1. Is there a warranty/guarantee on all work? If so, how long is it for?

2. Get everything in writing and before you pay!

3. Does your provider display exemplary chair side manner? Do they make you feel comfortable? Are they kind? Are they supportive?

4. Sedation/Pain management - How will your manage pain during and afterwards? (Anesthesia, prescription or OTC medicines) What are the costs?

5. Materials - What material will your teeth (Prosthetic) be made out of acrylic, zirconia, porcelain? Acrylic costs much less than porcelain or zirconia.

6. Changes - What if you aren’t happy with your finals, will they make changes? How many? How much will it cost?

7. Timeline - How long will each stage take? Will you be without teeth during any of these stages?

8. Additional procedures: bone grafts, sinus lifts, extractions, etc. Are these included in the cost? Be sure to get an itemized treatment plan BEFORE you pay!

9. Have you spoken with the actual doctor performing your surgery? How accessible are they? Do or have they explained things well? How many Doctors are involved, one or multiple? Is everything done at one location or do you have to travel to multiple offices?

10. Aftercare: what is the frequency of follow up visits or appointments? What if you have an emergency? Is there an after hours contact number?

11. Which brand implants will they install? This matters because some brands conduct regular research and are constantly updating their hardware. Others may have implants sitting on shelves for years and lack the latest technological advancements. Also, warranties are often passed down from manufacturer to dental practice, and from practice to the client. (FYI.. Most implants that are used are made of titanium)

12. Payment - Upfront? Deposit? When? Payment plans? Financing? Through whom? What’s included in your payment?

13. Second opinions - Unless your experience is so satisfying that you don’t want to go anywhere else, you should always consider a second opinion. There are more ways to tackle these Most choose the procedures they are most comfortable with, or they may choose procedures with the most return on their investment. You need to be able to make a comparative analysis. Cost is only ONE factor!

** These are just a few things to keep in mind. It’s normal to want to shop for the lowest price, but remember, we are not car shopping and not all things are equal. If you were considering a heart transplant, would you look for the lowest price or the person with the most experience?