Affordable dental implants are rapidly rising in popularity for those who need artificial teeth for dental restoration. If you are considering implants, you may have some questions about the procedure and the terminology. Here is a brief look at implants that will hopefully answer many of your questions and concerns.
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a metal tooth “root” that anchors a tooth-colored crown to your jaw.
If you are in need of a tooth implant, it is important to take into consideration that the term “implant” may only refer to the artificial tooth root that anchors the crown, and not actually the crown itself. This implant anchor is typically made of titanium and mounted into your jawbone to hold the visible crown in place. This is often referred to as an “implant supported crown.” There are a number of different types of often less than affordable artificial teeth (called prostheses), such as crowns, bridges and dentures, that can be mounted onto implants.
The type of dental implant your dentist recommends will affect how affordable dental implants are for you. Your dentist may suggest an affordable dental plan or insurance to help cut the cost of your implant procedures.
Types of Dental Implants
There are primarily three different types of implants.
- Endosteal Implants. The most common type of implant, endosteal implants are mounted within your actual bone. The mounting of this implant requires drilling into your jawbone to install a titanium screw, which acts as a tooth root to support to prosthesis.
- Eposteal Implants. Eposteal (subperiosteal) implants rest on the surface of the jawbone to support the prosthesis.
- Transosteal Implants. A transosteal implant is the least common. It runs all the way through your bone. Inserting this type of implant is the most invasive of all implant procedures: your dentist drills straight through your lower jaw to bolt a plate onto the bottom of your jaw.
Structure of an Implant Restoration
There are three components of implant restoration. To insert an implant in your mouth, a dentist uses an implant post (the metal tooth root), an abutment (the stump of the crown prosthesis), and the crown itself. Your dentist will mount the crown atop the abutment.
Advantages of Tooth Implants
Full Mouth Implants. If all of your teeth need to be replaced, a complete implant-supported denture may be your best option.
This procedure:
- Is built to last a long time
- Is more comfortable than other forms of dentures
- Allows you to retain natural chewing and biting abilities
- Allows you to prevent the bone loss due to traditional dentures, because the implants help keep your jawbone strong
- Is easy to maintain
- May be discounted by the affordable Careington 500 Series Plan
Partial Implants. If you need just several teeth replaced, a partial implant procedure can help.
This procedure:
- As an implant-supported partial bridge, is dependent on the implants for support, instead of placing extra stress on your natural teeth
- Better preserves your jawbone
- Can be discounted by the Careington plan
Single Implant. An implant is a great way to replace even a single tooth. With just one implant and a crown, you can have a brand new tooth.
This procedure:
- Replaces a tooth without harming the health of neighboring teeth
- Is easier to maintain and keep clean than a natural tooth
- Helps keep your jawbone intact where the tooth root used to be
- Can be discounted by the Careington plan
How Much Are Dental Implants?
The financial coordinator at your dentist’s office can give you a more accurate estimate of tooth implant costs, but typically single tooth dental implant treatments can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $9,500, and prices may vary beyond that depending on the state you live in. Unfortunately, dental insurance does not typically cover the cost of cosmetic procedures like dental implants. However, more insurance companies have begun covering part of the cost of dental implants over the past decade. Talk to your dental insurance company for more information.
Searching for Affordable Dental Implants
If dental insurance is not an option for you, our discount dental plans can cover part of the cost. With our 20% discount on the procedure and dental device, a single tooth dental implant treatment might cost you anywhere from $1,600 to $7,600. While that’s still a hefty penny to pay, it’s a significant drop from the former pricing.
Disclaimer: Due to dental implants being considered a cosmetic procedure and not medically necessary, some dentists may opt out of offering our discounts on these prices. Talk to your dentist to find out before planning treatment.
Some other options for making this procedure more affordable include:
- Talking to your bank about financing for the procedure
- Working out a phased treatment/payment options with your dentist
Are Implants a Better Option Than Dentures?
If you can afford it, dental implants are better than dentures. Dentures can often be ill-fitted, feel loose, wiggle and don’t hold very well, whereas dental implants feel more natural and permanent.
However, when you’re looking at price and the procedure, dentures are a much more realistic option. It’s a lot less money and less invasive of a procedure.
Questions to Ask Before Getting Implants
You may have many more questions on your mind that you’d like answered before getting dental implants. That’s good. This is definitely not something you should rush into if you don’t have to.
Conclusion
Hopefully, now you have a basic understanding of implants. Though implants can be very expensive, the advantage is that they may feel and look natural. Unlike other tooth replacement procedures, implants allow you to eat, laugh, and talk with confidence. If you are considering implants, hopefully this information has been a help to you!
