Dental implants are an excellent method of tooth replacement and can transform a person’s quality of life. Looking, feeling, and acting, to a certain extent, like natural teeth, it’s little wonder that more and more people are considering this innovative treatment. Unfortunately, dental implant treatment does not come cheap!
What Does a Dental Implant Cost?
In Australia, a single tooth implant will cost you between $2000 and $7000. However, according to the 2020 National Dental Survey Fee, the average price for a dental implant is around $5514 per tooth.
The ultimate reason dental implants cost so much is that they are a lengthy, complex procedure involving dental surgery.
Because every mouth and case is different, dental implant treatment is personalised to meet patients’ needs and smile goals.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the factors that affect dental implants cost and how you can save on the cost of dental implants.
Let’s dive in and take a closer look.
Factors that influence dental implant cost
Location
You may not have realised, but the price of implants is affected by the location of your chosen oral surgeon or dentist. Dental implant treatment in Sydney, for example, is likely to cost more than it does in Adelaide because the standard of living is more expensive. Did you know that Sydney has appeared in a list of the top 20 most expensive cities in the world?
As a result, Sydney dentists will need to factor in their overheads, such as rent, utilities, and salaries, to the overall cost of dental implants.
If you reside in Sydney, you may want to see if you can get a free consultation at your local dental clinic to find out without obligation what the cost is likely to be.
Preliminary procedures
While it may be a simple case to replace a missing tooth with a single dental implant, some patients require additional treatments before going ahead with dental implant treatment. Naturally, these treatments increase the overall dental implants cost and the duration of the dental implant procedure.
Extractions: It may be that your dentist is about to remove heavily decayed or broken teeth and replace them with dental implants. This being the case, the extraction will incur a fee. While a dentist can sometimes place an immediate implant, it’s usually recommended that a patient waits until the jawbone is fully healed (3-5 months) before going ahead with dental implant treatment.
Bone grafting: Unfortunately, when a person has been wearing dentures for a while or missing teeth for a long time, the jawbone will have shrunk, and new bone will need to be regenerated. This is achieved with the help of a bone graft, using bone from another part of your body or synthetic bone.
Sinus lift: This may be necessary for some people having implants placed in the upper jaw. The surgery involves raising the roof of the sinus chamber to avoid the risk of dental implants penetrating the chamber and causing damage.
The type of dental implant
Dental implants have proven to last for many years and have the potential to last a lifetime with care. Like most products, the cost equates to their design and quality. Top name brands like Nobel Biocare, Straumann and Dio Navi have invested thousands of dollars in research, design and clinical testing. As a consequence, they command higher prices.
Longevity
While the initial dental implant cost seems high, implants may save you money in the long term. Cheaper alternatives such as dentures and bridges may need repairs and alterations, with eventual replacement every 5 to 7 years.
A quality titanium implant can last indefinitely, although the porcelain crown may need replacing around the 15-year mark. All it takes to help implants last longer is good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups.
Number of dental implants
Naturally, the number of implants you require will affect the overall dental implants cost. Dental implants can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth or even all teeth. Replacing each tooth with a dental implant isn’t really feasible as the cost would be exorbitant, and the patient would have to endure hours of chair-time.
Fortunately, there are ways dentists can reduce the cost of dental implant treatment. For instance, a single implant can replace two missing teeth in some cases. Additionally, a dentist can close a more significant gap with a dental bridge anchored in place at each end with a dental implant. They can even replace an entire arch of teeth using just 4-6 dental implants.
Dental implant materials
Another factor affecting the dental implant cost is the materials used. Typically dental implants comprise a titanium’ tooth root’ topped with a life-like porcelain crown. Both materials are high-end and come at a cost.
Titanium is the most common choice for implants because it bonds with the jawbone to become a permanent fixture in the mouth. Also, titanium is a biocompatible material that is safe to use in the body without rejection.
In rare cases, patients may be allergic to the metal alloys in the titanium implant, whereas other patients prefer not to have metal in their mouths. In these instances, a metal-free alternative is a zirconia dental implant. These are equally effective but tend to be more costly because they are relatively new.
Can I afford the dental implant cost?
Unfortunately, Medicare doesn’t contribute to the cost of dental implants. However, if your private health insurer covers the extras, including complex dental work and dental surgery, you may be eligible for a small rebate.
Other patients manage the cost of dental implants with a monthly payment option or by spreading the cost in convenient instalments over several months or years.
While travelling overseas for dental implants may be a way of reducing those dental implant costs, it doesn’t come without risks. Just ask the 15,000 Australians who venture overseas every year lured by cheaper dental implants.
So what’s the alternative?
Get a free dental consultation near you and save on dental implant cost
Book with a dentist that offers a free consultation! We currently offer a free Proud Smile Consultation that includes:
- Free dental exam by an expert dentist (valued at $497)
- Free CBCT, OPG and Digital Scan
- Flexible payment plans with Supercare, NDP and TLC and,
- A bonus $500-off dental implants voucher (terms and conditions apply)
Interested? Call Beyond Infinity Dental today on (02) 8000 0183 or book online.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Finder.com – How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?
https://www.finder.com.au/dental-implants
Smile.Com – Costs Of Dental Implant Treatments
https://www.smile.com.au/dental-treatments/implants
7 News – Sydney, Melbourne On List Of The World’s Top 20 Most Expensive Cities
John Hopkins – What Is Bone Grafting?
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/bone-grafting
Science Direct – Biocompatible Material Explained
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/biocompatibility
ABC News – Dental tourism – Things To Consider Before Going That Extra Mile
Long Term Clinical Performance Of 10 871 Dental Implants With Up To 22 Years Of Follow-Up: A Cohort Study In 4247 Patients
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cid.12994
