How Much Do Dental Implants Cost and Are They Worth It?

Your smile is the first thing you show the world when you’re happy. Unfortunately, many people feel less than confident about their smiles because they have cracked, broken, or missing teeth. This can really affect one’s self-esteem. Fortunately, today we have dental implants available to replace missing teeth. But are they really worth it?

Fixing Your Smile with Dental Implants

The most common way to fix missing teeth is with dental implants or dentures. While dentures are cheaper, they also are a hassle to deal with. Since you don’t have your teeth attached in your head you can have the embarrassment of having them slip out at inopportune times. If your weight fluctuates by more than ten pounds you also have to get them readjusted by a dentist every time this happens. This can be costly and time-consuming.

With a dental implant, on the other hand, you have your own natural-looking teeth securely in place and you care for it in the same way as you would your other regular teeth. There is no need to buy special creams or gels in order to keep the tooth in place like you would a denture. The aesthetics of having a dental implant are also superior. But what is the cost of dental implants?

Estimating the Cost of Dental Implants

You may be wondering, “How much is one dental implant?” A single tooth implant can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $6,000. This includes the abutment as well as the crown. Most dental implants are performed in two stages with an abutment to give the tooth structure and stability followed by a crown for aesthetic appeal. This is the cost without the help of any insurance. While it isn’t usually covered by insurance, some policies do help to defray the cost of an implant. If that would be the case then you could see out-of-pocket costs for a dental implant go down by half to about $750 to $3,000 per tooth.

Tooth implant price is also affected by the number of teeth you need. If you need multiple teeth replaced then the costs do go up. The out of pocket costs to replace anywhere from two to four teeth can run between $3,000 on the low end to $30,000 on the high end. This is, again, the cost without any insurance helping to lower the individual costs. With insurance, the costs could be lowered again by as much as half to around $1,500 to $15,000. This is for patients who have teeth that are close to the open area on both sides.

It is important to note that the individual needs to have a healthy gum line in order for the implants to be held securely in place. One thing that may save you money is to know that you don’t necessarily need multiple implants if the teeth are close together. The dentist could create what is basically a bridge and have the crowns all attached to one larger implant, thus reducing the cost of the entire procedure.

The Cost of Dental Implants vs. the Benefits

But is the satisfaction of having your smile really worth the cost of dental implants? Almost all patients who have ever gotten one say yes. There is nothing that can compare to having your own teeth in your mouth again. The confidence that you have alone is worth the price and that confidence will shine out in the form of a bright and healthy smile. Having a dental implant isn’t just about cost and aesthetic appeal, it is an investment in your own confidence and happiness.