Full Dental Implants Cost

Many people today are asking the question, “What do full dental implants cost?” There are a number of factors that go into the cost of dental implants, but there are just as many factors in the cost of going without them. When you lose a tooth or a tooth breaks or rots, it can take a serious toll on your oral health and comfort as well as your confidence, self-esteem and appearance. Leaving gaps in your teeth can cause dental drift, moving your teeth out of alignment, sloughing off bone matter, and giving your face a sunken appearance. This can also cause further, more serious and more costly dental problems in your future.

About the Implants

English: Straumann implant guide pin in place to visualize positioning, angulation and depth of osteotomy immediately prior to implant placement (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Full dental implants cost more or less depending upon the amount and type of implant materials used, the place you live, the dentist you work with, and whether any extra procedures are necessary, such as a bone graft.

Traditional implants are titanium posts that function much like screws. Depending upon the tooth that needs replacing and the density of your jawbone, these posts will be thicker or thinner in diameter, usually between 2 mm and 6mm, and longer or shorter in length, between 10mm and 18mm.The oral surgeon will make an incision into your gums and drill a pilot hole through your jawbone in the placement area, in which he will insert the post. The diameter and length of the post necessary will affect the dimensions of the pilot hole, which will require more or less time and effort for the oral surgeon depending on the size. Typically, the smaller the post and hole, the quicker the procedure and lower the price.

After the post is inserted, a period of healing will have to take place, usually between 2 and 6 months, where the titanium will literally fuse to the jawbone, firmly rooting the implant in place. If the implant used is smaller, the healing time will be shorter, you will have fewer appointments, and it will use fewer materials, greatly reducing the full dental implants cost. With a larger implant, healing will take longer and more appointments, materials, and money will be required.

Bone Grafting

One factor can have a great impact on the full dental implants cost: bone matter. When you go a long time without replacing a missing tooth, your jawbone gradually begins to slough off, losing density and matter, giving your face a sunken appearance and causing a slew of other dental problems. Some people are simply born with less bone matter, but either way, if you don’t have the proper bone density, you cannot qualify for a dental implant. The solution? Bone grafting.

A dental bone graft is a surgical procedure where bone matter will often be taken from your hip area and inserted into your jaw. After a healing period of a few months, the bone graft will fuse and blend to the already existing jawbone, making it denser. This should not greatly affect your physical appearance, it simply gives the dental implant more bone to root into. After you have fully healed from the graft, your implants can be placed. It is important to note, however, that a bone graft will greatly increase the price of the entire procedure.

The Benefits

It’s important to remember that whatever the full dental implants cost, it may be well worth your ability to chew, speak, smile and live confidently, comfortably, and healthily.