As we discussed in our last post, a great deal of planning and teamwork goes into executing a dental implant treatment plan. A number of experts, from your periodontist, to his assisting staff, to the dental lab technicians who craft your restoration, work with you to ensure you receive a long-lasting, flattering, functional new smile. As with all major dental work, a number of factors influence the final cost of your treatment plan, including:
Number of Implant Posts
An implant post is that part of the dental implant that replaces the missing tooth root below the surface of the gums. The implant post acts as an anchor for the restoration, usually a crown, bridge, or denture plate. Patients receiving a single crown dental implant can expect to have a single post implanted and, as a result, this procedure is typically the least expensive.
If you’re replacing several teeth and will have a bridge or denture placed, the number of implant posts you need depends primarily on the strength (density) of your jawbone and the location of nerves and the sinuses. A full denture plate could require anywhere from four posts (most commonly in the All-On-4 one-visit implant dentures) to eight posts.
Type and Quality of Restoration
The final cost of your restoration (the part of the implant that replaces the visible portion of a missing tooth) depends almost entirely on the number of teeth that need replacing. For instance, a single crown will cost less than a partial denture, which will cost far less than a full denture plate.
One factor that can upset the more teeth/higher cost ratio is quality of materials. Different types of dental porcelains and high performance acrylics have different associated costs.
Will You Need Adjunct Procedures?
The two most common procedures performed in advance of placing dental implants are:
- Bone grafting. Dental implant posts need a strong jawbone anchor to support the replacement teeth. Bone grafting promotes the growth of healthy new bone growth and is usually performed 3-6 months prior to the implant placement surgery.
- Extraction of “dead” or infected teeth. Teeth that have been compromised by decay or loosened by gum disease may need to be removed prior to placing dental implants. In some procedures, like the All-On-4, a periodontist might extract painful, infected teeth and immediately place implant posts.
About Dr. Marco Cueva
Marco Cueva, DDS, MS is a board-certified periodontist with extensive training and experience providing a full range of dental implant options, including All-On-4 one visit implant dentures. New patients can schedule an appointment or consultation with Periodontic Excellence at our Allen, TX dental office by calling 972-390-9944.
