Becky Carroll was missing a few teeth, and others were stained or crooked. Ashamed, she smiled with lips pressed closed. Her dentist offered to fix most of her teeth with root canals and crowns, Carroll said, but she was wary of traveling a long road of dental work.
Then Carroll saw a TV commercial for another path: ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers. The company advertises that it can give patients “a new smile in as little as one day� by surgically replacing teeth instead of fixing them.
kAm$@ r2CC@== D2G65 2?5 3@CC@H65 7@C E96 DFC86CJ[ D96 D2:5] x? 2? :?E6CG:6H 2?5 2 =2HDF:E[ r2CC@== D2:5 E92E 2E 2 r=62Cr9@:46 4=:?:4 :? }6H y6CD6J :? a_a`[ D96 28C665 E@ A2J Sb`[___ E@ C6A=246 2== 96C ?2EFC2= FAA6C E66E9 H:E9 A62C=J\H9:E6 AC@DE96E:4 @?6D] (92E 42>6 ?6IE[ r2CC@== D2:5[ H2D â€�=:<6 2 9@CC@C >@G:6]â€k^Am
kAmr2CC@== 2==6865 E92E 96C 2?6DE96D:2 H@C6 @77 5FC:?8 :>A=2?E DFC86CJ[ D@ D96 3642>6 4@?D4:@FD 2D 96C E66E9 H6C6 C6>@G65 2?5 E:E2?:F> D4C6HD H6C6 EH:DE65 :?E@ 96C ;2H3@?6] p7E6CH2C5[ r2CC@==’D AC@DE96E:4 E66E9 H6C6 D@ >:D2=:8?65 E92E D96 H2D =2C86=J F?23=6 E@ 496H 7@C >@C6 E92? EH@ J62CD F?E:= D96 4@F=5 277@C5 4@CC64E:G6 DFC86CJ 2E 2?@E96C 4=:?:4[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 DH@C? 56A@D:E:@? 7C@> 96C =2HDF:E]k^Am
kAmr=62Cr9@:46 92D 56?:65 r2CC@==’D 4=2:>D @7 >2=AC24E:46 2?5 ?68=:86?46 :? 4@FCE 7:=:?8D 2?5 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ C6BF6DED 7@C 4@>>6?E @? E96 @?8@:?8 42D6]k^Am
kAm“x E9@F89E :>A=2?ED H@F=5 36 62D:6C[ 2?5 2== 2E @?46[ D@ J@F 5:5?’E 92G6 E@ <66A 8@:?8 324< E@ E96 56?E:DE[â€� r2CC@==[ da[ D2:5 :? 2? :?E6CG:6H] “qFE x D9@F=5 92G6 2D<65 >@C6 BF6DE:@?D â€� =:<6[ r2? E96J D2G6 E96D6 E66E9nâ€k^Am
kAms6?E2= :>A=2?ED 92G6 366? FD65 7@C >@C6 E92? 92=7 2 46?EFCJ E@ DFC8:42==J C6A=246 >:DD:?8 @C 52>2865 E66E9 H:E9 2CE:7:4:2= 5FA=:42E6D[ @7E6? H:E9 A:4EFC6\A6C764E C6DF=ED] (9:=6 :>A=2?E 56?E:DECJ H2D @?46 E96 5@>2:? @7 2 D>2== 8C@FA @7 9:89=J EC2:?65 56?E:DED 2?5 DA64:2=:DED[ E6?D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 56?E2= AC@G:56CD ?@H @776C E96 DFC86CJ 2?5 A=246 >:==:@?D @7 :>A=2?ED 6249 J62C :? E96 &]$]k^Am
kAmp>:5 E9:D 3@@>:?8 :?5FDECJ[ D@>6 :>A=2?E 6IA6CED H@CCJ E92E >2?J 56?E:DED 2C6 =@D:?8 D:89E @7 56?E:DECJ’D 7F?52>6?E2= 8@2= @7 AC6D6CG:?8 ?2EFC2= E66E9 2?5 92G6 364@>6 E@@ H:==:?8 E@ C6>@G6 E66E9 E@ >2<6 C@@> 7@C 6IA6?D:G6 :>A=2?ED[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 >@?E9D\=@?8 :?G6DE:82E:@? 3J zuu w62=E9 }6HD 2?5 rq$ }6HD] x? :?E6CG:6HD[ `_ 6IA6CED D2:5 E96J 925 6249 8:G6? D64@?5 @A:?:@?D E@ >F=E:A=6 A2E:6?ED H9@ 925 366? C64@>>6?565 7@C >@FE9D 7F== @7 :>A=2?ED E92E E96 6IA6CED F=E:>2E6=J 56E6C>:?65 H6C6 ?@E ?646DD2CJ] $6A2C2E6=J[ =2HDF:ED 7:=65 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ 92G6 2==6865 E92E :>A=2?E A2E:6?ED =:<6 r2CC@== 92G6 6IA6C:6?465 A2:?7F= 4@>A=:42E:@?D E92E 92G6 C6BF:C65 4@CC64E:G6 DFC86CJ[ H9:=6 @E96C =2HDF:ED 2==6865 56?E:DED 2E D@>6 :>A=2?E 4=:?:4D 92G6 A6CDF2565[ AC6DDFC65[ @C 7@C465 A2E:6?ED E@ C6>@G6 E66E9 F??646DD2C:=J]k^Am
kAmâ€�%96C6 2C6 >2?J 42D6D H96C6 E66E9[ E96J’C6 A6C764E=J 7:?6[ 2?5 E96J’C6 36:?8 C6>@G65 F??646DD2C:=J[â€� D2:5 (:==:2> v:2??@3:=6[ 562? @7 E96 w2CG2C5 $49@@= @7 s6?E2= |65:4:?6] “x C62==J 92E6 E@ D2J :E[ 3FE >2?J @7 E96> 2C6 5@:?8 :E 3642FD6 E96D6 AC@465FC6D[ 7C@> 2 >@?6E2CJ DE2?5A@:?E[ E96J’C6 >F49 >@C6 36?67:4:2= E@ E96 AC24E:E:@?6C]â€k^Am
kAmv:2??@3:=6 2?5 ?:?6 @E96C 6IA6CED D2J E96J 2C6 4@>32E:?8 2 72=D6 AF3=:4 A6C46AE:@? E92E :>A=2?ED 2C6 >@C6 5FC23=6 2?5 =@?86C\=2DE:?8 E92? ?2EFC2= E66E9[ H9:49 D@>6 36=:6G6 DE6>D :? A2CE 7C@> 25G6CE:D:?8 @? %' 2?5 D@4:2= >65:2] x>A=2?ED C6BF:C6 FA<66A[ 2?5 2=E9@F89 E96J 42?’E 86E 42G:E:6D[ DEF5:6D 92G6 D9@H? E92E A2E:6?ED 42? 36 DFD46AE:3=6 E@ :?764E:@?D :? E96 8F>D 2?5 3@?6 2C@F?5 E96:C :>A=2?ED]k^Am
kAm“yFDE 3642FD6 D@>63@5J 42? 277@C5 :>A=2?ED 5@6D?’E ?646DD2C:=J >62? E92E E96J’C6 2 8@@5 42?5:52E6[â€� D2:5 v6@C86 |2?56=2C:D[ 2 r9:428@\2C62 A6C:@5@?E:DE 2?5 >6>36C @7 E96 p>6C:42? p4256>J @7 !6C:@5@?E@=@8J q@2C5 @7 %CFDE66D] â€�(96? 2? :>A=2?E 92D :?764E:@?[ @C H96? 2? :>A=2?E 92D 3@?6 =@DD[ 2? :>A=2?E 5:6D 2 >F49 BF:4<6C 562E9 E92? 5@ E66E9]â€k^Am
kAmx? :ED D:>A=6DE 7@C>[ :>A=2?E DFC86CJ :?G@=G6D 6IEC24E:?8 2 D:?8=6 E@@E9 2?5 C6A=24:?8 :E H:E9 2 >6E2= A@DE E92E :D D4C6H65 :?E@ E96 ;2H 2?5 E96? 277:I65 H:E9 2 AC@DE96E:4 E@@E9 4@>>@?=J >256 @7 A@C46=2:?[ 2=D@ <?@H? 2D 2 4C@H?] !2E:6?ED 42? 2=D@ FD6 �7F==\2C49� @C “p==\@?\c� :>A=2?ED E@ C6A=246 2== E96:C FAA6C @C =@H6C E66E9 � @C 2== E96:C E66E9]k^Am
kAmu@C E9:D DE@CJ[ zuu w62=E9 }6HD 2?5 rq$ }6HD D@F89E :?E6CG:6HD H:E9 =2C86 56?E2= 492:?D H9@D6 4=:?:4D @776C :>A=2?E DFC86CJ � r=62Cr9@:46[ pDA6? s6?E2=[ p77@C523=6 r2C6[ 2?5 s6?E2= r2C6 p==:2?46 � 6249 @7 H9:49 564=:?65 E@ 36 :?E6CG:6H65 @C 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ >F=E:A=6 C6BF6DED 7@C 4@>>6?E] %96 pDD@4:2E:@? @7 s6?E2= $FAA@CE ~C82?:K2E:@?D[ H9:49 C6AC6D6?ED E96D6 4@>A2?:6D 2?5 @E96CD =:<6 E96>[ 2=D@ 564=:?65 2? :?E6CG:6H C6BF6DE]k^Am
kAmr=62Cr9@:46[ H9:49 DA64:2=:K6D :? 7F==\2C49 :>A=2?ED[ 5:5 ?@E 2?DH6C >@C6 E92? EH@ 5@K6? BF6DE:@?D DF3>:EE65 :? HC:E:?8] x? 2? 6>2:=65 DE2E6>6?E[ E96 4@>A2?J D2:5 7F==\2C49 :>A=2?ED â€�92G6 364@>6 2 H6==\2446AE65 DE2?52C5 @7 42C6 7@C A2E:6?ED H:E9 D6G6C6 E@@E9 =@DD 2?5 E66E9 H:E9 A@@C AC@8?@D:D]â€k^Am
kAmr2CC@== D2:5 D96 C68C6ED ?@E =6EE:?8 96C 56?E:DE ECJ E@ 7:I 96C E66E9 2?5 CFD9:?8 E@ r=62Cr9@:46 7@C :>A=2?ED]k^Am
kAm“q642FD6 :E H2D 2 ?:89E>2C6[� D96 D2:5]k^Am
k9cm�%96J 2C6 ?@E E66E9’k^9cm
kAms6?E2= :>A=2?E DFC86CJ 42? 36 2 8@5D6?5 7@C A2E:6?ED H:E9 F?D2=G28623=6 E66E9] $6G6C2= 6IA6CED D2:5 :>A=2?ED 42? 36 D@ EC2?D7@C>2E:G6 E92E E96:C :?G6?E:@? D9@F=5 92G6 4@?E6?565 7@C 2 }@36= !C:K6] p?5 J6E[ E96D6 6IA6CED DE:== H@CCJ E92E :>A=2?ED 2C6 @G6CFD65[ 3642FD6 :E :D 86?6C2==J 36EE6C 7@C A2E:6?ED E@ 92G6 E96:C ?2EFC2= E66E9]k^Am
kAm!2F= #@D6?[ 2 !6??DJ=G2?:2 A6C:@5@?E:DE H9@ D2:5 96 92D H@C<65 H:E9 :>A=2?ED 7@C >@C6 E92? E9C66 564256D[ D2:5 >2?J A2E:6?ED 36=:6G6 2 â€�72==24Jâ€� E92E :>A=2?ED 2C6 â€�3F==6EAC@@7]â€k^Am
kAmâ€�*@F 42?’E ;FDE 92G6 2? :>A=2?E A=2465 2?5 8@ @77 C:5:?8 :?E@ E96 DF?D6E[â€� #@D6? D2:5] “x? >2?J :?DE2?46D[ E96J ?665 >@C6 42C6 E92? E66E9 3642FD6 E96J 2C6 ?@E E66E9]â€k^Am
kAmv6?6C2==J[ 2 D:?8=6 :>A=2?E 4@DED 2 76H E9@FD2?5 5@==2CD H9:=6 7F==\2C49 :>A=2?ED 4@DE E6?D @7 E9@FD2?5D] }6:E96C AC@465FC6 :D H6== 4@G6C65 3J 56?E2= :?DFC2?46[ D@ >2?J 4=:?:4D A2CE?6C H:E9 4C65:E 4@>A2?:6D E92E @776C =@2?D 7@C :>A=2?E DFC86C:6D] pE r=62Cr9@:46[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ =@2?D 42? 36 2D =2C86 2D Sed[___ A2:5 @77 @G6C `_ J62CD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 4@>A2?J’D H63D:E6]k^Am
kAms6DA:E6 E96 AC:46[ :>A=2?ED 2C6 >@C6 A@AF=2C E92? 6G6C] $2=6D :?4C62D65 3J >@C6 E92? eT @? 2G6C286 6249 J62C D:?46 a_`_[ 4F=>:?2E:?8 :? >@C6 E92? b]f >:==:@? :>A=2?ED D@=5 :? E96 &]$] :? a_aa[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 a_ab C6A@CE AC@5F465 3J :s2E2 #6D62C49[ 2 962=E9 42C6 >2C<6E C6D62C49 7:C>]k^Am
kAm{F:K v@?K282[ 2 A6C:@5@?E:DE 2?5 AC@DE9@5@?E:DE 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 u=@C:52[ D2:5 96 925 EFC?65 2H2J A2E:6?ED H9@ H2?E65 >@DE @C 2== E96:C E66E9 6IEC24E65] v@?K282 D2:5 D@>6 925 C646:G65 :>A=2?E C64@>>6?52E:@?D E92E 96 4@?D:56C65 â€�2? 2EC@4:EJ]â€k^Am
kAmâ€�*@F 5@?’E 8@ E@ E96 9@DA:E2= 2?5 E6== E96> ‘x 3C@<6 >J 7:?86C 2 4@FA=6 @7 E:>6D] %9:D :D 3@E96C:?8 >6] r2? J@F A=62D6 4FE >J 7:?86C @77nâ€� }@ @?6 H:== 5@ E92E[â€� v@?K282 D2:5] â€�(9J H@F=5 x 6IEC24E J@FC E@@E9 3642FD6 J@F ?665 2 C@@E 42?2=nâ€k^Am
kAm|@DE @7 E96 6IA6CED :?E6CG:6H65 7@C E9:D 2CE:4=6 D2:5 E96:C C:D:?8 2=2C> 4@CC6DA@?565 H:E9 3:8 492?86D :? E96 2G2:=23:=:EJ @7 56?E2= :>A=2?ED] x>A=2?ED 2C6 ?@H @776C65 3J >@C6 E92? f_[___ 56?E2= AC@G:56CD ?2E:@?H:56[ EH@\E9:C5D @7 H9@> 2C6 86?6C2= 56?E:DED[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 :s2E2 #6D62C49 C6A@CE]k^Am
kAms6?E:DED 2C6 ?@E C6BF:C65 E@ =62C? 9@H E@ A=246 :>A=2?ED :? 56?E2= D49@@=[ ?@C 2C6 E96J C6BF:C65 E@ 4@>A=6E6 :>A=2?E EC2:?:?8 367@C6 A6C7@C>:?8 E96 DFC86CJ :? ?62C=J 2== DE2E6D]Â k^Am
kAm|2?J 56?E2= 4=:?:4D E92E @776C :>A=2?ED 92G6 4@?D@=:52E65 :?E@ 492:?D @H?65 3J AC:G2E6 6BF:EJ 7:C>D E92E 92G6 3@F89E @FE >F49 @7 :>A=2?E 56?E:DECJ] x? 962=E9 42C6[ AC:G2E6 6BF:EJ :?G6DE>6?E :D D@>6E:>6D 4C:E:4:K65 7@C @G6CEC62E>6?E 2?5 AC:@C:E:K:?8 D9@CE\E6C> AC@7:E @G6C A2E:6?ED]k^Am
kAmr=62Cr9@:46 H2D 3@F89E 7@C 2? 6DE:>2E65 S`]` 3:==:@? :? a_a_ 3J pDA6? s6?E2=[ H9:49 :D @H?65 3J E9C66 AC:G2E6 6BF:EJ 7:C>D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ !:E49q@@<[ 2 C6D62C49 7:C> 7@4FD65 @? E96 AC:G2E6 6BF:EJ :?5FDECJ] !C:G2E6 6BF:EJ 7:C>D 2=D@ 3@F89E p77@C523=6 r2C6[ H9@D6 =2C86DE 4=:?:4 3C2?5 :D p77@C523=6 s6?EFC6D U2>Aj x>A=2?ED[ 7@C 2? 6DE:>2E65 Sa]f 3:==:@? :? a_a`[ 244@C5:?8 E@ !:E49q@@<] p?5 E96 AC:G2E6 6BF:EJ H:?8 @7 E96 p3F s923: 8@G6C?>6?E 3@F89E s6?E2= r2C6 p==:2?46[ H9:49 @776CD :>A=2?ED 2E >2?J @7 :ED 277:=:2E65 4=:?:4D[ 7@C 2? 6DE:>2E65 S` 3:==:@? :? a_aa[ 244@C5:?8 E@ !:E49q@@<]k^Am
kAmr=62Cr9@:46 2?5 pDA6? s6?E2= 6249 D2:5 :? 6>2:= DE2E6>6?ED E92E E96 4@>A2?:6D� AC:G2E6 6BF:EJ @H?6CD �5@ ?@E 92G6 :?7=F6?46 @C 4@?EC@= @G6C EC62E>6?E C64@>>6?52E:@?D]� q@E9 4@>A2?:6D D2:5 56?E:DED @C 56?E2= DA64:2=:DED >2<6 2== 4=:?:42= 564:D:@?D]k^Am