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The Average Cost of Complete Dental Impants

Dental implants are a relatively new and permanent way to replace missing teeth, dental bridges and partial dentures. Although complete dental implants can be expensive, they are a lifelong investment that offers many benefits when compared with other solutions.

  1. Cost

    • AboutCosmeticDentistry.com says the average price for a single dental implant ranges from $1,250 to $3,000. This price is dependent on factors including bone regeneration, sinus elevation, wide- or narrow-diameter implants, and the dental professional performing the procedure. The average cost for an upper- or lower-jaw replacement is $15,000 to $30,000. Full-mouth implant prices would be doubled, making the cost range from $30,000 to $60,000.

    Candidates for the Procedure

    • Not every patient who is missing teeth can receive a dental implant. According to AboutCosmeticDentistry.com, candidates for the procedure must have enough bone in the area surrounding the missing tooth or teeth. Candidates also include those who have bridges or partial dentures. Implants can replace these fixtures permanently, whereas crowns, for example, have an expected life of only 10 to 15 years.

    How the Procedure is Done

    • Dental implants require numerous appointments and steps for completion. According to ADA.org, the first surgery entails placing an anchor. This surgery may take several hours. The bone must then be allowed to grow around the anchor, which can take as long as six months. In some cases, another surgery is done to attach a post that will connect the anchor with the replacement teeth. Different types of implants have the anchor and post attached at the same time. After the gums have time to heal, which takes several more weeks, the artificial teeth are made and fitted. Numerous fittings may be needed, resulting in a completion time period of one to two months.

    Risks

    • According to Docshop.com, the largest risk of dental implants is the chance that they will not integrate properly with the surrounding bone or teeth. This lack of integration results in ill-fitting and non-functioning implants. Other risks include infection or inflammation of the gums and surrounding area. Correct placement of an implant is critical, because if it is placed incorrectly, it can extend into a sinus cavity (in upper jaw placements). Certain medical conditions and habits can cause an even higher risk of complications in dental implants. These habits and conditions include smoking and poor immune systems.

    History

    • According to ADA.org, Alvin Strock put in the first vitallium screw implant in 1937. Vitallium, the first biocompatible metal, was developed by Charles Venable in 1936. Per-Ingvar Branemark described methods for the osseointegration of dental implants in the 1980s. The 1990s brought about the aesthetic dentistry age, which included tooth-colored materials, along with the use of bleaching, veneers, and implants.

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