For a variety of reasons, our teeth can decay and degrade to the point where implants are necessary. The cost of implants, of course, then becomes an issue.
Dental implants are considered by insurance plans as major dental work. A dental implant is really a metal screw that is placed in the jaw bone. It holds a false tooth or set of false teeth. They are similar to dentures or bridges, but they are permanent. Once they have been placed in the mouth, they act like a natural set of teeth.
Implants are expensive. Dental insurance plans usually only cover around fifty percent of the cost of the procedure. However, many dental plans will not cover implants at all. The cost of implants varies greatly as well. The cost of a single implant can be as low as five hundred dollars. It could also be as high as six thousand dollars. On average, implants costs between $1250 and $3000. In most cases, a patient will need more than one implant done and this causes the cost to rise dramatically. If a complete upper or lower set of implants is needed, the cost could be $15,000 to $30,000. A full restoration of teeth could cost as much as $80,000.
Why are implants so expensive? They require a tremendous amount of work by the dental team. Implants require a great deal of time spent by the dentists in both planning for and executing the implant procedure. An extensive evaluation will be done for each patient. The materials used in implants are expensive on their own. There are also additional costs associated with laboratory fees. Dental implants are not a quick, simple procedure.
As with any type of surgical procedure, there are risks associated with implants. Patients need to be good in health before undergoing dental implants. Healing time after the surgery can take three to six months. Patients who get dental implants need to be able to take good care of their oral health after the surgery.
Patients who are considering dental implants should discuss with their dentist whether they would make a good candidate for the surgery. They also need to decide whether the cost of the implants is worth the results. Some people feel that dental implants are far superior to dentures or bridgework. They want something that is more permanent. With implants, patients do not need to worry about their teeth coming loose. Other patients are willing to put up with a little more inconvenience in order to avoid the high cost of implants. The decision to get implants should be one that a patient makes with their dentist after considering all the pros and cons.
Thomas Ajava is with DentistStop.com - your source for
affordable dental care.
