Cost of Dental Implants

Illustration of titanium screw used in dental implant procedures

How Much Does A Dental Implant Cost?

The short answer is “It depends.”

The more you learn about your specific dental needs, the more accurate your price estimate will be.

Although the complexity of the entire process increases as your needs become better understood, the end result is that with more clarity comes more opportunity for financial assistance through either insurance or financing opportunities.

What Does The Cost Of Dental Implants Depend On?

The cost of dental implants depends on variables that are included within your specific dental situation. Some variables your dentist may take into account beforehand are:

• The location of the implant in the jaw
• Whether the bone requires bone grafting
• Whether there is adequate soft tissue and require tissue grafting
• The cost of the actual implant and crown
• The doctor’s experience and expertise
• Any other health conditions that might cause complications

The overall cost of your dental implant procedure will ultimately depend on how many implants you are currently in the market for and what your current starting position is.

Benefits Of Dental Implants

There are many benefits (both physical and emotional) that dental implants will give you. Some benefits of dental implants include:

A great way to use your first visit with Dr. Chun would be to come in and get a complete evaluation on your current dental situation. Doing so will not only begin a long-term relationship with Dr. Chun and a team of amazing dental experts, but also allow us to see if you’re a good candidate for dental implants as well as discussing any financial opportunities that are available to you. A quick-and-easy checklist you can use to get a good idea if you’re a good candidate for dental implants can be found here.

If you’d like to meet our team and see if you’re a good candidate for dental implants, feel free to come visit us by following our driving directions here.

Dental Implant Placement Process

In a nut shell, the dental placement process can be broken down into a few core steps, including:

1. Examination – The implant site is examined
2. Extraction – The existing tooth is extracted
3. Preservation – The implant site is prepared with a bone graft (if necessary)
4. Grafting – The soft tissue is grafted to improve quality
5. Implant Placement – The Dental Implant – the titanium “tooth root” – is placed
6. Temporary Crown – Crown made of acrylic is temporarily placed in esthetic zones
7. Permanent Crown – Crown made of porcelain is placed on the implant
8. Post Surgical Care – This care consists of office visits, x-rays, etc — read more here: post-surgical care

A solid summary of the entire dental implant process from the patient’s perspective can be found here.

Single implants without the restorative crown can range in cost from $1800-$3500, but circumstances can drive it higher. Full-mouth Reconstructive Dental Implants can run from $24,000-$75,000, but circumstances can drive that higher as well.

How Long Will It Take?

The length of the entire process depends once again on your unique situation. If immediate replacement of an extracted tooth is done, then the process takes under an hour. But if other procedures such as jaw surgery and bone grafting is needed, then the process can take up to 6 months for completion.

Because there is usually some preparatory work that needs to be done, the average treatment usually ranges from 3-6 months. Most of the time is a waiting period in which the jaw bone heals and fuses with the implants, which is a completely pain-free and hands-free process. The healing and fusion takes place without the maintenance or conscious awareness of the patient.

Continuing Cost of Bridges and Dentures

There are continuing costs associated with bridges and dentures, including:

• The wear and tear on neighboring abutment teeth
• Shrinking of the jaw
• Continual refitting and replacing of dentures
• Ongoing denture maintenance

While bridges and dentures are less expensive at the outset, you should consider that both options have sometimes considerable continuing expenses.

Continuing Expenses Of Dental Alternatives

Bridges, by their structure, cut down the neighboring abutment teeth – which can lead to weakness and repeated treatments. Dentures cannot preserve the jaw bone the way dental implants can, so the jaw shrinks as the bone is reabsorbed. Leading to ill-fitting dentures that require repeated rounds of re-fitting and replacing.

Dental implant prosthesis also need maintenance over time to keep them optimally functional which will also have costs, albeit usually smaller. However, over a lifetime, dental implants paired with the right prosthetic design can be cost-effective as well as a more functional and aesthetic choice.

If you’d like to discuss your individual options regarding dental implants, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Chun and his team at (925) 833-8516.