One of the biggest factors that a prospective implant patient needs to know is, “How much do dental implants cost?” Financial barriers are one of the most common concerns when it comes to whether someone can get dental implants. Understanding the various circumstances that impact total implant costs can help you be better prepared when it’s finally time to take the first steps of meeting with an implant specialist.
Since there’s more to the price of dental implants (in DFW) than the specific fee on each physical implant, here are some things you’ll need to consider:
Does Dental Insurance Cover Implants?
Several years ago, it wasn’t uncommon for insurance to not pay for dental implants. Fortunately, that’s changed for the most part. Depending on the type of dental coverage that you have, your benefits may pay an average of about 50% or so on certain dental implant procedures.
But keep in mind, just like medical insurance policies, dental insurance usually requires a deductible or a copay that you’ll need to meet before the benefits kick in. On top of that, dental policies tend to max out around $1,500 per year. So, it’s best to not dwell too much on whether most of your implants will be covered by insurance or not. Some of it might be, but it may not be as much as you wish it was.
The good news is that if you do plan to get implants, you can tap into your Health Savings Account/Flex Spending Account (HSA/FSA) to pay for your treatment. Dental care is included under approved health expenses, the same way any other medical procedure is.
Is Financing Available for Dental Implants?
Absolutely. Financing makes getting dental implants easier than most people expect. Depending on the type of payment plan you’re looking for, you can get anywhere from 0% to low-interest financing on the total price of your implant treatment. No matter how much implants cost, this option makes it way more affordable to fit implants into your monthly budget.
With financing implants, you can apply the payment plan to the full balance, or just finance the portion that’s not covered by insurance if you want to. Maybe you’ve saved up some money for a down payment but want to make installments on the remaining portion. That’s completely fine and totally doable. Financing is one of the easiest ways to immediately enjoy the perks of implants without breaking the bank.
How Much do Dental Implants Cost Per Tooth?
One of the most important things you need to know about how much dental implants cost is that you’re not essentially paying for each tooth that’s missing. For example, it might be more cost-effective to use four implants and a hybrid All-on-4 appliance to replace up to 14 teeth in your upper jaw than it would be to install a single implant and crown for every tooth that’s missing.
Since dental implants are so durable, we can use them in pairs to anchor multi-tooth restorations. That’s why you’re paying less per tooth for dental implants during full mouth reconstruction as opposed to an implant for each tooth that you need to replace.
If you’re only replacing one tooth with a dental implant, you probably want to budget for a few thousand dollars. But when it comes to multiple teeth, the numbers tend to significantly fluctuate depending on the total number of implants and the type of restoration you want on top of them.
The Type of Restoration You’ve Chosen
Dental implants are just part of your smile reconstruction. Since implants act as the “root” portion of your new tooth, you’ll also want to select a restoration to go on top of it.
Depending on how many teeth you’re missing, this could be something like an implant crown, bridge, All-on-4, or a snap-on overdenture. Each of these different restorations can be crafted from a variety of materials, further impacting the cost differences when it comes to tooth replacement. Some are more economical than others, while premier designs feature optimal aesthetics and durability.
Ultimately, it’s up to you and your implant specialist to decide on what’s practical or what you’re truly looking for with your smile reconstruction. One of the best ways to narrow down the price is to have an implant expert screen your mouth to see what’s appropriate, then work up a care plan that compares and contrasts the varying levels of services. That way you have all of the information you need to make an educated choice about your smile’s future.
Adjunctive Services Related to Dental Implants
Finally, there are costs that may impact your smile treatment that are not related to a dental implant whatsoever. Such as dental extractions, sedation, bone grafting, sinus lifts, etc. Each of these may be necessary before an implant can be installed, but they are billed separately from the actual fee for an implant.
How Much do Dental Implants Cost: Determining Final Cost of Treatment
The only way to know exactly how much dental implants will cost in your specific situation is to sit down with a specialist for a consultation. Your implant expert can rule out factors that may not be applicable in your situation, or bring up others that are. From there, you can go back and forth discussing what’s most important to you and identifying the best type of implant prosthesis for your budget.
After you’ve narrowed everything down, the patient coordinators will draft a care plan—that also incorporates financing and/or insurance benefits, if applicable—that breaks down all of the fees and processes involved. You’ll see exactly how much dental implants cost for your circumstances; they’re going to be different for everyone.
Honest Care at ARCHPOINT
ARCHPOINT provides quality, honest, budget-appropriate dental implant care to fit your lifestyle. Whether you’re searching for top-of-the-line All-on-4 implants or you want a hybrid snap-on appliance, we can find exactly what works for you and your budget.
Contact us today to request a zero-fuss consultation. We’ll be thrilled to assist you with your smile transformation.
