Whether we’re in our 20s or 60s, a missing tooth can have a harsh impact on our self-esteem. In fact, it can also have a negative impact on a person’s overall quality of life. Today more and more people are investing in dental implants as a painless, affordable and permanent solution to tooth loss. With the right care, dental implants will last a lifetime without breaking the bank!
Did you know that, according to Care Credit, the average cost of a dental implant is anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 per tooth? Inserting dental implants is a multiple-step process and an extremely complex surgical procedure — this can raise the cost substantially, and make dental implants unaffordable for a lot of people. Unfortunately, even though the loss of a tooth can have a significant impact on your quality of life, dental implants are considered a cosmetic issue, and therefore not deemed medically necessary. This means that the majority of insurance plans won't cover the cost of having a dental implant inserted.
Fortunately, there is a way to find affordable dental implants, as long as you know the right place to look. Many sites and cosmetic dentists offer dental work at a reduced or discounted cost — such as the nationwide dental practice Aspen Dental, who offer 20% off their services according to their website. You could also check out Groupon.com, where select dentists offer up to 50% of the cost of dental implants. To ensure that you get the best price possible for your dental implants, be sure to research all of your available options and shop around! You may find that simply changing your choice of dentist or location can have a substantial impact on the affordability of dental implants for you. Alternatively, if traveling isn't an option, many dental practices offer financing options that enable you to make affordable repayments for your dental implants. You could also consider reaching out to non-profit dental organizations in your area who may be able to help you source cheap dental implants.
Dental implants can certainly cost a fair amount of money, and Medicare and dental insurance often won’t cover the full costs. But the costs of other tooth replacement options can actually exceed the costs of getting implants. Dentures, whether partial or full, don’t always last long, and can also need to be replaced every few years.
Typically speaking, if you have a healthy jaw bone and also have overall good oral health, you’ll find that the entire dental implant process takes just a few months from start to beautiful smiling finish. The surgical procedure of implanting the titanium post itself should take no longer than two hours. Your jaw bone will need to heal after this surgical procedure, and that could take up to three months of healing. After this, your dentist will fit your crown over your implant, and that is a procedure that takes less than an hour to complete.
This might seem like a lot of time, but you’ll find that the results are worth it when you get a smile that’ll last a lifetime.
Dental implants can certainly cost a fair amount of money, and Medicare and dental insurance often won’t cover the full costs. But the costs of other tooth replacement options can actually exceed the costs of getting implants. Dentures, whether partial or full, don’t always last long, and can also need to be replaced every few years.
Associate Writer