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Affordable Dental Implant Procedures

A dental implant is a prosthetic device a periodontist or oral surgeon places in the jaw of an individual as a replacement for a missing tooth. Dental implants are more secure and permanent than other prosthetic devices that replace teeth, like dentures and bridges, and last for a longer period of time. The procedure involves jaw preparation, drilling a small hole in the jaw to place the implant, and implanting the device. The cost of a single dental implant is usually between $1,000 and $5,000, so finding a method to minimize the costs is useful.

  1. Mini-Dental Implants

    • For small teeth and incisors, mini implants are a more affordable dental implant procedure, usually amounting to half the cost of traditional implants. As mini implants are about half the size of traditional implants, less bone is needed to install the implant, which reduces the need for bone grafting often required for traditional implants. The smaller size of the implant also results in a less invasive procedure, causing a reduced amount of trauma to the bone and soft tissue in the jaw, and a quicker healing time. The material that composes mini implants, titanium, is not subject to conditions like periodontal disease and decay.

    Dental Schools

    • Affordable dental implant procedures may be obtained by patients willing to seek treatment at a dental school. Dental schools prepare future dentists for the treatment of conditions and diseases that affect the mouth. To qualify for dental school, students must first obtain a bachelor's degree and pass the Dental Admissions Test. During the last two years of dental school, students perform dental procedures, under the supervision of their instructors, on patients at a reduced cost.

    CareCredit

    • The CareCredit program, endorsed by the American Dental Association, can make the dental implant procedure more affordable. It allows patients to pay for high-cost procedures over a period of time in the form of a monthly payment. Once the patient and dentist have decided what dental procedure will be performed, the patient completes a credit application that is submitted to a financial partner by phone or online. Once the application is approved, the treatment can begin immediately.

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