Are Dental Implants a Scam?

I hear this question more than you might expect: “Are dental implants a scam?”

‍

It usually comes from people who’ve either had a bad experience elsewhere, read a horror story online, or are just skeptical of anything that sounds “too good to be true.” And honestly, I get it. 

‍

If you’ve lived with dental problems for years, the idea that you could walk into a dental office and walk out the very next day with a permanent set of teeth sounds unbelievable.

‍

So let’s cut through the noise. I’m going to answer the toughest questions people throw my way—the ones about safety, healing, cost, and whether the 24-hour process at Nuvia is really all it claims to be.

‍

‍

“Aren’t these just dentures glued in?”

Nope. And this is a huge misconception.

‍

In most traditional implant centers, patients leave surgery with temporary teeth made of acrylic or plastic. These are essentially modified dentures—drilled into and patched together with goopy material to sit on freshly operated tissue. They’re fragile, they crack, and they often force patients onto liquid or puréed diets for months.

‍

At Nuvia, the teeth you get the day after surgery aren’t temps (sometimes called “healing teeth”). They’re permanent, made from an incredibly durable material that’s designed to last. I joke with my patients that you could run over them with a car and they’d still be fine. (Please don’t try that at home.)

‍

So no, at Nuvia they’re not just dentures. They’re your new permanent smile.

‍

“But our bodies don’t heal in 24 hours. Isn’t this unsafe?”

This is usually the first objection I hear to permanent teeth in 24 hours. And you know what? You’re right—your body doesn’t fully heal in 24 hours. Healing is a process that takes months. But that doesn’t mean giving patients permanent teeth the day after surgery is unsafe.

‍

Here’s why.

‍

Dental implants look like small screws that go into the jawbone. Nuvia surgeons measure their stability on the day of surgery, making sure the torque values show they’re strong enough to support teeth. 

‍

Then, over the next four to six months, the body goes through a process called osseointegration. That’s just a fancy way of saying your bone grows around the implants cell by cell, locking them into place.

‍

Then, just 24 hours later, a strong and sturdy set of permanent teeth are attached to the implants.

‍

Think of it like breaking your arm. Would you rather heal with a flimsy wrap of plastic wrap—or with a strong, rigid cast? The rigid cast helps the bone stabilize and heal properly. Nuvia’s permanent teeth act like that cast. They provide a solid, stable structure during the healing period, instead of a fragile temporary that can break or puts uneven pressure on the implants.

‍

And the proof is in the numbers. The national average success rate for dental implants hovers around 90–94%. At Nuvia, with our 24-hour permanent teeth process, our success rate is 99.13%.

‍

“What about this ‘gap’ I hear about?”

Ah, the infamous gap. Let’s settle this one.

‍

After dental implants are placed, your gums naturally heal and settle over four to six months. That healing creates a small space between the gum tissue and your set of new teeth. People hear “gap” and panic, but here’s the truth: a small gap is actually your friend.

‍

Why? Because it allows you to clean underneath your prosthetic (new teeth). Imagine shoving a big couch flush against your wall for years. When you finally move it, you’ll find dust, crumbs, and things you’d rather not name. If there’s no space, you can’t clean. But if there’s just enough room for a vacuum or broom, your house stays much cleaner. Same with your teeth.

‍

We design for about a millimeter of space—roughly the thickness of three eyelashes stacked together. That’s what makes long-term hygiene possible.

‍

‍

“Won’t permanent teeth cause more speech problems or swelling?”

Anytime you get a prosthetic—whether it’s a leg, an arm, or a set of teeth—you’re going to have an adjustment period. You’ll be relearning how to chew, swallow, and speak with a new device in your body. That’s normal.

‍

But here’s the advantage of starting with your permanent set right away: you only adjust once. With temporary teeth, patients often go through multiple sets, relearning everything again and again. By the time they get to their final teeth, it’s like starting over. With Nuvia’s method, you get your forever teeth immediately, and your brain and muscles adapt once.

‍

Yes, there will be some swelling after surgery. Yes, there’s a learning curve. But it’s no greater than with temps—in fact, it may be easier in the long run.

‍

“How long do I have to wait for final teeth with traditional methods?”

With traditional approaches, you may be told six months initially. But that doesn’t mean you’re walking out with final teeth at that six-month mark. Often, it’s six months until new scans are taken, impressions are made, and then multiple try-in appointments begin. In reality, it can take up to 10+ months, or close to a year before you finally get your permanent teeth.

‍

Meanwhile, you’re living with temps that can break, loosen, or limit your diet.

‍

With Nuvia’s permanent teeth in 24 hours, that waiting game disappears. You wake up from surgery, return the next day, and leave with your permanent smile.

‍

“Is this just a new fad?”

No. The 24-hour process is the result of more than a decade of research, investment, and innovation. We’ve placed over 116,000 implants across our centers, with consistent results and long-term durability.

‍

And remember, if dental implants are going to fail, they usually fail in the first year. Our numbers speak for themselves: 99.13% success, far above the national average. That’s not a fad—that’s a proven system.

‍

“But what about the cost?”

This is a common concern for patients and it’s true, restoring your smile is an investment. For many patients, it’s the first major investment they’ve made in themselves. And it’s not about vanity—it’s about health, confidence, and the ability to live life fully again.

‍

The good news is, you don’t walk into Nuvia and get slapped with one giant bill you have to pay in full right away. We offer financing options and payment plans to make this life-changing treatment possible for more people.

‍

For more details on cost, answers to common questions, and price comparisons, see the dental implant cost guide here.

‍

So… Are Dental Implants a Scam?

Here’s my honest answer: bad dental implants can be. If you go to an inexperienced provider, choose to cut corners on materials, or settle for patch-together temps, you may very well feel scammed.

‍

But done the right way—with a skilled surgical team, a restorative dentist, an in-house lab, and a proven process—they’re not just legitimate. They can be life-changing.

‍

I’ve seen patients who couldn’t smile, laugh, or eat in public for years walk out with tears of joy when they see their new permanent teeth. That’s not a scam. That’s what modern dentistry should be: restoring people’s ability to live, eat, and smile with confidence.

‍

‍

If you’ve been wondering if it’s time to fix your smile once and for all, or if our 24-hour process might finally give you back your dental health and function, you can take the 60-second quiz to see if you may be a candidate.

‍

Because no—dental implants aren’t a scam. But they might just be the best decision you’ll ever make for yourself.

‍