2022 Guide To Dental Implants & Cost

Dental implants are a popular method of tooth replacement because they look and function like natural teeth. They also remain permanently affixed to your jawbone with help from a replacement tooth root. This guide outlines several important details about dental implants along with the complete dental implant procedure steps.

Something to consider is that you are far from alone if you have had one or more natural teeth extracted and you are not yet 65 years old. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), the typical American between 20 and 64 has three missing or severely decayed teeth.

The ADA also recommends that anyone missing their permanent teeth have them replaced as soon as possible. Missing teeth cause several problems, including difficulty chewing and speech clarity. Your remaining teeth can also shift towards the open position on your gums, causing poor alignment.

Which Type of Dental Implants Do You Need?

Your Houston TX Midtown dentist will recommend one of four types of dental implants based on how many missing teeth you have. Here are the four types of dental implants currently available:

• Single tooth implant: When you are only missing one tooth, replacing it with an implant restoration improves comfort, function, and appearance. The process involves your dentist installing a dental screw that acts as your new tooth roots with a crown on top of it.
• Implant-supported bridge: This is a good option if you are missing several consecutive teeth. The implant becomes an anchor to hold a dental bridge in place. Fixed dental bridges prevent natural teeth from shifting, while also improving chewing and speaking functions.
• All-on-4 implants: All-on-4 offers a secure solution if you are missing several natural teeth. Your dentist can replace your upper or lower rows of teeth or both. This is a permanent solution to extensive tooth loss.
• All-on-3 implants: This implant solution involves attaching three dental bridges to six dental implants and is an alternative to having an implant-retained denture.

Your dentist may be able to offer you a one day dental implant procedure, which eliminates weeks of waiting for your jaw to heal before receiving the dental crown.

2022 Dental Implant Cost

Several factors influence the average cost of dental implants. For example, you can expect to pay more if you need a bone graft or need to complete other dental work before receiving your implants. The experience and education of your dentist, where you live, and whether your dentist practices in a large city like Houston also play a role. The costs below are averages based on the type of dental implant, but you should remember that your own cost could be considerably more or less based on these and other factors.

• Single tooth implant: $3,000 to $4,000
• Implant-supported bridge: $5,000 to $16,000, based on the length and complexity of the bridge
• Implant-retained denture: $12,000 to $30,000, depending on the number and type of dentures you need and their quality
• All-on-4 dental implants: $15,000 to $20,000 per arch
• All-on-6 dental implants: $10,000 to $15,000 per arch

What Are the Payment Options for Covering the Cost of Dental Implant?

Maybe you have sticker shock at this point and do not see how you can go ahead with your plan to receive dental implants. The first thing you want to do is check with your dental insurance provider to determine how much it will pay for your procedure. Some insurers pay a set amount, others pay a percentage, and some do not cover dental implants at all. You need to know what to expect before committing to paying for dental implants.

You should also ask a patient care coordinator at the dental practice what payment options are available. Many providers offer several low-interest or no-interest loan or credit card options to help patients spread out the cost of care. Dental discount plans are another option worth exploring. These plans are not insurance, but rather offer you a set percentage off your bill in exchange for a monthly or annual payment.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

Dental implants contain three parts that each serve a unique function. First is the implant (screw) that your dentist drills into your jaw. This serves as the root for your replacement tooth. The abutment is a post that connects to the implant screw and dental crown, which is an artificial tooth that sits on top of the abutment. Dental laboratories create crowns from porcelain to ensure they resemble the natural color and shape of teeth as closely as possible. Here is a step by step process about dental implants cost & care.

Techniques and Materials Used to Create Dental Implants

Your dental implant may be one of two different forms. These include:

• Endosteal implants are root form implants and are the most common ones placed by dentists. Small screws and titanium made from alloplastic are the materials used to create them. Your endosteal implant will eventually bond with natural bone over time.
• Subperiosteal implants are rare. However, your downtown Houston TX dentist may use them if you have inadequate bone strength to support the other type of implants.

Who is a Good Candidate for Implants?

Most people can receive dental implants if they have strong enough bone structure to support them. Unfortunately, people with certain health conditions may not do well with dental implants. These conditions include uncontrolled diabetes, taking medications containing biphosphates, and gum disease. Smoking greatly increases the likelihood of dental failure, so plan to quit now if you are considering dental implants.

Steps Involved in Receiving Dental Implants

Before you can get dental implants, you need to complete a consultation to determine if the procedure is right for you and find out if you need any other dental work completed first. For the next appointment, your dentist starts the process by completing a bone graft if you lack adequate bone strength to support an implant. Here are the subsequent steps:

Surgery

During the consultation, the dentist provides x-rays and an exam to determine if you have good oral health to support the healing process. This may also include taking your medical and dental records.

Prep & Healing Time

Your dentist makes small cuts in your jawbone and drills holes into the bone. The post will sit deep within your jawbone and support the artificial tooth

Completion

Crown preparation and abutment placement comes next. The abutment goes on top of the post, followed by placement of the crown to complete the process.

How Long Does a Dental Implant Procedure Take?

The answer to the question of how long a dental implant procedure takes varies considerably. The entire process could take months and require multiple appointments if you receive implants in the traditional way. However, you can complete all phases of the dental implant process in one day if you go to a dentist with the proper skills and equipment.

Dental Implants Follow-Up

Although wanting to know how long a dental implant procedure lasts is a valid question, the actions you take after receiving your replacement teeth are of the most importance. Your dentist will prescribe antibiotics and pain medication for you to take immediately and in the first few days after the procedure. Plan to finish all the medicine, even if you do not have any discomfort.

You need to stick to a soft food diet for a few days and avoid smoking, alcohol, and caffeine entirely. Be sure to brush and care for your replacement teeth just as you do your natural teeth. Continue to attend follow-up appointments with the dentist who placed your implants and regular preventive care cleanings and exams as well.

See Also: Single-tooth implant cost