Dental Implants: Cost Effective Tooth Loss Solutions
Posted on: 23 January 2015
Modern dentistry has developed many types of methods for dealing with the issue of tooth loss. Among those methods some are more permanent and cost effective than others. Dental implants are considered to be one of the best permanent solutions to tooth loss due to the success rate of the procedure and the overall associated costs.
What is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants are a type of prosthetic medical device that is used to replace a lost or damaged tooth. The artificial tooth is placed in the socket of the missing or damaged tooth and will fuse with the jawbone over time. There are two well-known types of implants. These implants are the endosteal implant and subperiosteal implant. Each of these dental implants serves the same function but are placed in a slightly different manner.
- Endosteal Implant—This implant has the appearance of a tooth sitting on a screw. It is inserted into the jawbone. The endosteal implant is designed to be the most similar to a natural tooth in appearance. The endosteal implant is considered to be the most commonly used implant due to its success rate and the similarities to a natural tooth.
- Subperiosteal Implant—This implant has the appearance of a tooth seated on a light metal framework. It is placed below the gums, but on top of the jawbone. It is mostly used when the endosteal implant cannot be used on a specific patient.
How Much Does an Endosteal Implant Cost?
The cost of the endosteal implant can be determined in two ways. The first way is to only look at the immediate cost. The immediate cost of a single endosteal implant can range from $1500 to $10000 depending on the dentist, the crown materials used, and the need for extra services. The average cost is $4250 per implant.
However, endosteal implants have a 95% success rate after five years and can last for decades. The typical cost for an implant is usually much lower and if you are willing to have your crown replaced every five to ten years you can drop the overall cost drastically by using a less expensive crown material. Crowns typically cost between $500 to $3000 per crown and account for a large portion of the final cost of an implant.
The effectiveness of a dental implant can also be determined without the use of facts and figures. Unlike a set of dentures, a dental implant is a permanent fixture within the mouth. Once it is installed it will not be removed unless the crown becomes worn or damaged. Further, it does not require any special maintenance. The new tooth should be treated with the same care that a natural tooth requires.
To learn more about whether dental implants are ideal for you, consult with local experts such as Denise McGrade DDS.
Share