Achieving the perfect smile is priceless!
Sadly, many individuals step back when considering a teeth implant due to the price. A majority of individuals continue to stay confused about the overall price of different dental implants.
In this blog, we take a closer look at:
- What Are Dental Implants?
- How Do Implants Work?
- How Much Do Dental Implants Costs?
- Costs Of Dental Implants Based On Their Type
- Why Dental Implants Are an Investment?
- Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
In the following sections, let’s learn more about the core aspects of dental implants and costs.
What Are Dental Implants?
Missing one or more teeth to injury or gum disease is common! Stats suggest that the average US adult (45-64) misses at least five teeth.
But have you ever thought about how they still carry an effortless smile?
The answer is dental implants. They are a great appliance to restore your bite and add to your deteriorating oral health. Traditionally, a dental implant can be described as an artificially rooted tooth permanently placed in your jaw.
Based on your oral health, the dental implant types can be categorized into three categories:
- Endosteal Implants: The most common types of implants are best suited for patients with good jawbone health.
Endosteal implants are placeholders shaped like screws. These screws are put into the jaw, which the false teeth fit into.
- Subperiosteal Implants: Next, we have subperiosteal implants, a great alternative to endosteal implants.
These oral appliances rest on the bone instead of being fixed into the jawbone. Dentists mainly place these implants under the gum.
- Zygomatic Implants: Last, we have zygomatic implants, the least common dental implant in the market.
Generally, this option is performed when you don’t have enough jawbone left for endosteal implants. The dentist places them in the patient’s cheekbone rather than the jawbone.
How Do Implants Work?
A dental implant is designed to mimic a false tooth. This appliance settles in your oral cavity like a natural tooth, adding to your bite force and oral health.
An implant generally consists of three individual parts, each uniquely contributing to your cavity:
- Implant Body: The implant body is shaped like a metal screw and is often composed of titanium. This implant portion settles into your jawbone to serve as a foundation for the abutment.
- Abutment: The abutment is a metal piece connecting the implant body to the crown.
- Crown: The crown is the visible portion of the tooth that blends with the other teeth in your gum line.
So, now that we have an idea of the appliance let’s jump into the dental implant charges in the following section.
How Much Dental Implants Costs?
The cost of dental implants can be fluctuating. Based on the type, a dental implant can cost between $3,500 to $6,700. The cost of these implants includes the device and its surgical placement.
Similarly, if you plan to cover your full mouth with implants, the costs can be anywhere from $43,000 to $56,000. Interestingly, other factors influence the average costs of dental implants, namely:
Medical Expertise: The experience of your dentist is a significant factor adding to the cost of implants. The more experienced practitioners, the higher the fees and less the risk involved.
Materials Used: Implants can be designed using several metals, including zirconium or titanium. Your choice of materials and tooth transplant procedure also determines the price of implants.
Preparation Procedures: You may be required to undergo bone grafts or tooth extractions before placing the implant. The more operations you require, the more expensive the implant will be.
Costs Of Dental Implants Based On Their Type
As mentioned earlier, the cost of dental implants is highly influenced by the type of appliance you opt for. Keeping the same in mind, we’ve listed the prices of a few implants:
Mini Dental Implants
These implants are used to support dentures or as temporary implants. Mini dental implants were never designed to be used for lengthy periods.
Cost: $500-$1,000 per tooth
Standard Dental Implants
The titanium alloy is used in typical dental implants. Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), max, multilayer zirconia, porcelain-filled composites, complete dental gold, and full-contour zirconia are all options for your dental implant crown.
Cost: $3,000-$4,500 per tooth
All-on-4 Dental Implants
All-on-4 Dental Implants is a registered trademark for a dental implant method that employs 4-6 titanium implants to anchor dentures to a complete arch (top or bottom).
This replacement tooth brand provides both detachable and fixed implant dentures.
Cost (removable): $8,000-$17,500
Cost (fixed): $15,000-$30,000 per arch
Same Day Dental Implants
As the name suggests, these implants include dental implant surgery alongside bone grafting and tooth extraction on the same day. This unconventional technique can be successful, but the outcomes are still unknown.
Individual dentists achieve a more comprehensive range of outcomes with same-day implants than standard implants inserted 4-6 months after the initial extraction.
Cost: $5,000-$8,000 per tooth
Here’s an overview of the prices of different implants and the costs associated with them:
| Type Of Implants | Cost |
| Mini Dental Implants | $500-$1000 per tooth |
| Standard Dental Implants | $3,000-$4,500 per tooth |
| All-on-4 Dental Implants | Cost (removable): $8,000-$17,500
Cost (fixed): $15,000-$30,000 per arch |
| Same Day Dental Implants | $5,000-$8,000 per tooth |
Why Dental Implants An Investment?
On the surface, dental implants look incredibly expensive compared to other oral appliances. However, many individuals fail to realize that other alternatives (bridges and dentures) need repair every 5 to 10 years.
The cost of such regular maintenance can set you back to a price higher than the cost of tooth implant molar or other areas. Practically, implants are a better option as they can last a lifetime.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Some dental insurance policies cover a portion of the dental implant procedure. Unfortunately, many dental insurance companies consider implants an elective cosmetic dentistry operation and may only cover the first extraction and permanent crown.
Dental implant costs with insurance include extra expenditures such as implant placement and abutment. It is unlikely to pay more than $1,500 per year, the maximum coverage most conventional dental insurance policies provide.
To guarantee that your dental insurance covers your implant, your dentist must demonstrate that the implant treatment, extraction, permanent crown, and bone graft become a necessity based on your oral condition.
Finally, your insurance company will assess if the treatment was necessary and, if so, how much of the implant they will reimburse.
Takeaway
- Stats suggest that the average US adult (45-64) misses at least five teeth.
- An implant comprises three parts, each contributing to your cavity.
- A dental implant can cost between $3,500 to $6,700.
- Some dental insurance policies cover a portion of the dental implant procedure.