Dental Implant Cost
Dental implants are a common and effective treatment option for damaged and missing teeth. They enable you to restore your smile with replacement teeth that not only look natural but protect your jawbone, gums and surrounding teeth. However, that level of protection comes at a price. As an expensive dental procedure, it’s important to get your facts straight before committing to your treatment. By understanding the aspects that influence the cost and how to choose an implant dentist, you stand a better chance of getting value for money and, ultimately, a successful and long-lasting result.
What Influences The Price Of Dental Implants?
To begin to understand the cost of dental implants and any price you may have been quoted, you’ll need to break down what you’re actually being offered. Dental Implant treatment costs depend on several key factors:
Number Of Implants
you might need a single dental implant to replace one missing tooth, or you might need to replace a full arch. The more teeth that need to be replaced, the higher the cost.
Materials Used
every implant will use a titanium screw and a crown, but materials vary amongst providers. Materials from well-known companies that comply with safety regulations may cost more, but they are also safer and more durable.
Case Complexity
if you require preliminary procedures such as tooth extraction or bone grafting, it will add to the overall cost of your treatment. While you can’t control it, the more complicated your case, the more expensive it’ll be to treat.
Dentist’s Experience
many dentists offer dental implants as a service, but they don’t all have the same level of experience. Those who have dedicated their careers to implants will cost more, but will also provide the best quality results.
We are a family-friendly practice, caring for many generations of the same families. So whether you're bringing your child in for their first visit or you’ve been many times before, we'll always welcome you with a smile. We have a dedicated team of experienced dental professionals and state-of-the-art facilities, which enable us to offer everything from general check-ups to the most advanced dental treatments. So, whatever your oral health needs, you’ll be back in the beautiful tree-lined streets of Figtree before you know it.
How To Choose An Implant Dentist
Choosing an implant dentist is an important decision. While price will, of course, be a consideration, you also need to ensure that your dentist will be able to deliver the desired results. Whether you need a single implant or a whole arch of teeth replaced, there are three things that you should consider before investing your hard -earned cash:
1. Does Your Dentist Use High-Quality Materials?
If you are going to have a new permanent fixture in your mouth, you’ll want to ensure it is of the highest quality. This means ensuring that your implant dentist uses only branded implants from reputable manufacturers and that dental crowns adhere to Australian consumer safety regulations. While low-cost alternatives may seem tempting on the surface, they can lead to complications in terms of size, fit and stability. Invest in years of research and quality materials, and your treatment is far more likely to be a success.
2. Is Your Dentist Committed To Ongoing Training?
It’s pretty likely that your dentist will be fully qualified in general dentistry, but dental implants are an advanced treatment option. To keep up-to-date with ever-changing technology and methodology, dentists need to commit to ongoing education. This means attending regular hands-on clinical training to ensure they are well-versed in every aspect of the treatment. What that means is that you can have confidence that they will be able to plan every step of your treatment, take accurate impressions and perfectly align your implants, no matter how complex your case.
3. Does Your Dentist Have Much Experience?
As well as qualifications, experience is a vital piece of the puzzle when it comes to choosing an implant dentist. A dentist who places the occasional implant will not be as competent as a dentist who places hundreds each year. By investing in an experienced implant dentist, you are investing in the success of your treatment.
What Causes Implants To Fail?
While dental implants have been around for a long time and are incredibly successful, the treatment does come with some risk and a chance of failure. There are several reasons why a dental implant might fail:
Misalignment
positioning implants into the jawbone is an extremely complicated undertaking. If they are misaligned it can lead to an uneven bite and, in turn, implant fracture and implant failure.
Inaccurate Impressions
not only do implants need to be accurately placed in the jawbone, but precise impressions need to be taken to ensure that the crowns accurately fit on the implant. Even a small misfit can result in a gap that can affect the look and functionality of a replacement tooth and make it more susceptible to infection.
Infections
peri-implantitis is an inflammatory response that can happen after the procedure when the gums surrounding the implant are infected. The infection can damage the gum and bone surrounding the implant, often leading to implant failure.
Lack Of Bone Density
when an implant is placed, the jawbone should fuse with it over time to form a strong bond. However, sometimes this doesn’t happen, leading to an implant becoming loose or even falling out.
Inferior Materials
sometimes the implant itself can become loose and fracture. This isn’t very common but is seen occasionally with low-cost providers and overseas laboratories who use inferior materials.
While these are all reasons for implant failure, they can often be attributed to three core issues: the general health of the patient, the skill and competence of the dentist and post-procedure care.
How To Make Your Investment A Success
While implant failure isn’t common, it is always a possibility and will usually result in the implant having to be removed and replaced. Not only is that going to increase the overall cost, but the process poses a further risk of damage to the jawbone and adjacent teeth. However, fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to increase your chances of having successful treatment.
First and foremost, when it comes to guaranteeing successful dental implant treatment, the dentist you choose is fundamental. An experienced and qualified implant dentist will be much more adept at treatment planning, taking accurate impressions and accurately placing implants. Ultimately, by having a dentist with the right qualifications and experience using the best quality materials, you are in much safer hands.
The other big influence on the success of your treatment is your general health. People who have diabetes, smoke or have bad oral hygiene are at much higher risk of infection and, therefore, implant failure. However, that isn’t a reason to avoid the treatment option. Your dentist should review your full medical history during your initial consultation enabling you to make necessary lifestyle changes and plan for any necessary preliminary procedures, which will give your treatment the greatest chance of success.
And finally, looking after your implants once they are in place is vital. That means listening to the advice of your dentist, eating a soft diet and giving the implants a chance to heal.
Managing The Cost Of Dental Implants
If you’ve searched around for comparisons of how much is a dental implant, you may be left with more questions than answers. The problem is that the cost of dental implants is dependent on so many variables. However, you could be looking at anything from $5,000 for a single implant to $25,000 for All on 4. Either way, that means that you are going to be making a significant investment in your oral health.
While expensive, however, cost shouldn’t have to stand in the way of you getting the treatment you need. Fortunately, there are several ways you can manage the cost:
Dental Insurance
Dental implants aren’t covered by general dental coverage insurance, but they may well be covered by major dental coverage policies. Make sure to check the annual limits and terms and conditions first though.
Zipmoney
It can be difficult to put forward a lump sum to cover the cost of treatment. However, with no deposit, interest-free payment plans from the likes of ZipMoney, you can have your treatment now and pay the cost back in monthly instalments.
Superannuation
The Early Release Super program enables patients to access their superannuation on compassionate grounds. So, if your condition is causing you significant pain and affecting your quality of life, you may well be eligible to use the fund to cover the entire cost of your dental implant treatment.
To make a full evaluation of the cost and the best way to manage payment, the best starting place is to seek advice from an experienced implant dentist. Only that way can you fully understand what you need, why you need it and the benefits of investing in dental implant treatment.
When Is The Best Time To Invest In Implants?
Dental implants are a viable treatment for anyone with missing or damaged teeth. In fact, dental implants for pensioners are a commonly used treatment option. However, it is worth bearing in mind that you will need to have enough jawbone to support the implants. If there isn’t enough jawbone, however, it can often be resolved with bone grafting, sinus augmentation or, indeed, by using the All on 4 implant technique. And, while these additional and advanced procedures may cost more, they will help to protect your oral health well into the future.
Whether you are younger or looking for dental implants for seniors, the treatment offers a long-lasting way to replace missing or damaged teeth, restore your smile and protect your jaw, gums and remaining teeth. The longer the teeth are missing, the more your oral health will suffer and your jawbone will deteriorate. Therefore, the sooner you invest in implants, the sooner you can protect your oral health. What’s more, the sooner you have treatment, the less complex it will be and the less it will cost in the long run.
Schedule A FREE 30-Minute Implant Assessment At Ambience Dental
If your teeth are embarrassing you, or making it hard to enjoy your favourite meals, it’s time to schedule your FREE 30-minute Assessment. Dr Saad or Dr Bedeir will examine your teeth, gums, bone, and smile using a panoramic 3D scan – Free, but normally a $140 value. You’ll discuss your personal needs and treatment outcomes directly with the dentist, so he can explain your personalised treatment plan. To schedule your free implant assessment, simply pick up the phone and call us at (02) 4283 3357 or enter your name and contact details below.
