Restoring Your Smile: How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?

Keep Reading Below to Learn More About the Price of Dental Implants.

Tooth loss might not seem like a common issue in the United States, but it actually affects a large number of Americans each year.

In fact, on average, Americans between the ages of 20 and 64 have just 24.92 teeth remaining (out of 32).

If you're part of the group of adults struggling with tooth loss, you may have heard that dental implants can be a good option to fill in the gaps and restore your smile.

How much do dental implants cost, though? Are they covered by dental insurance? Is this something you can work into your budget?

Read on to learn more about dental implants and get answers to all of these questions.

What are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is essentially an artificial tooth root. The dentist places the implant, which looks like a small screw, into the jawbone.

The implant then bonds with the natural bone and becomes sturdy enough to support an artificial tooth (known as a crown). Crowns are specially made to match the natural shape and shade of your teeth and fit properly in the mouth.

The crown is attached to the implant with a special connector known as an abutment.

How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?

Dental implants are not exactly a cheap procedure, and the price tag can be a bit intimidating initially.

Before you decide against dental implants, it's important to understand all the factors that go into determining their cost. Knowing exactly where your money's going can help you feel better about paying for the procedure.

Factors that Influence Implant Cost

There are a lot of different factors that influence the cost of dental implants, including the following:

• Location: In some parts of the country, dentists have to charge higher rates to cover their overhead.
• Supplier: If your dentist purchases implants from a supplier that charges higher prices, you'll have to pay more for the procedure to cover their costs.
• The number of implants needed: The more implants you need, the higher the price of treatment will be.
• The material used in the implants: Zirconium implants are more expensive than other materials like titanium.
• Treatments required prior to placing the implant: This includes things like tooth extraction, x-rays, CT scans, and bone grafts.

Your dentist's level of expertise can also influence the cost of your implants.

If you're working with a highly skilled dentist who places implants on a regular basis, you may pay more for their services than someone who has limited experience with implants.

Before you decide to try and save some money by working with a less experienced dentist, keep in mind that, by paying more up front for a higher level of experience, you can feel more confident knowing that the job was done correctly the first time.

If you opt for a cheaper treatment initially, you might end up paying more to get it fixed later on.

Average Implant Cost

Okay, you can see that a lot of factors are involved in determining the cost of dental implants. Roughly speaking, though, how much can you expect to pay?

On average, the cost of a single-tooth implant will be somewhere between $1,000 and $3,000. The abutment and crown will add on an additional $500-$3,000. In total, you'll spend between $1,500 and $6,000.

Multiple dental implants will cost you between $3,000 and $30,000. This includes the cost of the abutments and crowns.

Are They Covered by Dental Insurance?

At this point, you're probably wondering whether or not your dental insurance can help to offset the cost of your dental implants. The short answer is that it depends.

Some insurance providers will cover a portion of the cost of dental implants, while others consider them an elective treatment and won't cover anything.

It's important to reach out to your insurance provider to find out what they will cover before you decide to seek treatment.

Don't base your decision off of what your friend or family member's insurance covered. There are a lot of factors at play when it comes to figuring out what insurance will cover -- copays, deductibles, pre-existing conditions, etc.

Check with your own provider before making any decisions about your treatment.

Are Dental Implants Right for Me?

Are you still on the fence about whether or not you even want dental implants? After learning about their price, you might be trying to convince yourself that they're not necessary.

In reality, though, dental implants offer a lot of benefits. Not only do they improve the appearance of your smile, but they can help to restore the structure of your jaw and improve your speech and chewing abilities.

Most people find that dental implants are absolutely worth the cost.

If you're still not sure if implants are right for you, consider whether you meet the following criteria. If you do, dental implants will likely be a safe and effective option for you:

• Your general health is good and you don't suffer from any chronic illnesses that could slow down the healing process, such as heart disease or diabetes
• Your jawbone is strong enough to support the implant
• You avoid smoking and tobacco in any form (including chewing tobacco)
• You have healthy gums and are not showing any signs of periodontal disease

If you are able to check all of these boxes, there's a very good chance your smile can be improved with the help of dental implants.

Get Your Dental Implants Today

You now know a lot more about dental implants and who's a good candidate for them. You also have a clear answer to the question, "How much do dental implants cost?"

With all this information in mind, do you think dental implants are a good option for you?

If you think so and you live in or around the Roseville, California area, contact us at GKS Family Dentistry today.

In addition to dental implants, we offer a variety of other restorative dentistry procedures, including Invisalign and dentures.

Reach us by phone or request an appointment online to learn more about these services and find out which is best for you.