How Much is a Single Tooth Implant?

Dental implants might be a fantastic way to replace missing teeth, but most people will want to know about the costs. However, providing a definitive answer depends on several factors outlined below.

The Number of Implants You Need

The number of implants required to restore your smile is the biggest factor in determining the final cost.

When you first see your dental implant dentist, they can provide an approximate cost per dental implant, but this will also depend on the chosen treatment. For example, you may not need to replace every missing tooth with a single dental implant and instead might be able to use a dental bridge supported by dental implants, also known as implant bridge, which would help keep costs down. The cost quoted also depends on your chosen dental implant dentist.

Some dental implant practices offer very cheap dental implants, but you should beware of these offers. They may not include all the treatments needed or might not use the highest quality implants that will last longer.

The Location of Your Missing Teeth

The visibility of the missing teeth is a key factor in determining the type of dental implant restorations needed. For example:

• Front teeth. If you are missing front teeth that are highly visible, you will need the highest quality dental implant restorations where treatment is focused on aesthetics using the most lifelike materials available.
• Back teeth. More cost-effective materials and techniques may be acceptable if you are missing teeth right at the back of the mouth where they cannot be seen.

Any Tooth Extractions Needed

Many people have teeth that are failing because they are perhaps infected or severely broken down, or have been substantially damaged by trauma. Whatever the reason, these teeth must be extracted before dental implants can be placed.

Tooth extractions aren’t particularly expensive, but if you intend to have dental implants, you need a more specialized form of tooth removal called an atraumatic tooth extraction. This procedure is best carried out by a periodontist.

Atraumatic tooth extraction is an advanced technique to remove teeth gently, greatly minimizing the damage to the surrounding jawbone and potentially avoiding the need for a bone graft.

Protecting and preserving this jawbone is important when placing dental implants, as you need a certain amount of healthy bone to support the implant posts.

Bone Grafts for Tooth Implants

The location can also affect the treatment required; for example, restoring upper back teeth may mean you need a specific type of bone graft called a sinus lift. This is because the jawbone in this area is often thinner and weaker and needs building up with a sinus lift.

A bone graft can also be necessary if you lost teeth quite some time ago, as your jawbone naturally resorbs without the stimulation provided by tooth roots. The jawbone can also be destroyed if you have severe gum disease, called periodontal disease, which is a frequent reason for tooth loss.

Some bone grafting techniques are very affordable, while others are more specialized. For example, if you only need a tiny amount of jawbone, your dental implant dentist may be able to place the bone graft at the same time as inserting the dental implant or while removing a failing tooth. In comparison, a ridge augmentation where a significant amount of bone is needed to build up the bony ridge that originally supported your teeth can be considerably more costly.

The cost of a bone graft can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on the source of the bone and the amount needed. Often, the bone graft is made of synthetic material, but sometimes a dental implant dentist may suggest harvesting the bone from another site in your body which will require an additional surgical procedure. This technique can ensure the bone graft is well accepted, providing excellent results.

There is no way of knowing how much your dental implant treatment will cost until you have a thorough dental implant consultation.

How Much Will a Dental Implant Consultation Cost?

An initial consultation with a dental implant dentist might be free but will merely involve having your mouth examined and discussing your dental and general health. It won’t involve any diagnostic costs, which are needed if you intend to take things further. However, during this initial consultation, you can discover more about the treatments that might suit your needs and gain a rough estimate of the costs involved.

How Much Will Diagnostic Tests Cost?

If you decide to pursue dental implant treatment, you will need two types of diagnostic tests:

Digital dental x-rays: These x-rays are relatively inexpensive and can provide your dentist with a general overview of your teeth and jawbone.
Cone beam CT scan: This specialized 3-D scan is more expensive, but it is essential for planning dental implant surgery. It provides your dentist with a detailed image of your jawbone and the surrounding structures, which helps them to determine the best placement for the implants.

Your dental implant dentist can tell you exactly how much these diagnostic tests will cost before you go further. Some more specialized implant practices, such as NYC Dental Implants Center, have this equipment on-site, so you can have your cone beam CT scan almost immediately, saving you time and money.

After you have these diagnostic tests your implant dentist can provide you with a far more detailed treatment plan, outlining all the possible treatments that could provide the desired outcome and the predicted costs.

Cost of Dental Implant Components

The cost of dental implant components can vary considerably. Usually, dental implants are made from titanium alloy, a medical-grade material that is highly biocompatible. However, some people are concerned about having any metal in their body, so they can opt for zirconia dental implants made from a tough ceramic material which again is very biocompatible. A zirconia implant may cost a bit more than a titanium alloy implant, especially as zirconia implants are used less frequently.

Read more: Zirconia vs Titanium Implants

In addition to the implant screw, you will need an abutment and implant crown. The type of implant abutment can vary depending on the position of the implant in your mouth and the final restoration chosen by you and your implant dentist. Some implant abutments are custom-made, while others are stock or standard-sized components, and obviously, a custom-made implant abutment will cost more.

Cost of Implant Restorations

Dental implant restorations

Dental implants can be restored with crowns, bridges, or implant-supported dentures. The cost of these restorations can vary tremendously depending on the materials used.

Temporary restorations

An implant dentist will often fit temporary restorations soon after an implant is inserted. These are typically made from a composite resin material, which is very cost-effective.

Permanent restorations

The cheapest permanent restoration is a single dental implant crown. This can be made from a thin metal alloy shell covered with porcelain, or it can be made entirely from metal-free materials such as zirconia or another form of strong ceramic. Dental implant bridges can be made from the same materials.

Implant-supported dentures

Implant-supported dentures are made from traditional denture materials, with an acrylic base supporting the lifelike denture teeth.

 

What If I Need Multiple Dental Implants?

If you have several missing teeth that need to be restored with multiple tooth implants, your costs will be higher. However, the cost depends on the number of implants required and the final restoration. For example, a complete arch of teeth can sometimes be supported with as few as four dental implants to hold an implant-retained denture, so treatment is very affordable.

More dental implants may be needed to provide good support, and the restoration can be more expensive if you select a mouth full of implants, especially if it is made from zirconia and is designed to be non-removable.

Will Insurance Cover Any of the Costs?

If you have good dental insurance, it will most likely cover at least part of the costs of dental implants. In the past dental implants used to be regarded as a cosmetic dental treatment, but nowadays, they are increasingly recognized as the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. However, not all dental insurance plans will cover dental implants, and even if you have good coverage, you should still be prepared to meet at least part of the costs.

Financing Dental Implants

Many dental practices offer financing options if you don’t have dental insurance and can’t pay all the costs upfront. These are easy payment plans that allow you to have the treatment you need while spreading the costs over several months or years.

CareCredit and Wells Fargo Health Advantage offer a full range of no-interest payments and extended payment plans for general and cosmetic procedures.

Why Are Dental Implants Expensive?

Dental implants are a more expensive way to replace missing teeth, and once you investigate this treatment, you will probably find the costs vary considerably. Some implant dentists offer this treatment very cheaply, but you should beware of paying too little for your implant teeth.

There’s a reason they can offer dental implants at this price, and it’s usually down to using cheaper components or less advanced techniques such as computer-guided implant surgery. Instead, look for a specialist dentist like a periodontist.

Why See a Periodontist for Dental Implants?

Visiting a periodontist such as Dr. Rahmani will ensure you get the best treatment utilizing the most up-to-date techniques and materials. A periodontist has years of specialized training in placing dental implants and will almost certainly have all the equipment needed, including a cone beam CT scanner in their dental office.

Their expertise ensures the risk of complications is considerably lower, and using high-quality dental implants ensures your implants last for years or even for life. Investing more in your treatment initially is far more cost-effective in the longer term.

 

To learn more about the cost of a single tooth implant or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Rahmani at the NYC Dental Implants Center, please call our office or visit us in person in Midtown Manhattan. Dr. Rahmani is well-known and highly regarded by many peers as the best implant dentist who provides quality implant restorations to patients in Manhattan and surrounding areas.

NYC Dental Implants Center
121 East 60th St Ste 6C2
New York, New York 10065
(60th St. btw Park Ave / Lex Ave)
☎ 212-256-0000

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