Average Cost of Dental Implants

A pretty smile is always nice but it can mean a lot more than mere prettiness. The health of a person’s teeth and mouth is a good indication of overall health in general. That’s one reason why it’s so important to take good care of one’s teeth from an early age.

Many people avoid or forgo the recommended dental visits due to the cost of dentistry but poor health in the mouth often makes eating nutritious foods difficult and it invites infection, too. Both these conditions can mean costly medical expenses later.

But it’s not just neglect that leads some people to explore some of the newest options in dentistry. As we go through life, accidents happen and that sometimes means we lose a tooth or two. We develop diseases that affect the health of our mouths. And sometimes it’s just plain old everyday wear and tear that gets us in the dentist’s chair.

One of the most innovative new technologies in dentistry is dental implants. This procedure involves removing the damaged tooth, implanting a titanium post into the jawbone, and fitting it with a replacement tooth that stays in place and looks perfectly natural.

With tooth implants, there is no limit to the number of teeth that can be implanted. Some people only need one at a time but others require two, three, or more.

Because everybody’s needs are different and because dentists are performing implant dentistry all over the country, it’s kind of difficult to pinpoint an average cost of dental implants. They typically run between $2,000 and $4,000, depending upon underlying damage to the mouth, location, and the individual dentist chosen to do the work.

Dental implants are new technology so, as with all new technologies, the cost is rather high at the moment. As more dentists are trained to perform the procedure and the procedure becomes more popular, it’s quite likely to expect the average cost of dental implants to drop, regardless of where it’s done and by whom.

As of now, medical insurance does not cover implant dentistry but many dentists have payment plans or can refer a patient to a third-party lender when financing is needed. Chances are good that medical insurance providers will pick up the coverage of this procedure as it becomes more popular and less expensive, especially when a tooth is lost or damaged due to illness or injury.