3 Factors That Influence The Cost Of Dental Implants

Dental implants have long been regarded as the best way to replace broken and missing teeth or to support bridges, crowns, and dentures. However, since dental implants are typically classified as a voluntary (not required) procedure, your dental insurance may not cover the cost of the procedure. Needless to say, it is not uncommon for a patient to be concerned about the cost of having this procedure performed.

Therefore, it is important to understand what factors affect the cost of getting dental implants, especially if you do not have dental insurance. There are 3 primary factors that influence the cost of dental implants overall. These factors include:

• Number of implants required – while a single tooth only requires one implant as a replacement option, a number of them may be required in order to restore your natural smile. Conversely, as you increase the number of implants that are required, the cost will also increase. Additionally, if a bridge or denture needs replacement, the number of implants required to secure and support those prosthetics will also impact the costs involved with this procedure.
• Other procedures may be required – another issue to consider is that you may need a bone graft if the jaw has atrophied or shrunk as a result of a missing tooth, especially if it has been a while since losing the tooth. Bone graft procedures are required to give the implant an adequate foundation. Other factors that are taken into consideration are where the nerves and sinuses are located in relation to the surgery involved.
• Along with bone grafting, the most common procedure required prior to installing your dental implants is the extraction of any teeth that may be “dead” or infected. Periodontal disease can compromise your teeth by decaying or loosening them. When this has happened, those teeth will need to be extracted prior to the dental implant procedure.
• Quality and type of restoration – the type of artificial tooth or crown that is selected to depends on the quantity of teeth that need to be replaced. Plus, the quality of the materials chosen could have an impact on the cost of the procedure. There are different types of high performance acrylic and porcelain materials to choose from, all of which have different associated costs.

If you would like more information or want to determine if you are a candidate for dental implants in Long Island, please call Stony Brook Family Dentistry and schedule an appointment.