Ten Factors That Affect The Cost of Dental Implants

Dental implants are an investment in you and your oral health, improving your smile, boosting your self-confidence and restoring your natural ability to chew and bite.

According to the American Dental Association´s Health Institute cost survey, the average cost of a single dental implant ranges from $3,100 to $5,800. The bill includes the implant, abutment and crown, and the price will be higher for people who need to replace several teeth. There is no one-price-fits-all option.

The cost may appear intimidating at first but consider that implants will most likely last for 20 years or more or maybe the rest of your life. So, what determines the price you pay?

Here are ten factors that affect the cost of dental implants

Number of Implants

Understandably, if you need more than one implant, the cost of surgery will increase. Depending on your oral health and the state of your teeth, you may undergo replacements at different times, also affecting the price you pay.

The Types of Materials Used

Dental implants are made from biocompatible materials so that they can successfully integrate with the jawbone without being rejected by the body or causing an allergic reaction. Titanium is often regarded as the best material for implants because it´s durable, resistant to corrosion and tolerated by the jaw. 

Some dentists also use zirconia, a biocompatible ceramic material with a light white color that makes it blend in with natural teeth. Zirconia implants are slightly more expensive to purchase than titanium, and this cost is passed onto patients.

In-House or Outside Labs

Implants are custom-made by specialists in a lab setting. Some dental implant surgical centers have their own facilities, and so they can control the cost of implant production. Often this means they offer prosthetic teeth to patients at a more affordable rate than dentists that use an outside commercial lab.

Location Of Your Teeth

Some teeth are more difficult to replace than others which can impact the overall cost of your procedure. Front teeth are typically more expensive to replace because the surgery is more complicated as it requires care to match the jawline.

Bone Grafting

If you have had missing teeth for a while, you may have lost some bone density in the jaw. When teeth are missing, the part of the jaw that anchors them no longer receives the stimulation it needs, and so it deteriorates.

If you no longer have adequate jawbone to support implants, you may need a bone graft first to replace what isn´t there. This is an additional step in the implant process and will have a bearing on the overall cost. You may also need a sinus lift, a surgical procedure where the sinus is moved up to create space for the bone graft.

Other oral surgeries such as tooth extractions will also add to the bill.

The Location of Your Implant Provider

The cost of living is higher in some places than in others which can impact the cost of your dental implant treatment. You will probably pay more in big cities than you will in suburban and rural areas.

Overall Oral Health

Patients with periodontal disease or other serious oral health conditions will most likely need prior treatments to ensure the mouth is healthy enough to receive implants. Also, any extra precautions needed to be taken during surgery will add to the cost.

Experience and Expertise of Your Dentist

Like most professionals, regardless of their field, dentists who are highly trained and with more experience will command greater fees. However, if patients find these costs burdensome, many clinics offer payment plans that spread the costs over several months or years.

Levels of Anesthesia

Dental implant procedures can be performed using sedation, local anesthesia or general anesthesia, which is usually the costliest option. One of the reasons is that a medical professional is required to monitor a patient and their vital signs during the surgery.

Dental Insurance Coverage

Some dental insurance policies may cover part of your dental implant treatment, especially if you require implants because of an accident or have medical complications resulting from missing teeth. However, every plan is different. Whatever type of policy you´ve taken out, it’s worth checking coverage with your provider. Even if they only cover some of the cost, you will have saved some money.

Contact Chesterfield Dentistry

If you´re thinking about having dental implant surgery to replace missing or damaged teeth and want to know how much they´ll cost for your situation, contact the team at Chesterfield Dentistry. We´ll be happy to go over your options with you. Call us today on (314) 786 3360 or make a booking online.