Dental implant is a type of permanent cosmetic procedure in which a metal device usually made of titanium is “implanted” in the jawbone for tooth replacement. This implant, also called “anchor” is drilled into the bone and a patient waits for three to six months for the bone to grow and make sure it’s in place. After which the final prosthetic tooth is placed. Lengthy it maybe, most people prefer to have these surgical procedures than to have dentures or bridgework. And because of the complexity of the procedure, it can be really costly.
Cost of dental implants varies differently. In the US, dental implants cost is affected by these factors:
Type of implantation
There are several types of implants that can be done. It can be root form, plate form or subperiosteal implants. This depends on bone density and also the type of jawbone that you have. You can find detailed explanation here for more information. It can also be categorized by size, width or narrowness of the crown.
Location
Small towns have lower dental implants cost compared to having it in major cities. Although this doesn’t necessarily mean that the quality of the dental implant is compromised. You just need to make sure that the cosmetic dentist you’re going to has the right accreditation, license and is a registered dentist.
Dental health insurance
Most dental health insurance do not cover this type of procedure because it is more of a reconstructive and is not really necessary except for extreme conditions. Check with your insurer if they cover this type of surgical procedure and if not, how much co-pay you have to pay for the cost of dental implants.
Dentists’ Expertise
You need to find a registered and licensed cosmetic dentist for this kind of procedure. They usually require more years of studying which makes their professional fee more costly.
Material
Most dental implants can either be titanium or zircon (Zirconia) which is a ceramic material. Zircon is not yet used widely except in Europe but it has its benefits. Some says that it has a bigger success rate and it also offers a more aesthetic results because of its color.
Bone structure
Area where dental implants are done should have enough bone in the area where the implants should be placed. If not, then a bone graft may be necessary which would make the cost of dental implants more expensive. In bone grafting, a doctor gets preferred bone from other parts of the body – either other areas in the mouth that is done by drilling or hip areas which require a more complicated and more expensive procedure since it requires an orthopedic surgeon, anesthesiologist and operating room.
Patient’s condition
Some patients have low tolerance for pain and they prefer to be hospitalized until the pain subsides instead of the usual outpatient procedures with the use of local anesthesia. Also, people who have poor health condition and smokers who needs bone grafting might require more procedures because they tend to have infection after a bone graphing procedure.
According to Costhelper, dental implants costs range from $1,250 – $5,000 per implant, on an average. But it could go as high as $24,000 – $100,000 for full mouth implants according to Yourdentistryguide. These already include dentist’s fee, x-rays, lab work, type of implants, and sedation fees. So be sure that you consider all of these things before getting an implant, for sure and successful restorative dental work for you.
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