Cost of Dental Implants – What Are They Worth?

3rd March 2020

Cost of Dental Implants – What Are They Worth?

When we talk about the cost of dental implants here in Australia, then according to the 2018 National Dental Fee Survey, you can expect to pay somewhere between $3000 and $6500 per tooth. While that seems like a lot of money – and there’s no denying that it is – it’s important to understand what patients are getting for their money. In other words, how much are dental implants really worth?

Let’s take a closer look…

 

 

The missing tooth dilemma

Missing teeth can affect your appearance, confidence and overall health. Gaps in your teeth can lead to teeth shifting, causing misalignment or super eruption, where the tooth opposite the gap emerges too far out the jawbone, leading to further tooth loss.

We can do one of two things when we have a missing tooth. We can choose to ignore it or replace it.

Of course, the easy — and least expensive option — would be to ignore the problem, especially if the tooth isn’t visible when you smile. However, the issue lies in the fact that when a tooth is lost, it triggers a whole host of problems that can cost you a small fortune to fix later.

The other option is to undergo a missing tooth replacement. This can be in the form of a conventional bridge, a partial denture or a dental implant. While all three are tried and tested options, dental implants are by far the most expensive choice.

So while you might automatically view your options from a cost-led perspective, it really is worth looking at the bigger picture before you dismiss implants altogether.

What’s Involved in Dental Implant Surgery

Getting dental implants is a multi-step process. You need multiple visits to the dental practice and time to heal between procedures. Each of these steps adds to the total cost of dental implants.

  1. First steps

During your initial consultation, our No Gaps Dental dentist will assess the health of your mouth and take X-rays or 3D scans to check your bone density and health. If any other additional extractions or dental procedures are required, we’ll schedule those first. If you have low bone density, you may need a bone graft which would take three months to fully heal. If you suffer from gum disease, this must be addressed and resolved before receiving a dental implant.

While this additional work may incur extra costs for your dental implant surgery, these steps are necessary to ensure healthy bone and gum tissue and provide a secure base for the titanium implant to infuse.

  1. Receiving the implant

When you’re ready for dental implant surgery, your dentist will administer local anaesthesia to keep you comfortable, which takes around one or two hours per tooth. Your dental implant procedure begins with the dentist removing your natural tooth if it’s still present. Then the dentist implants the anchor into the jawbone.

Once they place the implant, you may have a temporary crown on top of the implant while the titanium fuses with your bone. This process is called osseointegration, and it can take three to six months to heal and for the jaw bone to fuse with the implant. For an entire arch, we place four implants into your upper or lower jaw to support the replacement arch.

How many implants you need will affect your total dental implant costs. Developing an infection at the implant site can increase your healing time and add to your expenses. Keep your dental implant site clean by avoiding tobacco products and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash twice daily. Follow your dentist’s post-op instructions, and call No Gaps Dental if you experience unusual discomfort, swelling, or bleeding.

  1. Abutment and crown 

Once your dental implant has osseointegrated, we place an abutment on top of the dental implant to prevent the gum tissue from growing over or into the implant. In some cases, this may be the same day you receive your dental implant.

We take impressions of your mouth to craft the perfect customised tooth. At No Gaps Dental, we use CEREC technology to design, mill and produce your crown on-site in one visit. Once the crown is ready, your dentist places the crown on top of your dental implant and checks your aesthetics and bite.

Are Dental Implants a Worthwhile Investment?

Dental implants offer a permanent solution to restoring your smile if you have missing or severely damaged teeth. Besides looking and feeling like natural teeth, dental implants have several other benefits that can make the significant upfront cost worthwhile:

  • Longevity

You’ll be able to enjoy your dental implants for a long time. The strong anchor and crown are made from highly durable materials that may even be stronger than your natural teeth. With the proper care, your dental implants can last a lifetime, while the crown can last 10 to 30 years, significantly longer than any other dental restoration.

However, the average lifespan of a conventional bridge or denture is between 7 and 10 years. This means you could replace bridges or implants several times over your lifetime. So add this up, and costs can easily spiral.

By opting for an implant-based restoration, provided it’s cared for correctly, your dental implant may last indefinitely. So in effect, you’re paying for the cost of dental implants just once and once only!

  • Protect your mouth and jaw

Dental implants protect the health of your mouth and jaw. The crown is custom-made for your mouth, ensuring a tight fit that protects your gums from irritation or infection. The dental implant mimics your natural tooth, halting the bone resorption process that starts when a tooth is lost or extracted.

This offers superior health benefits compared to dentures and bridges. Jawbone stimulation means the implants won’t shift or loosen, unlike dentures requiring regular replacement as your facial shape changes.

The advantages of dental implants over their counterparts are numerous. Make an appointment for a consultation at your local dental clinic to understand the pros of implants fully.

With dental implant surgery, you’ll never have to worry about your dentures slipping while you’re eating or talking or the inconvenience of taking them out at night to soak. Instead, simply brush and floss twice daily and visit your dentist for regular checkups.

Then there’s the Little Matter of Bone Resorption…

Ignoring a missing tooth can trigger many dental problems, including bone resorption. When a tooth or teeth are lost, the surrounding bone tissue supporting the tooth roots is no longer needed. As such, it gets reabsorbed back into the body.

Some reports suggest that in multiple tooth loss cases, around 25% of the entire jaw bone is lost in the first year alone, and this bone loss continues. Other problems include shifting teeth as they gravitate towards the gap and bite problems leading to a lack of stimulus for other teeth. It could result in a pretty hefty dental bill to put right everything a single missing tooth has caused.

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Therefore the idea of tooth restoration is that it:

  • Closes the gap so adjacent teeth don’t shift towards it,
  • Restores proper and effective bite function and
  • Maintains a full smile enabling you to speak normally.

However, there is one problem that conventional bridges and dentures can’t fix: the small matter of bone loss.

Because they are ‘false teeth’ in the real sense of the word, they won’t stop bone loss.

In other words, the jaw will continue to shrink despite undergoing a missing tooth replacement. Facial changes will become noticeable, the chin will become more pointed and deep wrinkles will start to appear on the face giving you an altogether ‘aged’ appearance.

Dental Implants, on the Other Hand, Can…

Because the titanium implant is anchored into the jaw, it acts as a new tooth root. As such, any remaining bone tissue is re-stimulated, and bone shrinkage stops. So not only can a dental implant restore both form and function, but it also can halt the signs of ageing caused by bone loss.

In essence, rather than take an initial view of the cost of dental implants and dismiss them, it’s perhaps a better idea to look at the overall value they can bring that other forms of tooth replacement cannot.

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We’re talking about…

  • The ability to restore full functionality, allowing you to eat what you want
  • The ability to live a hassle-free life — your dental implant is treated just like your other teeth
  • The ability to look and feel great for many years to come

 

That, in reality, is the true cost of dental implants! Of course, we could go on ‘ad infinitum’ extolling the virtues of dental implants, but what about that initial cost — how do you overcome that?

What is the Cost of a Dental Implant?

Every tooth implant is unique, making it difficult to give a straightforward response on the cost of a tooth implant. Multiple factors can impact the cost of a dental implant procedure, including:

  • A comprehensive dental examination, including X-rays and 3D scans
  • Extraction of problematic teeth, when necessary
  • Placement of the dental implant(s)
  • Placement of the abutment
  • Fabrication of the dental crown
  • Placement of the crown

What Makes up the Overall Cost of Dental Implants?

Since dental implants are made to last a lifetime, this is reflected in their cost. The cost per tooth is approximately $3000 to $5500, while a mouthful of dental implants would be between $21,957 and $41,639. With each tooth implant case being different from the next, implant fees vary based on the case’s complexity:

  • Single-tooth implant cost — In addition to the titanium implant that screws into your jawbone, you’ll require an abutment, the part that attaches the crown to the implant, and a dental crown, all of which are separately priced.
  • Multiple tooth implant cost — If you’re replacing multiple missing teeth next to each other, the good news is that there are more implant options and more pricing choices for you. Your dentist will likely recommend a dental bridge to fill a tooth gap of three or four neighbouring teeth and lower the overall cost.
  • Full mouth implant cost — Replacing each missing tooth would cost more but allow the dentist to preserve existing teeth if they are healthy enough. Implant-retained dentures are a cheaper alternative where an arch of false teeth replaces all lower or upper teeth like removable ones. The arch is anchored by four to six implants in the upper and lower jaw, commonly referred to as the all-on-four procedure. The cost ranges from $23000 to $27000 per fixed arch.
  • Expected additional costs — Your dentist will provide a detailed, personalised treatment plan that covers all expected costs upfront. If you’re seeing specialists like an oral surgeon and dentist, prepare for two separate sets of fees. Any prescription or over-the-counter medications will incur an additional expense.
  • Cost of material — Certain materials for your dental crown can reduce the overall cost but may be less durable or prone to staining. CEREC crowns are an economical option providing excellent durability. Their wait time is less than traditional crowns since your dentist can manufacture the crown onsite.
  • Technology — Dental implants are precision-engineered to restore form and function. The technology used to manufacture and test them is also reflected in the total price.

Getting Around Dental Implant Costs in Australia

Dental implants are expensive for many reasons — too many to mention here — so let’s accept that if you are considering an implant-based restoration here in Australia, then the procedure isn’t cheap. You can book a consultation with a dentist to learn more about the costs.

That said, there are ways that you make dental implants more affordable:

  • Pay at your own pace with a payment plan

As dentists, we realise that the initial costs of dental implant restorations are a stretch for many people, which is why many dental practices offer payment plans. For patients, this means they can spread the cost over several weeks or months, thus easing the financial burden.

  • See if medical insurance covers a partial cost

Previously, Australian medical insurance simply didn’t cover the cost of dental implants, Now, however, some companies will cover part or all of the process. It’s worth looking around to see which companies do or don’t cover you for implant-based restorations, and check out the small print.

  • Look into promotions for dental services

As dental implants become more popular, there is increasing competition between dentists. As such, many dental clinics will offer promotions on their services. So it’s always worth asking the dentists if they have any current offers on dental implants. They can only say no, after all!

Here at No Gaps Dental, we pride ourselves on some of the most competitive treatments in Sydney and the surrounding areas. So if you are interested in implant-based restorations but feel hampered by the cost of dental implants, then give us a call at (02) 8038 4769 for a consultation at your local dental clinic.

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.

Get Affordable Dental Implants at No Gaps Dental Today

At No Gaps Dental, we believe everyone should be afforded the same opportunity to have the smile of their dreams. We offer affordable payment plans through MacCredit so you can receive the treatment you need today and pay later.

Applying for a payment plan is as simple as filling out an online form and showing proof of income. Once approved, you can receive up to $70000 toward your dental implant cost, with repayments starting as low as $30 per week.

Have you ever wondered — how much dental implants cost? They may be more affordable than you think. To get the most accurate estimate of your dental implant cost, call (02) 8806 0227 to book a consultation with our experienced team of dentists at No Gaps Dental so we can create a customised treatment plan and restore your smile.