Q&A Section
Please look for your question and answer below. Should you not find the needed answer, feel free to contact us.
Q: How do I know that I qualify for dental implant treatment? I don’t want to travel to Belize only to find out I don’t.
A: We created a page that guides you through the process of acquiring what we need from you to determine whether you qualify for implant treatment or not. Visit the page HERE. This way you can schedule for your visit to Belize with peace of mind.
If you are in Belize already, visit one of our clinics to have your scans taken and your medical history form completed, and we will revue your case and provide you with an answer the same day. Should you wish to proceed, your surgery may be scheduled as quickly as the next day.
Q: Can I scuba dive after my implant treatment?
A: NO. You should not scuba dive immediately after dental implant surgery. You must wait a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks after an uncomplicated implant placement and obtain final clearance from your dentist or oral surgeon. For more complex procedures involving bone grafts or sinus augmentation, the waiting period may be longer, up to three to six months.
We suggest you do your diving prior to your surgery.
Q: Once my implant/s has/have integrated, do I need to go back to Belize for the final restoration?
A: We would absolutely love for you to come back to Belize, but if it’s not possible, your home dentist can restore the case. We will provide you with all the information you need to provide your home dentist to enable him/her to restore the case. The implants and components used in Belize are freely available and well known in the USA.
Q: Can you assist me with accommodation reservations?
A: We cannot assist you ourselves, but we can recommend a Belizean travel agent to you. KATIE VALK, owner of Belize Trips is an American Expat who has lived and operated her business in Belize for more than 20 years. She knows Belize better than most and knows every resort in the country. [email protected]. US based phone number: 1-561-210-7015.
When communicating with her, please provide her with your Implantologist’s name and your surgery date.
Q: What does an implant cost in Belize?
A: There is not a fixed fee for all Belizean implantologists, but the average fee for the implant placement varies between US$750 and US$1,200. The same average fee applies for the restoration of the implant. Multiple implants may cost less per unit. It is best to ask for a quotation from the clinic.
Q: Is it possible to get a tooth extracted and an implant placed immediately with a crown?
A: Yes, it is possible, but a list of criteria needs to be met at the time of implant planning and finally at the time of surgery. Your implantologist may choose not to place the temporary crown, but a custom healing abutment. The custom healing abutment is tooth colored, but is not a complete crown. It’s purpose is to preserve the bone and the soft tissue to be able to give you a crown that has a very natural appearance. When a tooth gets extracted and an implant is placed immediately, but no custom healing abutment placed at the same time, bone and soft tissue resorption creates a far less aesthetic final crown.
Q: I’ve lost a tooth and want to get an implant placed. Is it possible to get a crown when the implant is placed?
A: Yes, it is possible. In implantology this is called “Immediate Loading”. A list of criteria needs to be met to avoid the risk of implant failure. An implantologist will only load the implant immediately if no doubt exists. It is not worth it to put the implant at risk for the sake of immediate loading.
Q: How long after the implant/s is/are placed can I get a crown/s placed?
A: The healing or integration phase on average is about 3 months. At this time the implant is well integrated and can be loaded with the final crown. In some cases, this time may be longer, depending on the treatment you received and the quality of bone present.
Q: Can I get an implant/s placed in Belize and the crown/s done by my Dentist at home?
A: Absolutely. We will provide you with all the information needed by your home Dentist to restore the case. Your home Dentist is also welcome to contact us if he/she needs any aditional information.
Q: Can you guarantee that the implant/s placed will be successful, or is there a chance it may fail?
A: No Implantologist in the world can give you such a guarantee. Dental implant failure rates are consistently low, with most recent studies reporting overall failure rates of around 1% to 5% worldwide. In the case of implant failure, the implant needs to be removed and the socket grafted. Around 4 months later, you should be ready for the placement of a new implant.
Q: How many days do I need to spend in Belize for my implant treatment?
A: You need to arrive in Belize at least one day before your scheduled surgery and you are free to leave Belize two days after your surgery. Should you wish to enjoy a holiday in Belize, we suggest you schedule your surgery towards the end of your visit. This will allow you to enjoy your time in Belize by snorkeling, scuba diving, ziplining, cave tubing etc, since strenuous activities and diving is not allowed immediately after your implant treatment. It will also give you time enjoy the great food Belizean resorts and restaurants have to offer, because after your implant treatment, you need to be on a soft food diet for weeks.
Q: Is it safe to travel to Belize?
A: Yes, Belize is a very safe holiday destination enjoyed by almost half a million tourists every year, of which most are from the USA. The US travel advisory do however warn against visiting certain parts of Belize City. The safest areas to be in are the tourism towns and islands such as San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia and San Ignacio.
Q: How do I get from my resort to the clinic for my treatment and back to the resort therafter?
A: Most resorts offer a shuttle service and will drop you off at the clinic for your surgery and pick you up at the clinic after your surgery. Some clinics offer the same service. Please schedule with the clinic and/or the resort you are staying at.
Q: If I was told by my home dentist that I don’t qualify for implant treatment, is it possible to qualify for treatment in Belize?
A: This is highly unlikely since the same rules apply in implantology everywhere in the world. Belize wishes to establish itself as a world-leading dental implantology tourism destination and our implantologists will not place an implant in a patient that do not qualify.
Should you wish to get a second opinion, you are welcome to submit a CBCT, intraoral scans and your completed medical history form HERE. Our implant planner and implantologist will be happy to revue your case and give you a second opinion.
Q: If I get an implant/s placed in Belize, how will my home dentist know what implant was placed to enable him/her to restore it?
A: At the end of your implant treatment, we will provide you with all the details that you can provide your home Dentist with. The implant brand, implant diameter and length, serial numbers and surgical report will be provided to you. Should your local Dentist have any further questions, he/she is welcome to call us.
Q: Do I get a quotation for my treatment before the time and are there any chances of that amount changing?
A: Yes. Once we have reviewed your case and approved you for treatment, a quotation will be provided to you. In some cases, additional treatment may be suggested to you by the implantologist, but it is up to you to accept or decline such additional treatment. Once you accept the quotation, you can go ahead and schedule your surgery with the clinic.
Q: Which implantologist is the best one to go to in Belize?
A: We will not recommed an implantologist to you that is not fully capable of the specific procedure.
For complex cases such as full-arch restorations, extensive bone grafting and sinus lifts, you will need the services of an Oral Surgeon. When we revue your case, we will make sure that the specific treatment is assigned to the correct implantologist or referred to a Specialist.
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- Phone: +501 633 3876
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