Whether you have missing teeth due to genetic disorders, poor hygiene or a physical injury, dental implants can offer permanent replacement prosthesis. Before you take that step though, make sure you've looked at all the things you need to go through, pay for and wait on before you commit to the procedure. Dental implants might seem like the magic cure-all for your missing teeth, but they definitely aren't a one size fits all solution.
Your Oral Health
Regardless of the state of your teeth, the most important component to any successful dental implant procedure is the health of your gums and bones. Even the best implants require healthy gum tissue and sufficient bone mass to support the bite force your implants will need to endure. If you have suffered gum disease or are currently diagnosed with osteoporosis, you may not be able to go through implantation.
In addition to physical ailments, there are certain habits that can make you a poor candidate for dental implants. Cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and certain medications can affect the health of your gum tissue and the density of your bones. Diet plays a role here as well, and those who lack sufficient calcium will generally not have strong enough bone tissue.
Your gum tissue can be effectively evaluated with a visual examination by a dental professional. Your bone tissue is another matter entirely, and to determine whether or not your jaw can support the implants, you'll need to go through a deep tissue scan. This will allow the surgeon to see where your bone is the most dense, and where various intra-cranial structures are so that they can be avoided or augmented.
Your Final Cost
In the end, your out-of-pocket expense will depend on the number of implants being placed, the nature of any secondary surgical procedures and the type of dental insurance you have. Some insurance plans consider implant surgery to be strictly cosmetic, while others cover it as a major procedure. To find out where your plan falls you'll need to contact your insurance carrier and ask them directly. In addition, make sure you have sufficient benefits to cover the cost.
A single implant, surgery and prosthetic crown alone can range between $1500 and $6000 altogether, and additional procedures can nearly double that figure. Make sure you're ready for that expense, and look into ways to maximize the coverage your insurance offers. Look into health savings plans offered by your employer, which allow you to use pre-tax income for medical and dental expenses for a start.
Dental implants are a lengthy, involved and costly procedure, but the results that procedure offers can often be worth it. In order to decide for yourself whether or not it's right for you, seek out an implant specialist, such as Dr. Michael G. Allard, for a consultation and begin evaluating your ability to cover the cost.
Share22 January 2015
When the bottled water craze began, I jumped on the bandwagon with everyone else who was drinking water from bottles instead of from the tap. I wasn't sure why bottled water was healthier, but I liked the taste. When I went for my next dental check-up, I had my first cavity in a while, so I had it filled and didn't think much of it. Well, I had two more during my next check-up after that, and I began trying to think of why my teeth were suddenly going bad. The only change in my habits was the switch to bottled water, so I made the switch back to tap water and my teeth began to improve. I created this blog to encourage others who have begun getting cavities suddenly to look into their changes in habits. They may find they made a change similar to mine.