Many American adults are missing one or more teeth. This can lead to many oral and overall health issues. The good news is, there are options for replacing your missing teeth. One of the most popular options is dental implants.
This is also one of the most expensive options. Many clinics advertise $399 dental implants, which sounds like a great deal. However, the truth is that this may just be too good to be true. In this article, we’ll explore $399 dental implants and what makes this impossible.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are a tooth restoration option that looks, feels, and functions more like natural teeth. The entire process from start to finish usually takes a minimum of several months- and may take up to a year or more, depending on how your body heals and responds to the treatment. The average cost of a single dental implant is around $4,000.
Traditional dental implants have three parts:
Implant screw: inserted into the jawbone, acts as a replacement tooth root
Abutment: secures the crown or other prosthesis to the implant screw
Crown/prosthesis: replaces the visible portion of the teeth
The process starts with a consultation appointment. The dentist will perform a comprehensive exam, including x-rays. Your expectations for treatment will also be discussed and a treatment plan will be created based on this information.
When moving forward with dental implants, the dentist will start by administering local anesthesia to the area. If you have dental anxiety, you may request oral or IV sedation to help you sleep through the procedure.
Dental Implants Procedure
An incision is cut into the gums and a hole is drilled in the jawbone. Then, the implant screw will be placed in the hole and the incision closed. Healing, which includes the process of osseointegration, takes several months. Osseointegration is the process of the jawbone healing around and fusing with the implant. During this time, you’ll want to stick to a liquid or soft food diet to avoid disturbing the implant.
Once healing is complete, you can return to the office to have the abutment attached and order your custom replacement tooth/teeth. Fabrication of artificial teeth usually takes a couple of weeks. When your prosthesis is returned to the office, we will schedule to have you come in and have it fitted and secured.
Why $399 dental implants are impossible
Many dental clinics advertise $399 dental implants. While this sounds like an amazing deal, it’s simply not possible to offer a quality dental restoration like dental implants at such a low price.
There are several factors involved in the cost of dental implants, including:
The number of implants: one of the major factors involved is the number of implants- while the average cost is $4,000 per tooth, you may be able to reduce the cost per tooth if you get several at once.
Type of implant: there are two types of dental implants: conventional and mini. Mini dental implants are slightly smaller and therefore will cost less than conventional implants.
Material of implants: implant screws are typically made of titanium- however, there are other metals used in these, which may cause an allergic reaction in some patients. Another option is zirconia, which is more expensive.
Material of crown/prosthetic teeth: the most common material for prosthetic teeth is porcelain because they look and feel more like natural teeth. You may reduce the cost of your implants by choosing composite resin, but these will not last as long as porcelain, which may cost more in the long run because they must be replaced more often.
Location of the dentist: the location of the clinic can have an impact on the cost of treatment. We at Legacy Dental provide Implants services in Salt Lake City, Utah for anyone looking for Restorative Dentistry options.
Experience/expertise of the dentist: the experience/expertise of the dentist impacts the cost of treatment- a more experienced dentist will charge more than a less experienced one.
While cutting corners, such as working with a new dentist or choosing cheaper materials can save money on your implants, it’s important to understand that doing so puts you at risk for low quality dental work and implants, which increases your risk of implant failure.
The dangers of falling for $399 dental implant scams
Many dental clinics offer “discount” dental implants. They advertise that they can do dental implants for only $399. However, when you get the bill, they’ve added additional fees, which can be $3,000+.There are several reasons why $399 dental implants are impossible:
Low Quality Services
One of the primary reasons that dental implants are so expensive is that you must pay for the services of the dentist. The more experience they have, the more you’ll usually pay.In addition, sometimes a clinic may advertise dental implants for $399, but the fine print is where you’ll find out that only covers the implant device. You must also pay for the surgery, which is where the additional fees come in.
Cheaper Materials
Implants are usually made from titanium, though they may be made from zirconia as well, which is a higher-quality material. Both of these are biocompatible and safe for implantation in the body. Implants that are advertised for $399 may not be either of these materials, which can mean that they are not as strong or may cause health problems.
Alternatives to $399 dental implants
Dental implants are among the most expensive options for tooth replacement because they look, feel, and function like natural teeth. While this is a popular option, many patients simply cannot afford this expense. The good news is, there are options to help you pay for treatment:
Get Dental insurance: in the past, most dental insurance providers classified dental implants as a cosmetic procedure and would not cover treatment. The good news is, many of them are starting to cover it due to the many benefits offered.
Dental financing Options: most dental clinics accept some type of dental financing, whether it be through a company such as CareCredit or in-house financing.
Go to a cheaper Country (Dental Tourism): many patients save money on their dental procedures by having them done in foreign countries like Canada or Mexico.
Dental discount plans: many clinics offer in-house discount plans where you can pay for a yearly membership and save on various procedures
If you’ve considered these and still can’t afford dental implants, there are other tooth replacement options such as dentures and bridges. While not as stable, these options are acceptable for replacing one or more missing teeth.
Legacy Dental blog is proudly run by our Salt Lake City dentists team; We share knowledge about general dental care and practices. Apart from running this blog, we offer various dental services such as general dentistry,emergency dentistry, and dental implants for the community in Salt Lake City, Utah
