
1. Dental Implant is better than bridge and denture
Dental implant, bridge, and denture are all used to replace missing teeth. Bridge requires anchoring teeth called “abutment teeth”, which may become weaker and prone to decay while denture or false teeth are removable which often have fitting problems. Dental implant uses a titanium screw placed in the jawbone with a prosthetic tooth attached on it where stability is more firm.
2. Dental implant cost a lot more than other options (bridge and dentures)
Implants are rarely covered by insurance. Practitioners usually charge thousands of dollars for a single tooth. And most dentists refer patients to oral surgeons, periodontists, or prosthodontists especially when the need for an implant is near a nerve or sinus cavity, it’s worth paying for a dentist or surgeon who has specialized training.
3. Not all implants are equal
Dentists use implants made artificial titanium root in the jaw that has been have found to have high success rates (90% or more). The price of an implant differs based on the need of an individual and based on the manufacturer. There are generic implants that are cheaper but may not have been studied yet. So ask your dentist what kind of implant he uses and the success rate he’s had with it.
4. Timing can also help
Implants are usually a two-part process — first putting in the implant, then covering it with a crown six to 12 weeks later. If you know you need one, schedule the initial procedure at the end of a calendar year, then have the crown put on in the following year. That way you can use two years’ worth of your pretax flexible spending account at work to pay a chunk of the cost. You’ll reap as much as 30% savings if you’re in a high tax bracket.
Dental implants are a good long-term solution to replacing lost teeth, but they’re not cheap.