Although dental plants are an effective and long-lasting solution for replacing missing teeth, they can be expensive. Today, the dentists at Guildford Dental explain some of the cost factors behind dental implants.
Why Choose Dental Implants
There are several benefits to replacing missing teeth. Missing teeth can cause issues with speaking and chewing, can cause the teeth surrounding the gap to shift out of place, and can even contribute to facial collapse due to a gradual loss of bone in the jaw. There is also the aesthetic concern of restoring your smile.
When considering your options for replacing a missing tooth or missing teeth, you may wish to see if you are a good candidate for dental implants. However, the cost can be an important factor when making decisions for your dental treatment.
One of the reasons dental implants typically come with a higher price tag is that they are long-lasting. With proper care, dental implants can last 25 years or more.
What are the cost considerations of dental implants?
A dentist's skill and experience, the quality of the material the implants are made of, surgeries, and the custom fabrication process required for implantation are the primary elements reflected in the cost of dental implants.
A technician makes the main parts of your dental implant — the artificial abutment and artificial crown. Since this high-quality material has to stand up to daily use and wear for many years, it is costly. Your new artificial root, abutment, and the artificial tooth will function similarly to a natural tooth and will be custom-made to naturally blend into your smile.
Before your dental implant procedure, your dentist will perform an examination of your mouth and take X-rays to determine how your implant should be made and attached. These diagnostic procedures are usually factored into the overall cost of your implants.
The Dental Implants Procedure
Dental implant surgery is performed in two stages. First, your dentist will replace the root of the missing tooth by implanting the artificial tooth root (a small titanium screw) into the jawbone below the gumline. As your jaw heals, the "root" will fuse to your jawbone.
Following implant surgery, your mouth must heal for a period of 3 - 6 months before returning for the next step. Once you are finished healing, the abutment and restoration (artificial tooth) can be added.
This abutment works to connect and secure the restoration to the dental implant, and will typically be constructed from titanium or ceramic material. The restoration is then attached to the abutment.
Additional Treatments
Some patients may require additional treatment at our Surrey dental clinic to prepare the mouth and make sure that the implant surgery will prove successful. This often involves several hygiene treatments and potentially a bone graft procedure to prepare the jaw bone for the implant.
The dentists at Guildford Dental always aim for patients to get the full value from their investment after every treatment, including dental implants. Ask us which measures we can take to ensure your dental implant will be successful.