Dental Implants Cost

Dental implants installation offers a permanent solution to severe dental problems and is an ideal esthetic operation for individuals who want to sport healthier smiles. Although dental implants are the ultimate tooth replacement option, many are still hesitant to undergo such a procedure.

Setting aside the pain factor most commonly associated with extensive dental procedures, people are generally scared of dental implants because of the expensive price tag that is attached to it.

The cost of dental implants is known to be expensive due to many factors. In this article, we will tackle all the elements which bring the cost of dental implant procedure to as much as $80,000. Dental implants range from a measly $1,000 for a single implant procedure to a whopping $100,000 for a full mouth reconstructive dental implants surgery. The numbers are staggering, that a lot of people simply choose to flash crooked and empty smiles than undergo dental implants installation.

However, it should be noted that this procedure, in most cases, is not an option but rather a mandatory surgical operation that patients need to undergo sooner or later. Dental implants may be expensive but the benefits which one can derive from having them installed justify the expenses that are attached to it.

Factors that Affect Dental Implants Cost

Pre-operative Diagnostic Procedures

Since dental implants involve the placement or connection of pure titanium alloy to the jawbone of a patient, it is but necessary that imaging studies and diagnostic procedures are done prior to surgery. This is to ensure that no vital parts and crucial veins are insulted during the operation.

Radiographic procedure such as periapicals is ordered by a dental implants specialist to fully assess the affected area and to facilitate correct drilling and placement of implants during a procedure. Specialized dental radiographic procedures are priced expensively and are most often not included to the cost of the actual dental implants operation.

Most health and dental insurance policies do cover for such a diagnostic process. It is best to check with your insurance company if pre-operative diagnostic procedures are covered under your policy. If they are, you are sure to cut down your costs in a substantial manner if and when you are deemed to undergo dental implants surgery.

CT scan and 3D CAM imaging are increasing in popularity and are known as ideal diagnostic processes prior to conducting dental implants operation. Most dental professionals prefer to use CT scan and 3D cam images to plan out the placement and orientation of dental implants. The details, measurement, and dimension values that are gathered from such images enable surgeons to implement an accurate, safe, and successful dental implants installation.

The costs for both CT scan and 3D CAM imaging are expensive. This is not a surprise as the technology used in deriving high-quality interpretations is far-advanced and sophisticated as well.

Bone Grafting Materials

The materials that are used in bone grafting, a process which proceeds drilling and titanium alloy implantation, vary and may depend on the preference of the patient. In general, bone grafting components are expensive since the source of these materials may be rare, hard to obtain, or may be a product of sophisticated manufacturing innovations.

The bone that is to be grafted may come from a patient’s own bone structures. Bones from the jaw line and in rare occasions, from one’s own hip or iliac crest are utilized as bone grafts too. Bovine or xenografts may also be used and its availability varies from time to time. Allograft on the other hand is considered cheaper than the above mentioned materials, as these can readily be supplied to dental implants practitioner. However since allografts come from human cadavers, not a lot of patients will agree to have them utilized as bone grafting material for their dental implants operation.

Whatever a patient or a dental practitioner uses for the bone grafting material, all these materials will most likely be covered with Hydroxyapatite or HA, a compound known as a potent osteoblast substrate. The use of HA in bone grafting can also increase the costs of the dental implants procedure.

Tooth Extraction Costs

Most dental implants operation starts with basic tooth extraction. Such a procedure comes at an affordable price as undergoing full mouth extraction can mean bigger expenses on the part of the patient.

Since insurance providers do not cover dental implants under their more common policies, it is best to take advantage of the tooth extraction procedure services that your policy covers. To reduce cost, one may use his dental policy that includes tooth extraction and may resume the operation with any dental surgeon that he prefers.

Tools and Equipment Used During A Procedure

High precision drilling apparatus and the use of expensive titanium alloys mean increased overall dental implants cost. The titanium alloy’s prestige and quality is taken into account when it comes to pricing. For example, Titanium Allow 6AL-4V is known to be more expensive than the four common grades of pure titanium used in traditional dental implants.

Professional Dental and Staff Fees

In the case of immediate loading implants procedure, the attention of a whole group of dental professionals and staff is mandatory. This is to ensure that nothing goes wrong and that everything is assessed and evaluated accurately as well throughout the entire procedure.

Depending on the location or the state where you undergo such an operation, the fees paid to dental practitioners and health facilities vary. There are places where dental implants installation is cheaper while there are also states where professional dental fees are sky rocketing as well.

If you are on a budget, it’s always best to shop around first before deciding who will be performing the procedure and where you want your dental implants operation to be conducted.
The years of dental implants experience of a dentist pretty much dictates the pricing of dental implants too. The more prominent a dental practitioner is when it comes to dental implants surgery, the higher the asking price will be.

Post-Operative Procedures and Medications

Dental implants costs not only pertain to the rates and fees that are incurred before and during the operation. It also pertains to the processes usually conducted after surgery as well. Imaging studies, such as CT scan and 3D CAM tests are conducted once again to check for the rate of osseointegration weeks after operation.

Topical antibacterial mouthwashes and systemic antibiotics are also prescribed to patients in the first weeks. This is to ensure that no complication will develop after the operation and during the healing time and process.

Taking a long-term course of antibiotics surely add up to soaring dental implants cost.

It seems like the materials, equipment, tests, and fees associated with dental implants operation are all expensive. The best thing that one can do in order to afford such a surgery is to save up or look for third-party financing entities which can help cover the overall costs for the meantime as patients promise to make payments on subsequent months.

There are also those who opt to try out dental tourism. Countries in Asia and South America are known to have professional dental implants specialists who offer their services at a fraction of the original price. However, it should be taken into account that there are risks in undergoing such overseas dental implants procedure. Scrupulous research should be done before one should even consider spending money for overseas dental implants.

Quality need not be expensive. However in the context of dental implants operation, a high-quality facility and competent dental practitioner will certainly mean expensive dental implants cost. Unlike other reconstructive and restorative procedure, dental implants installation happen to offer Read More…