It can be frustrating and confusing trying to find out just how much a dental implant is going to cost. Why does the cost vary so much from dentist to dentist, and why after your initial consultation can you be given yet a different price again? We ourselves have seen patients quoted everything from EUR500 to EUR7,500 for a single implant.

Unfortunately, as much as we would all like to compare prices directly, dentistry is a complicated business and you need to make sure you are comparing like with like. Many unscrupulous clinics and agents will try to exploit this complexity in an attempt to make their services seem like better value. It is possible to save a fortune by shopping around, but it pays to be well informed. Here are some of the leading factors that determine the final price of a dental implant.

The Type of Implant

If the price you have been quoted simply looks too low, make sure that it for a normal implant that will act as a titanium root for a full crown, as opposed to a mini-implants. Mini-implants are smaller and are designed to anchor lower dentures. Normally several mini-implants are required to fix dentures in place.

The Brand

There are a large number of brands (over 50) that supply the titanium screws to dentists. Each brand has its unique advantages and price. At the cheaper end there is a brand like Ankylos, which normally has a 5 year materials guarantee. At the more expensive end you have brands such as Nobel Biocare and Straumann, both of which normally come with a 10 year materials guarantee. Most implant specialists will offer a range of brands, with the difference in price being as much as 60%. Therefore when comparing prices you need to know exactly which brand is going to be used.

The Cap

The cap, sometimes called the abutment, sits on top of the implant and acts as a base for the crown. It is important to understand if the price you have been quoted includes the cap or not. Otherwise you could end up with an unexpected bill. As with the implant, there are several types of cap, for example titanium and zirconium, and the price varies by as much as 100%. Once again make sure you know what brand and material of cap has been included in the price you have been quoted.

Temporary Crown

Normally an implant is left in place for at least 3 months to let it attach properly to the jaw before the crown is placed. Some clinics offer a temporary crown that can be immediately placed on the implant, giving you the benefit of better smile during the healing process. You should know if the price you have been quoted includes this temporary crown.

Permanent Crown

The crown is the artificial tooth that is screwed or cemented onto each individual implant. Once again there are a huge range of different types of crowns each with their own benefits and prices. Go here to read more about dental crowns.

The Condition of your Jaw Bone

If the bone in your jaw is narrow or soft, then an implant will not have a good foundation for bonding properly with the jaw, and will most likely fail in a short period. This doesn’t mean that you can’t get an implant, but it does mean that you will most likely need a bone graft. This is where a piece of bone is removed from a different part of your body and grafted onto your jaw. This can add considerable expense to the process.

The Condition of your Teeth & Gums

The conditions of your teeth and gums also have an important role in determining the final price you are quoted. Gum disease will need to be treated prior to the implant procedure, and crowded teeth have to be accommodated. Normally this can only be discovered after the initial consultation with the dentist.

The Dentist’s Fee

The single largest element that affects the overall price of a dental implant is the Dentist’s own fee. Basically this is the amount he or she is charging once all their costs have been taken away. The variation in the dentist fee between countries is staggering with differences of up to 1000%.

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Like most medical history, dental implants have traveled a long fascinating road to get where they are today. Our society is not unique in having dental implants – in fact, cultures have been using them for thousands of years. Most of what we know about these far-gone implants and dental procedures comes from historians and archaeologists uncovering the daily life in older civilizations.

In Ancient Egypt, writing have been unearthed that discuss toothaches, and some dental practice. For a society which is remembered mostly for mummification and the great pyramids, they were very involved in dentistry. In an effort to stabilize teeth, Egyptians would use a ligature wire made of gold – a practice that dates to roughly 2500 B.C! Other ancient finds include a 7,000 year-old Algerian skull with a replica tooth made of bone and an Anatolian site with implants fashioned from calcite. Some believe these ancient implants were most likely implanted after death so that the deceased would have a full set of teeth in the afterlife.

About 2000 years later, the Etruscans (an ancient Italian people) had a more sophisticated design where they would fashion gold bands around teeth to improve oral function and stability. Additionally it has been found that they would fashion replacement teeth from the bones of oxen. Interestingly enough at nearly the same time, the Phoenicians (located along the Mediterranean Sea) developed a tooth stabilizing process similar to both the Egyptians and the Etruscans.

Teams of archaeologists are finding ever older implants throughout Europe. One team has found a wrought iron implant from the Roman Empire between the first and second century. Archaeologists working out of France have found implants from the third century in the mouth of a Celt. Examination of the skull in a burial ground in La Chene, France found an implant that utilized an iron pin that screwed into the gum, holding the tooth in place. Considering that the tooth is a central maxillary incisor makes it likely that it was for aesthetics. The skull in question belonged to a woman who has robed in fine jewelry and bronze making her one of the Celtic elite. Since the central maxillary incisor is a tooth commonly broken in facial trauma it could have been lost in a battle or from an accident. It is speculated that the Celts may picked up on this practice after seeing the gold-adorned mouths of the Etruscans on trading routes.

The Mayan civilization, famous for their advances in mathematics, art, and writing, had dental implants somewhat different from ours. Archaeologists studying the skulls of Mayans have found implants ranging from carved pieces of Jade to seashells as replacements as far back as 600 A.D. Although crude, in many cases these implants fused to the jaw bone making them quite functional. This same functionality is found in ancient Chinese implants which used bamboo pegs inserted into the bone. This property is a basis for modern implants known as ‘osseointergration’ or ‘bone joining’. The first discovery and documentation of this phenomena comes in 1952 and is credited to Per-Ingvar Branemark, a Swedish professor/scientist working with bone regeneration in rabbits. A dig in the 1930’s found a similar bone-joined stone implant in an early Honduran culture dating to roughly 800 A.D.

Even with all of these early advances, the first recorded successful dental implant occurred in 1809, though it was not a reproducible procedure. It would not be until Drs. Goldber and Gershkoff would develop a functioning framework that a reproducible dental implant would be recorded. Today, modern dentistry can proudly boast that dental implant procedures have a 98% success rate.

From ancient Egyptians securing teeth for the afterlife to bamboo implants, the road has been a long and winding one. As time goes on, historians and archaeologists are sure to find more fascinating and ever-older dentistry while modern dentistry becomes even better.

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So you need a dental implant and your dentist has told you all the advantages of how dental implants are the best solution for replacing a missing or damaged tooth. You go over all the benefits and advantages of dental implants, how long the treatment takes and finally the overall costs of the dental implant treatment!

The cost of dental implants can vary from dentist to dentist but it is important to understand some differences between implant prices. The costs can vary greatly and it is important to understand the basics of what an implant is and what you are paying for.

What is a dental implant!

Right first of all lets make this real simple. We are going to describe a simple scenario of having just one single tooth missing like an upper front tooth missing. To add to the simplicity lets consider that you have had this tooth missing for at least one year and simply have a gap in the area. ( ie no tooth present )

In order to replace the tooth you will need an implant, an abutment (optional) and a crown. The complete cost of this in the UK will start from £995 for dental clinics in the UK.

However the price does vary as the treatment available for such a scenario can vary greatly from one clinic to the other.

Why does the cost of dental implants vary between clinics?

• Some clinics will offer premium implant brands which are more expensive than other implant brands. Price does not always equate to quality and the type of implant used will not usually affect the success overall of an implant. In other words a poorly skilled surgeon placing ‘expensive’ implants will not be saved by better implants.
• Is there sufficient bone for implant placement. Before carrying out dental implant surgery it is very important to make sure that there is enough volume for an implant to fit properly in the area where a tooth is needed. A CT scan will allow the surgeon to measure accurately the exact height, width and thickness of bone available for an implant to be placed safely. If there is insufficient bone, a grafting procedure may be required. This will add to the overall cost of the treatment.
• Is an abutment going to be used. Some dentists prefer always to use an abutment in order to make the connection between the implant and the crown above the gum tissue. An abutment in principle will allow for simpler impression taking and in cases of some implant designs will lead to less bone loss. It is sometimes possible to attach an abutment at the time of surgery and this will prevent bone loss in the appointments that follow as the abutment will not be removed and replaced more times than is necessary. Some dentists may prefer to use no abutment at all. This can be due to cost savings however this is not always the best solution as it can lead to bone loss around the head of the implant.
• Type of abutment. There are different types of materials. Pre-fabricated abutments can be purchased in different heights and widths and tend to be cheaper than customised abutments. The material of abutment also plays a role in abutment costs. For example there are some materials like Zirconia which are used for certain cases where aesthetics is particularly important like anterior teeth. Zirconia abutments tend to be more costly than titanium abutments.
• Will a provisional crown be made? It is recommended that a provisional or temporary crown be made before the final crown is finalised. The provisonal crown will allow the dentist, technician and patient to see the effect of how the new implant crown is going to look like. The provisional crown will also help the surrounding gum tissues to grow around the provisional crown and form a neat shape around the crown that resembles a natural tooth contour. Provisional crowns will provide a better end result!
• Material of final implant crown. Again the material of the final crown will affect the cost. The most affordable type of crown which can be used on a dental implant is a porcelain bonded to metal crown. This type of crown has been used for many years and is generally strong and hard wearing. Zirconia crowns are more expensive and can provide a better aesthetic result than porcelain fused to metal crowns since they contain no metal. Zirconia crowns are metal free and extremely biocompatible with the tissues.
• Practice overheads. Some dental clinics will charge more as they are located in different geographic areas for example overheads in central london are more expensive than Inverness?

Conclusion on dental implants cost.

We can see that the prices of implants vary greatly. It is very important that you obtain a detailed treatment plan from your dentist and find out exactly what is being included in your dental implant treatment plan. Ask questions of what treatment is being offered and always consider getting a second opinion.

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Some Information You Should Know About Dental Implants

While most people know about the possibility of losing one’s teeth and having to wear dentures, few understand the likely side effects of these events on the jawbones. Once a tooth is lost, the bone in that part of the jaw begins to atrophy (grow smaller). The best way to prevent this from happening is through the use of dental implants, or tooth replacement therapy.

There are a few facts you should keep in mind when trying to decide what treatment works best for you.

The use of dentures only increases the rate of bone loss, hence dentures need to be replaced as the size of the jaw changes. The longer you use dentures, the more bone will disappear, possibly to the extent that any type of treatment will be unsuccessful.

One interesting statistic – after only five years, 60% of partial denture wearers will have had to replace their original dentures. Clearly dentures are not a good choice in terms of either value or usage. Even that 40% that can still wear the same partial denture 5 years later are losing the all-important underlying bone structure. Something else you may not have heard – 50% of partial denture wearers say they can chew better without having the partial in.

One recent survey found that in a mere eight years, tooth decay and fracturing destroyed 40% of the abutments, the teeth that the partial is hooked to for support. Someone with all their teeth can bite down with an average of 200 pounds of force. On the other hand, someone with dentures can only apply about 50 pounds of force. As time passes, that number drops dramatically, with 15-year denture wearers only able to generate 6 pounds of force, so no more hard or crunchy foods allowed.

A typical average lower full denture will move from side to side an average of one inch while chewing, a difficult issue that many new denture wearers must be able to adapt to. Dentures can have a dramatic impact on the lives of those who must rely on them – they generally have a much lower nutritional intake, a diet of soft foods, and even a ten year shorter life span. Many of these problems can be resolved with the single tooth implant, which has a 98% success rate, and does not pose any harm to the other teeth.

Over a ten year period, implanted bridges or dentures still have a 95% success rate with very little loss of supporting bone. There are many reasons that implants are the best choice for tooth replacment – a more natural and comfortable fit, a replacement tooth that will last for years, and a method that won’t damage any surviving natural teeth.

Patients who opt for implants find that they are able to chew nearly as well as they did with their natural teeth. Feel free to call our office at 949-768-4949 or contact us online at http://www.SmileAgainDentist.com if you have any questions or to learn if you may be a candidate for implant replacement therapy.

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Dental implants are considered to be “one of the most important advances in dental treatment over the last two decades.” Dental implants allow for the replacement of individual teeth and/or a variety of teeth. Dental implants are defined as, “titanium rods about a centimeter long that are placed inside the jawbone and serve the same purpose as the roots of teeth.” There are both pros and cons when it comes to dental implants. Patients considering getting them should consider both sides of the coin before making a final decision.

Starting with the pros, dental implants once in place can last a person a lifetime which makes them well worth the money. Dental implants are very practical and look as natural as real teeth. Dental implants look a great deal better than other forms of dental fixtures such as traditional, removable bridges and dentures (which can be both loose fitting in the mouth). Dental implants also feel better in the mouth than do bridges and the biting action of the dental implants is every bit as good, in not better than that of bridges.

Dental implants are excellent in their fit and look very striking. Dentists can replace one, two, three and even more teeth in a patient’s mouth or the implant can be used to create supports for dentures. Implants allow a patient to look younger and they can make it possible for bridges to be positioned in the mouth where there is no individual tooth or teeth to connect it to. Dental implants can correct a jaw that is completely toothless. As well dental implants can prevent bone that is toothless from what is called as resorbing (in other words, dissolving and shrinking).

The cons are the downside of dental implants. One of the biggest is the cost of them which is great. Dental implants can run a patient into the thousands. They are a great deal pricier than removable full or partial dentures and fixed bridges. Dental implants are not always covered by insurance policies. It is a very time consuming process that involves frequent visits to the dentist. In the most complicated of cases, patients can be making multiple visits for a period of one to two years.

Dental implant surgery involves a certain degree of pain afterwards as well as bruising and swelling. This will vary from person to person. The false tooth that is positioned on top during the surgery, known as the crown, will likely have to be replaced sometime during a ten to fifteen year period. Dental implants do not always “integrate” or take to a patient’s mouth. In other words, sometimes the surgery is a failure. This can depend on a number of different factors, the most common being the type of implant that was used and the overall health of the patient in question. Most often this surgery is a failure when it comes to specific diseases such as diabetes that is not under control for example, as well as in those individuals who smoke. Breakage of dental implants commonly occurs which are definite cons as well as the occurrence of infections inside the mouth.

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