Dental implants may a good treatment option for replacing missing teeth, but they can be expensive. In this post, the dentists at Hanin Dental Surrey explain some of the cost factors behind dental implants.
Why Choose Dental Implants
A patient may wish to replace a missing tooth or missing teeth for several reasons. Besides the aesthetic concerns of restoring your smile, missing teeth can cause issues with speaking and chewing, and can cause the teeth surrounding the gap to shift out of place. Missing teeth can even contribute to facial collapse due to a gradual loss of bone in the jaw.
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-fit to your smile.
Prior to your surgery, 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 jaw below the gumline. As your jaw heals, the "root" will fuse to your jawbone.
Following implant surgery, you will allow your mouth to heal for 3 - 6 months. Once complete healing has taken place, 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.
Our Surrey dentists 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.