| How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?
If you've experienced tooth loss, dental implants can help restore not just complete oral functionality but also your cosmetic appearance. You can smile just like before with renewed confidence at job interviews, family events, and other social gatherings. At Capital Dental Center, we understand that navigating the complexities of dental care financing can be challenging, but dental implants are finally getting more affordable. It is important to adopt a mindset that views dental implants as an investment to improve the quality of your life instead of a major expense. In general, the average cost for a dental implant in 2023 is about $3,000 to $5,000 per tooth. Multiple tooth implants may reach above $20,000 or even $50,000, depending on your specific treatment. Worth mentioning is the fact that there may be other expenses involved before, during, and after the treatment. For starters, if you have a damaged tooth, it will have to be first extracted - and that will be a cost of its own. Depending on the practice, the implant itself and its placement into the jawbone may be a separate cost. Note that the expenses mentioned so far are only estimates. The only way to learn how much your dental implant procedure will cost is to visit our experts at Capital Dental Center for a consultation. Let's take a look at some of the factors associated with dental implants that contribute to their overall price. A 3D Examination of Your Mouth is RequiredWhen it comes to the success rate of your dental implant, 3D scans of your mouth are extremely important. In the past, dentists used x-rays to obtain an image of teeth, gums, bones, and nerve placement. This was intrusive and less accurate. Not to mention the fact that dentists usually had to make large incisions into the mouth to explore the tooth structure before installing the dental implants. However, 3D exams are extremely accurate and provide a comprehensive understanding of the patient's tooth structure. 3D images of your mouth may also be taken after surgery to look for areas that could pose a problem in the future. The advantages of 3D images are numerous, including less pain, less discomfort, less blood loss due to smaller incisions, and increased precision. Note that depending on your specific circumstances, our dentists may also require additional tests, including x-rays and CT scans. These tests will be used to determine if you have the necessary bone mass needed to support dental implants. Patients who don't have enough jawbone density will eventually require bone graft surgery, which is a different expense. Note that all of these tests will contribute to the overall cost of your dental implant procedure. In some cases, the 3D dental scan will run anywhere from $250 to $800 per session. How much you ultimately pay out of pocket for these scans mostly depends on your insurance. Some Patients May Require Bone Graft SurgeriesIn many cases, patients may require bone graft surgeries to ensure that their jaw can support the implant and survive the rigorous wear and tear. Studies have shown that patients can lose as much as 25% of their bone density within the first 12 months of losing a tooth. Depending on the graft material used, bone graft surgery may cost anywhere from $500 to $1,500. The material for bone grafting usually comes from the patient's own bone for better results and to minimize the risk of rejection from the immune system. It may also come from a human tissue bank or borrowed from an animal. In all cases, bone graft surgeries will require an extensive healing process that can take as long as three to nine months, depending on your health and recovery rate. During this time, you may have to check in with the dentist to monitor the surgical site's recovery rate. The expenses for any medications, dietary changes, as well as dental appointments will add up. Our dentists will monitor how well your bone graft is healing and will inform you when the new bone is strong enough to support the dental implants. The Cost of Anesthesia and an AnesthesiologistMany patients are squeamish about getting a dental implant and shudder at the prospect of someone drilling into their jawbone. To feel more relaxed, these patients usually opt for general anesthesia. This is an additional expense and requires the presence of trained specialists throughout the entire surgery. Some patients may opt for local anesthesia to keep costs down, which means that only the surgical site that is being worked on is numbed while the rest of the body is awake. Many patients describe local anesthesia as a 'dream-like' state where they don't feel any pain or discomfort. With that said, general anesthesia is very rarely used in dental implants unless the patient is also undergoing bone graft surgeries. Dental Implants Last for a Long TimeCompared to other dental procedures, dental implants tend to last a lifetime - if you take good care of them, especially post-op. Depending on your specific situation, you may only require replacement after several decades. Note that the tooth prosthetic (a tooth-shaped crown) may require more replacement every 10 to 20 years because of excessive wear and tear. In general, the long-term cost savings of dental implants are superior to alternatives because you don't have to worry about replacements. It may be tempting to wait until the cost of dental implants goes down in your area, but we don't recommend doing this. The longer you wait to fill in the missing tooth, the worse your oral problem could get, especially bone loss. In some cases, the surrounding teeth may also start to fall out of their place and reduce your biting force. We recommend scheduling an appointment with our specialists, Kiarash Saba DMD and Bahareh Rad MD, who will evaluate your oral health and provide you with helpful advice. Call us at 202-978-8778 today, and our friendly staff will set up an appointment at a time that is convenient for you! |
Capital Dental Center
|
