The cost of dental implants is influenced by many factors that we will go over. Dental implants are typically more costly than other options for replacing missing teeth. While upfront costs may seem high, the look, feel, strength, performance, and long life of dental implants may save you over your lifetime.
Dental implants are more costly upfront because of the skill, equipment, materials, and time required. Most restorative options are not surgical, but dental implants require a surgical procedure to precisely place a titanium post into the jaw. This takes a high level of skill, staff, and equipment to align this post perfectly.
Plus, dental implants consist of three separate pieces. The first piece is the titanium post that must be surgically placed, followed by the metal abutment placed above the gum and the custom-made crown designed to match your smile. All of this adds to their expense.
There is no one size fits all procedure. Each person is unique, requiring a tailor-made plan for the best outcome. For example, some only need to replace a single tooth, while others need multiple teeth.
If multiple teeth need to be replaced, all may be replaced with implants, or a combination of implants and other restorations may be used.
In addition, some need additional preparatory procedures before implants can be placed. For instance, if there is not enough bone to support an implant, a bone graft may be needed to strengthen the area. Another factor is the location of the implant and if a person’s sinuses dip down too low for an implant to be placed. If this is the case, a person may need a sinus lift before placing implants.
Each person requires their own custom treatment plan before placing dental implants. All these various factors greatly impact the cost of implants, but typically a single implant ranges between $1500 to $4000, making the average dental implant cost around $2500.
Yes, upfront, a dental implant is likely to cost you more than other restorations such as bridges or dentures, but because of their long life, you may recoup your investment. Dental implants have a long life and a 98% success rate.
The average life of a dental implant is 25 years. The metal post in the jaw will likely last a lifetime with good health and home care. If something is to wear out, it is likely the crown above the gum, which is replaceable.
The value of dental implants is hard to quantify and is a personal choice, as they have the highest level of performance, and the most natural look and feel. Followed by having the longest life expectancy of all other dental restorative options to replace missing teeth. If you are considering dental implants, then check out the pros and cons of dental implants.