Implants are expensive in Luxembourg! Or maybe not? ?
How often have you heard people say things like: « Dental implants are very expensive in Luxembourg! » or « I prefer to have them done abroad because they are cheaper » or « It costs a fortune to have your teeth treated in Luxembourg!
At the same time, the internet is full of advertisements such as: « Your implant, only 500 euros » or « Your teeth in one day » or the promotion of dental clinics abroad, promising you excellent results at very low prices?
Of course, there are many good dental clinics abroad and these kinds of advertisements can make you decide quickly to opt for them, even, in some cases, without asking for a single quote in Luxembourg. Our advice? Get informed first! !
But to make an informed decision, you need to ask the right questions and make sure you have all the information. And this article is here to help you make an informed decision.
How much does an implant really cost?
Les coûts moyens des dental implants (implant +pilier + couronne) sont d’environ :
- 800 -1000€ in countries like Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia;
- 1400 - 1600€ in countries such as: Hungary, Portugal, Spain or Croatia;
- About 1600€ for France & Belgium;
- And starting from 1.600€ in Luxembourg.
*All the above prices are taken into account for medium to high quality implant brands. And in all cases we are talking about AVERAGE prices, as you will find highs and lows in each country, depending on the pricing policy of the clinics.
Why is there such a big difference in price in some cases?
There are many reasons why the total cost of an implant may vary. Contrary to what one might think, the costs of the materials involved (including here the cost of the implant itself), do not vary much across Europe. As the majority of dental clinics offer good quality standards, they work with similar materials or brands of implants, and therefore the costs of these materials are not the ones that make the big difference in the final costs So, what else is there?
A large part of this price difference comes from the operational costs of doing business in Luxembourg or any other Western European country. The costs of the practice location or rent in an Eastern European country are much lower than in Western Europe. And the same goes for the other costs involved, such as: salaries of dental assistants, fees of prosthetists, dental surgeon fees, costs of utilities, difference in VAT charges or different levels of taxation. All these elements constitute the difference (if any) and may be reflected in the final price.
Only 500€ / implant! Is it a scam or is it real?
The Internet is full of advertisements promoting very attractive prices. But are these prices real or are you missing something? In this particular case (€500/implant), you are probably not looking at the whole picture: either you are not comparing similar services, or there are other costs not mentioned. So beware of half-truths.
Get informed! Ask the right questions!
Here are a few things that no one tells you about, but that you should consider before you decide to have your teeth treated abroad.
Find out in advance:
- What is included in the price? There are cases where, as a teaser strategy, the advertisements only promote the cost of the implant itself (no abutment or crown included). In this case, yes, it can be €500, but only for the implant itself. So, better ask for the exact breakdown of the cost:
- How much is the implant / what’s the cost of the abutment and how much will the crown/bridge be?
- Only by adding all of these 3 components you can start making yourself a more realistic picture of the costs;
- Ask how much the preparatory treatments will cost: extractions and any other necessary treatments: X-rays, bone grafts, sinus lift, surgical guide, etc.
- Ask if you will have a temporary crown/bridge as a staging phase of your treatment and how much will cost. In some cases, the temporary bridge can add a few good extra hundreds of euros on top of your separate implant price.
- Ask if the cost of pre and post implant consultations are included;
- Ask if there is an additional cost for cementing crowns/bridge: some clinics may charge for each crown/ element of the bridge to be fixed/cemented in the final position;
- Ask in how many stages your treatment will be carried out / how many visits will be needed, how far apart in time each stage will be and how each appointment will take. This is particularly important if you are opting for the treatment abroad.
There are indeed cases that qualify for "One Day Dental Implants", but not all, and even for those, pre- or post-implant consultations are necessary. - Ask what happens if your implants fall out?
There are risks with this procedure, including the risk of not having the implant osseointegrated, in which case the implant will not hold and therefore fall out.
Some clinics offer a free first replacement, while others charge you for a repeat procedure: new implant cost, additional consultations, etc. Find out which case you are in.
These are just some of the aspects that you might be interested to finding out upfront, especially because they might involve extra costs which will add up to the final cost of the procedure.
On the other hand, even if starting from relatively higher prices compare to other countries, there are however some incontestable advantages of fixing your teeth locally.Here are some things to consider:
- If you are insured in Luxembourg, you are most likely eligible to be reimbursed a considerable amount of the costs involved in the process, such like:
- Teeth extractions;
- Other preparatory treatments prior to implant placement;
- Pre- and post-implantation consultations;
- Part of the scans/X rays before and after the implants;
- Part of the cost of crowns or bridges;
- No travel and accommodation costs and no use of your holiday for treatment.
- And perhaps the most important point to consider is the proximity of the doctor. Full smile rehabilitation is usually a long process and many things can happen during the process that may require the doctor's intervention, even if it's just to reassure the patient that what they are going through is normal. In addition, there may be other cases where the doctor's intervention is necessary, in addition to the appointments included in the initial treatment plan, like:
- Take a closer look at the healing process after implant placement;
- Falling out of the implant;
- Pillar fall;
- Fitting your temporary crown/bridge;
- Or other types of emergency situations that require a doctor's appointment.
What you also need to keep in mind is that if you are in the middle of a smile rehabilitation process and unforeseen situations arise when your doctor is not nearby, there are not many doctors who would take the responsibility of intervening in the middle of a treatment that has already begun.
But above all, perhaps the most important step to take before any decision is made is to get more than one quote for your case.It may cost you time to get several quotes and opinions on your case, but it can also save you time and money later.
Invest some time at the beginning to do proper research, get more quotes, write down all your questions, get all your answers and only then balance all your options.
Stay calm - Get information - Get quotes - Fix your teeth
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