Dental implants are a great option for patients looking for a permanent way to replace missing or broken teeth. The implant is a healthier option for your overall oral health. It also enhances your quality of life, because you’re unlikely to have future dental complications where the implanted tooth is. But what are the costs of dental implants? Surely, this is something you need to know before you’ll be able to make an informed decision regarding your health.
Tooth Implant Cost Comparison
Before you think about the exact cost of tooth implants, it’s good to compare the results you can expect to get with each one of your different options. It’s easy to look at the cost of a procedure as the most important factor when choosing what’s best for you, but your quality of life and preventing future hassle with your teeth should also be things you think about when it comes to tooth replacement options.
The future of your dental health is the primary reason why opting for a dental implant is the best tooth replacement option for most patients. Dental implants aren’t prone to decay like your natural teeth. For this reason, your tooth implants will be exactly be same as your natural teeth when it comes to care. Regular brushing, flossing and dental flossing should be enough to keep your teeth healthy when you have tooth implants.
Contrary to this, tooth replacement options like dentures, partial dentures and bridges will require more care than implants. While most implants will last a lifetime, whereas other options need to be replaced and refitted regularly. So when looking at the cost of implants, remember that (unlike with the other options) it’s a once-off investment in most cases.
How Much will Your Implants Cost?
Without a thorough examination from your prosthodontist, you can’t know for sure what it will cost to get implants. The cost of your implants will vary depending on how many teeth you’re replacing, your current jaw health and the dentist performing the procedure.
For a single tooth implant, however, the implant post, abutment and crown will usually cost approximately $4250. This is the cost for the dental implant itself, and doesn’t include the cost for the procedure. Procedure costs could include CT scans, X-rays, surgery and bone grafting.
If you don’t want an implant to replace a tooth, a dental bridge is your next best option. The cost of a dental bridge can range between $500-$1200 for a single tooth bridge. However, the adjacent teeth will have to be trimmed down for the bridge to be placed. Seeing as a dental bridge doesn’t replace the tooth root tissue, it uses other teeth to keep it in place. What this means is that the teeth that are trimmed will also be more likely to have future complications.
Your dental bridge also wouldn’t be a permanent solution, seeing as most have to be replaced between 5-15 after being placed. So although the cost for a dental bridge is significantly less, the chances that you’ll have to spend money to replace it are also higher. Because of an increased risk of complications with the teeth supporting the bridge, they’re also more likely to need replacement in the distant future.
What’s the Best Tooth Replacement Option?
Dr. Stone is a specialist in tooth replacement, a Prosthodontist, and has been placing dental implants surgically since 1991.
Even though dental implants are considered the best tooth replacement option, this still won’t be true for all patients. For some patients, the cost and effort associated with possible bone grafts will be more than they can take on. Other patients (especially very senile patients), often see the added hassle of getting implants as being too much of a high-stress procedure for their current health.
So all tooth replacement procedures are good, in reality. Because every option serves a group of patients who benefit from having the option the make the best choice for themselves. But if there aren’t any complications preventing someone from getting implants, it’s definitely the best option available.
