Good Teeth Pulled Like Radishes... "Don't Get Implants Recklessly"

'40 Years of Experience' Current Dentist Whistleblower
"Healthy Teeth Treated as Cavities... Gold Instead of Amalgam"

A practicing dentist with 40 years of experience has come forward as a whistleblower exposing chronic problems rampant in the dental industry. He revealed that expensive treatments are often recommended instead of affordable ones covered by health insurance, and that teeth which could be saved are frequently extracted and replaced with implants.

Kim Kwang-su, who has been working as a dental doctor for health checkups since retiring from his private clinic last year, recently published a book titled 'Reasons Why You Should Not Recklessly Get Implants'

and risked being ostracized by other dentists to expose the dark 'trade secrets' of the industry.

In this book, subtitled 'Dental Secrets: Bitter Words from Current and Former Dentists,' he said, "I hope this will serve as a wake-up call to the corrupt, commercialized, and over-treatment-ridden dental world today and help economically disadvantaged people receive dental care with dignity."

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

Regarding why he risked revealing these trade secrets, Kim said, "It is to protect the teeth and wallets of the public, and I believe that no more dentists should face public distrust to such an extent." As a preventive dentistry specialist, he expressed his conviction that "the dental industry should not be allowed to become this corrupt."

He claims that when visiting a 'business-savvy' dental clinic, even healthy teeth are diagnosed as having severe cavities. Instead of recommending amalgam fillings covered by health insurance, they immediately suggest gold or inlay treatments that are 20 to 30 times more expensive. Kim attributes this to private clinics being overly focused on commercial management and profit-seeking.

Kim also criticized Korea as an 'implant paradise.' He pointed out that saving teeth through nerve treatment is often neglected, and dentists frequently recommend implants easily or simply extract teeth. In his book, he explained, "The biggest advantage of implants is that when restoring missing teeth, you don't have to grind down adjacent teeth. However, bridges have been done unnecessarily, and there is a tendency to extract teeth that could be saved. Sometimes, bone grafts are forced in difficult areas, causing hardship for both doctors and patients."

Cover of Kim Kwangsoo's book 'Reasons Not to Recklessly Get Implants' [Image source=Mal Publishing]

He also highlighted the reality that many private practitioners attend implant-related seminars on weekends and spend tens of millions of won on overseas training to learn profitable implant procedures. Nowadays, it is common to find dental clinics with multiple implant specialists or clinics specializing solely in implants. However, the author noted that about 10 years after getting implants, the alveolar bone tends to resorb, making it difficult to place implants again in the same spot. Therefore, preserving one’s natural teeth as much as possible is essential.

Kim warned other dentists that the era when dentists could easily make money through implants or by doing other profitable procedures is over. He emphasized that dentists should now quietly and diligently focus on prevention, treat cavities, and teach proper brushing techniques as humble professionals. He advised that to live a fulfilling life as a dentist, one should excel in prevention, engage in public health projects, and devote effort to health education.

According to statistics from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, 8.7% of patients aged 65 and older received implant procedures last year. This represents an average annual increase of 8.6% over the past five years from 2018 to last year, amounting to a 38.9% rise compared to 2018. Additionally, according to national health statistics, only 48% of people aged 70 and older retain 20 or more natural teeth.

Implant surgery costs were first covered by health insurance in 2014. Initially, the coverage was for those aged 75 and older with a 50% co-payment rate, then expanded to those aged 70 and older in 2015, and to those aged 65 and older in 2016. Currently, insurance benefits (30% co-payment rate) apply to up to two implants for those aged 65 and older.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.