Dental Implants Cost – What Can You Expect To Pay?

According to the latest figures, the average cost to replace a single tooth with a dental implant in the US is somewhere between $2000 and $4500. While that might seem like a big variation in price, the only real way to get a true reflection on how much dental implants cost is to talk to a dental professional.

Why is this?

Because no two patients or indeed, their customized treatments are exactly alike. Unlike other tooth replacement options, a dental implant procedure is highly customized to suit an individual’s circumstances and therefore, the number of appointments and procedures will differ from patient to patient.

As an example, a person who has recently lost a tooth and requires a simple implant placement procedure is more likely to undergo a cheaper process than someone who has had a missing tooth for some time. This is because the latter will likely experience some degree of bone loss and as a result, will normally require a bone graft prior to an implant being placed. Naturally, this will add to the cost.

Then, of course, there are other factors to take into consideration like whether your chosen dentist is a surgical prosthodontist (an implant specialist) or a highly capable general dentist. Typically, implant specialists deal with more complex dental implant situations and will understandably charge more money for their services.

Even factors such as location can play a part in how much dental implants cost because dental practices in prime city locations like New York or San Francisco will cost more to run than a dental practice in a state where general living expenses are considerably lower.

Ultimately, this is why anyone searching for a specific dental implants cost will only see a rough or estimated figure.

So is $2000 the cheapest price you might pay?

In a word, no. It isn’t uncommon for dental implants in countries like Costa Rica or Mexico to cost considerably less than what you might expect to pay back home here in the US – sometimes as much as 70% less. This is one reason why dental tourism is on the rise.

However, traveling abroad for any kind of dental work comes with risks and as such, any decision should be approached with a great deal of caution. Risks like varying practice and hygiene standards, non-existent grounds for recourse should anything go wrong, and the language barrier can all present costly issues. For these reasons, any decision to undergo complex procedures like dental implants abroad should never be based on cost alone. Get it wrong and you could find that your health has taken a severe hit as well as your bank balance.

What about closer to home?

Even in the US, it isn’t uncommon to see ads with exceptionally low prices for dental implants. However, more often than not, they’re too good to be true.

One trick, for instance, is to quote the price for placing a dental implant but failing to be transparent about other added costs like fitting an abutment or crown.

What about other dental work? Chances are that the price won’t include other factors like bone augmentation, extraction and soft tissue treatment either.

It might even be that they are using inferior or cheaper implants in order to keep the cost of dental implants low. These are implants that might not have the same proven track record of top brand items. That’s a big risk to take when it comes to your oral health.

In essence, if you see an ad for cheap dental implants, then you really should be looking out for the catch.

So, are dental implants really that expensive?

Initially? Maybe, but when you perhaps consider that an implant-based restoration is a permanently fixed, hassle-free solution to tooth loss and one that can last for many years, then as a long-term investment, it’s fair to say that a dental implant offers great value for money.

Aside from this, dental implant restorations give patients the chance to live a normal life. A life where they can speak and smile again without feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed, a life where they can eat what they like allowing them to make healthy food choices or a life where they can feel altogether more confident about the way they look. That’s the real value in dental implants!

If you are considering undergoing an implant-based restoration and want to know how much dental implants cost in relation to your specific condition, we invite you to book a consultation with Dr Melba Akinwande and her team at Chesterfield Dentistry. 

As a highly experienced dentist, Dr Melba will give you an open and honest appraisal of your current condition and from this, she will create a custom treatment plan based on your needs and requirements to include a full breakdown of costs. This way, there are no nasty surprises when it comes to settling the bill. So go on, find out how much dental implants will cost you by booking a consultation today.