A dental implant procedure is a long-term investment in your dental health. It’s also a significant financial investment for most people. We get a lot of questions from patients about how much dental implants are going to cost. The short answer is that dental implants usually cost between $4,000 to $6,000 to replace a single tooth, and up to $20,000 to $40,000 for more complicated procedures to replace multiple teeth. The long answer is that there are several variables that go into the cost of a dental implant procedure. Here are some factors that affect the cost of dental implants:
The Number Of Teeth That Need Implants
The number of teeth you need to replace is an obvious factor in dental implant pricing. Most dentists will price each implant procedure based on the number of implants needed. Getting two implants will cost more than only getting one. If you need three or more implants, your dentist may recommend a bridge, which would have its own pricing formula.
The Type Of Dental Implant
There are many different types of dental implants – your dentist will let you know which ones are most appropriate for your situation. Each type of implant has a different cost, based on the materials used and the amount of work required to complete the procedure. A “mini” implant may only cost a few hundred dollars, but it’s applications are limited to supporting a removable denture. Standard implants are used for more applications and cost a bit more – usually around $2,000 per fixture. That’s just the implant, though – you’ll also need to pay for an abutment and crown as part of the procedure.
Dental implant crowns come in two varieties: cemented and screw retained. Cemented crowns cost similar to screw retained crown, but many dentists will recommend a screw-retained crown to make future cleanings and crown replacements easier. A cemented crown might be a more economical choice in the short term, but a screw retained crown could reduce maintenance and replacement costs for the crown in the future. Crowns add another $1,000 to $2,000 per tooth to the cost of a dental implant procedure.
For more comprehensive procedures to replace multiple teeth, your dental implants may support a bridge or complete dentures. For a cost estimate for these procedures, you’ll need to know how many implants will be needed to support the prosthetic, and what kind of prosthetic your dentist recommends. A fixed bridge will be more expensive than anything removable, but will be harder to clean and replace. This situation is like a cemented vs. screw-retained single tooth crown. The cost of the fixed bridge varies based on, what material it is made of, and how many teeth it is designed to replace. Consult your dentist for a more accurate estimate of how much your implant-supported dental bridge may cost.
The most expensive dental implant procedure is one involving a complete set of fixed teeth. With this procedure, every tooth in the mouth will be replaced. This means multiple implants (8-10 per arch) will be needed for each tooth in addition to the cost of the teeth. A procedure of this nature could cost $30,000 or more per arch, but many patients value the permanence and convenience of implant-supported fixed teeth compared to removable dentures.
Bone Quality In The Implant Area
Dental implants require a certain amount of bone width, height, and integrity to anchor the implant. If the bone in the implant site is deficient in some way, your dentist may need to employ bone grafting techniques or use more advanced methods to anchor your implant. This increases the complexity of the procedure, which also increases the cost. Each patient’s situation is different in this regard. Your dentist can explain how your bone structure affects your implant procedure, and how much this will affect the cost of your dental implants.
Pricing Policies Of Your Dentist
Pricing for any dental procedure can vary due to your dentist’s geographic location, level of expertise, or competition within their local market – dental implants are no exception. A dentist in a small town might have lower overhead costs than a dentist in a big city, so might charge you less for an implant procedure. Market competition also affects local dental implant costs. If many dentists in an area are offering the procedure, some might drop their prices to acquire more patients.
You should be cautious of any dentist offering a dental implant cost that is too low. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Before you go forward with a cheap dental implant procedure, make sure that the dentist is experienced and uses high-quality materials. Paying a little more for a quality dental implant procedure is a much better value than getting the cheapest procedure that might end up causing problems in the future.
We hope that this guide helps you get a better idea of how much it costs to get dental implants. If you’re in the Vancouver, Washington area, contact us for a free dental implant consultation. We can also help you with financing options if cost is a concern.