Consumer: "The reason for hesitating about implant treatment is 'cost'"… What is the implant price the public desires?

◆ How long does an implant last?

Nearly half of the respondents (43.4%) answered that the lifespan of implants is '7 to 10 years.' Additionally, 28.8% of respondents also believed that they could be used permanently. Following that, opinions of '5 to 7 years' (15.6%) and '3 to 5 years' (11.2%) were also expressed.

How long is the actual lifespan of an implant? According to expert consultation, the lifespan can vary depending on management. Dr. Joo-hwan Lee, Director of Public Relations at the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Implantology (specialist in prosthodontics), stated, "Most implants are designed as a detachable structure with an upper prosthesis and a lower fixture. The lifespan of the lower fixture can vary depending on factors such as regular dental check-ups and oral hygiene management," and added, "The upper structure requires more diverse interventions, making it difficult to determine an average lifespan uniformly."

◆ What is the duration of implant treatment?

The top choice was '2-3 months,' selected by 38.1% of respondents. The second place was '3-6 months' (23.9%), and those who chose 'within a month' accounted for 21.7%, showing a close margin to the second place. Respondents who thought it would take 'more than 6 months' made up 16.4%, indicating a significant portion.

The actual duration of implant treatment varies depending on inflammation and the condition of the bone. Generally, it takes about 1 to 2 months, but if the bone condition is poor, it can take up to 3 to 5 months.

◆ How did you learn about dental implants?

Among the total 1,227 respondents, the majority (58.5%) cited TV advertisements and programs as their reason for learning about implants. Internet searches were also significant at 39.2%, and "introduction from family or acquaintances" was close behind at 29.3%. There were responses indicating they learned about implants from dentists (19.7%) and dental hygienists (1.6%), and although a small number, 6.2% of respondents did not know exactly what implants are.

◆ 6.7 out of 10 people, the most important thing they consider during implant treatment

The most important factor when receiving implant treatment is 'trust in the dental (hospital)' (67.2%). Following that, responses included implant brand (16.7%) and cost (15.9%).

Implant treatment involves placing artificial teeth and is more complex compared to relatively simple cavity treatments, so reliability must be considered. When actually deciding on implant treatment, the choice of dental clinic is considered an important factor.

'Dental clinics certified by the government or associations' (28%) ranked first. Recommendations from acquaintances (22.2%) took second place with little difference, and affordable dental clinics (19.8%) followed closely behind. About 15.7% of respondents chose the same dental clinic they had previously visited, and there were also opinions such as frequently appearing in the media (9.5%) and heavily advertising dental clinics (3.9%).

◆ The reason for hesitating to undergo implant treatment is 'cost'... What is the estimated cost and the actual amount?

There is a strong perception that implant treatment is expensive. The main reason for hesitating to undergo implant treatment was 'cost' (39%). So, how much does actual implant treatment cost?

Currently, the insurance coverage for implants is approximately 1.3 million won per unit. However, according to survey results, the most desired cost by consumers is between 500,000 and 600,000 won, accounting for 40.8%. Costs below 400,000 won were chosen by 28.1%, and 21.8% of respondents selected between 700,000 and 900,000 won. The difference between the desired amount and the actual market cost appears to create a financial burden.

28.9% of respondents also selected 'burden and fear of treatment' as the reason for hesitating to undergo treatment. Following that, concerns about side effects (14.5%) > treatment duration (9.9%) > no hesitation (5.2%) > the level of medical staff (2.4%) in order.

6.9 out of 10 people are satisfied with their tooth function after surgery

Among 793 respondents who underwent implant surgery, 21.7% answered that they were 'very satisfied.' 48% chose 'satisfied,' and 27% selected 'neutral.'

1.6% of respondents were dissatisfied, and 0.3% were very dissatisfied. We asked them about the reasons.

The most common reason was "because it is expensive" (29.2%), followed closely by "not satisfied with the function" (25%). Next were "takes a long time" (20.8%) > "severe pain" (16.7%) > "not aesthetically pleasing" (8.3%).

Urgent resolution needed for 'Dumping Dental' issue

Recently emerging as a social issue is the 'dumping dental clinic.' A dumping dental clinic is a dental practice that excessively advertises abnormally low prices. For example, while the insurance-covered cost for a single implant is about 1.3 million won, they advertise treatment at a cheap price of 500,000 won per implant to attract consumers, and once payment is made, they close down, making it a so-called 'scam dental clinic.'

However, more than half of the respondents (52.9%) had never heard of dumping dentistry. Among those who knew about dumping dentistry, 63.5% reported that they encountered advertisements through social media. Portal sites accounted for 27%, which is not insignificant. Additionally, opinions included dental clinics (6.2%) and flyers (2.8%).

To prevent damage from dumping dentistry, 45.7% of respondents selected 'guidance on proper implant treatment methods and appropriate costs' as necessary. This is likely because, without knowing why actual implant costs are high or how much they are, there is a high possibility of seeking cheaper treatments.

Promotion of precautions through cases of damage from dumping dentistry was not written at 35.5%. Additionally, 18.9% of respondents answered that information about nationwide 'Good Dentist' certifications by institutions and organizations is disclosed.