Cost Of Dental Implants Based On…

Posted on Feb 22, 2016 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

There are many reasons Dental Implants are such a wise choice for people missing one or more teeth. Many see the biggest benefit is the restored ability to bite and chew comfortably and without worry. However, as a Periodontal specialist, I know there are additional benefits that occur beneath the gums that aren’t as obvious to the patient.

Because Dental Implants are held by the jaw bone, they recreate a type of stimulation that helps to preserve the bone’s mass. Without natural tooth roots or the presence of Dental Implants, the bone resorbs, which is a melting away process of sorts.

Resorption is why dentures that fit well when they were first made will begin to move and slip over time. The change in the jaw bone directly affects the fit of a denture that was originally made for the unique contours of the gum ridge. When the jaw experiences a decline in mass, or resorption, this ridge flattens out over time.

There are denture wearers who are completely fine with their denture. They don’t mind having teeth that come out at night and feel they can chew sufficiently. While I want every person to have the tooth replacement option that is aligned to their preferences, it is their comfort ten years from now that is a concern for me. While they may be comfortable with their denture now, being happy with its fit years later is doubtful.

The obstacle with Dental Implants, for most individuals, is the cost of treatment. Here is where I’d like to correct a misconception. The cost for treatment is based largely on the number of Dental Implants needed. However, while you may be missing several teeth or even a full arch (all upper or lower) of teeth, an implant is not needed for each missing tooth.

For example, when several teeth are missing in one area, one implant can often support a bridge of two or more teeth. There is an additional bonus of using a Dental Implant to support the bridge. Unlike a traditional crown-&-bridge that requires crowning adjacent teeth to support the bridge, an implant does not rely on neighboring teeth.

A Dental Implant is held in the jaw bone. This not only provides stability and dependability, an implant helps you protect the integrity of otherwise healthy natural teeth. This is because it is not necessary to have teeth shaved down for crowning merely to lend support for a bridge.

Another example is when is a full arch of teeth is missing. In most cases, several implants (3-6) can be strategically positioned to support an arch of replacement teeth. Often, these are non-removable teeth that are securely ‘fixed’ to the implanted posts.

By placing a conservative (yet sufficient) number of implants, costs are more manageable for most budgets.

A Periodontist has extensive training in assessing the type and number of Dental Implants you’ll need and in placement techniques to provide an optimal outcome. Knowing your care is in specialized hands helps you achieve your goals to eat comfortably and laugh confidently, without fearing implant failure in the future.

Regardless of what you’ve heard in the past about implant cost, I encourage you to have a consultation. Here, we can discuss today’s many implant systems and those that will work best for your needs and goals. I’ll explain the associated costs and have our administrative staff go over payment options. These are structured to help you enjoy the benefits of Dental Implants while making affordable monthly payments.

Call 828-274-9440 for an appointment.