost 12 teeth and received 10 implants. No, it wasn’t a “buy one, get nine free” deal. The clinic drained his bank account and digital wallets, taking a total of 18,800 yuan (about $2,800). They also stuck him with a bill for 6,200 yuan (almost $900).
Worst of all, they put his life at risk by giving him so many implants despite his poor health. He suffers from coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Chinese health authorities have found the clinic guilty of misconduct, ordered it to return Li’s treatment fee, and shut it down for “rectification.” Li may get his money back, but what about his teeth?
Many people go abroad to get dental implants and save lots of money. Whether you go abroad or stay home, here are some important questions to consider:
