If you find yourself facing the decision of whether or not to get dental implants, cost may be an important factor. How much do implants cost, and are they in your budget? Here are a few facts on the procedure and associated costs to help you with the decision-making process.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implantation is a procedure used to anchor artificial teeth or dentures to a patient’s jaw. The procedure involves a titanium screw with a ball head implanted into the jaw and a matching receptacle on the tooth or denture that snaps into place when pressed firmly together. Dental implants can be a practical and desirable solution for a number of patients, eliminating the need for less stable false teeth
Traditional vs. Mini Implants
There are two types of dental implants – traditional and mini implants. Both are roughly the same in terms of basic functionality and implantation methods, but traditional implants are 1-2mm bigger than mini implants. The traditional procedure requires an additional process called a “flap surgery,” which pulls back the gum tissue to expose the underlying jawbone. Mini implants do not require this surgical procedure. Do to the increased complexity of the procedure for traditional implants, they can cost quite a bit more than mini plants – traditional implants can cost as much as $20,000 per jaw, while mini implants cost between ½ and ¼ that – often in the range of just ¼ the cost, with prices in the $5,000-$10,000 range. Mini implants also have a shorter healing period – around 48 hours, as opposed to 3-4 months.
Bone Grating and Traditional Implants
Because traditional implants are larger, they require more bone, with adequate density, to be anchored into the jawbone. For patients lacking these qualities – for example, patients who have worn dentures for a period of time may have experienced erosion of the jawbone – bone grafting may be required prior to implantation. The bone graft provides a stable base for the implant to be screwed into. Bone grafts can come from a patient’s own body – often from the chin, back, hip or shin – and can add $2,000-$30,000 to the overall cost of the procedure. Grafts can also come from a tissue bank, or from cadaver, bovine or synthetic bone, and cost $200-$1,200.
Additional Costs
Since no two patients are alike, the number of office visits and procedures needed to complete the process can vary. Talk to your dentist about the number and cost of visits that will be involved.
Full-mouth X-rays will be required, and can cost anywhere from $60-$250. A CT scan will also be required if a bone graft procedure will be needed. This can cost anywhere from $250-$1,000. These costs may all be included in the price quoted by your dentist – be sure to ask before you begin work.
Dental Insurance
Dental implants are not generally covered by insurance at this time. However, most dental offices offer a monthly payment plan, which allows patients to spread the cost of the procedure over a number of months.