Why Do Dental Implants Cost So Much?
Are you considering dental implants but surprised by the cost? This article will explain why dental implants are worth the investment for their functionality, aesthetics and reliability.
What are Dental Implants?
To begin with, it’s important to understand what a dental implant is and how the procedure works.
Dental implants are the gold standard of care for replacing missing teeth that closely resemble natural teeth better than any other alternative. With dental implants, you can eat, speak and smile just like you would with a complete set of healthy teeth. The implant consists of a titanium screw that mimics a tooth root attached to a porcelain or ceramic crown.
The procedure:
We will invite you to our Bristol dental practice for a free one-hour consultation with Dr Jonathan Cochrane, our principal dentist. During this consultation, he will conduct a clinical assessment and create a personalised treatment plan for you. Implant treatment is divided into multiple visits over six months to allow for Osseointegration, in which the jawbone welcomes and fuses with the new fixture.
On the day of the implant surgery, our oral surgeon will make a small incision into your gum to reach the jawbone while you are under local anaesthesia. They will then place a biocompatible titanium screw into your jawbone. The incision will be closed with sutures to promote healing. You will need to wait for the implant to fuse (“osseointegrate”) with your jawbone to form a strong foundation.
After the implant has fully healed and fused with the jawbone, we will schedule an appointment to attach an abutment, which is a small connecting piece between the implant and the crown. During this time, we can also attach a temporary crown to the implant to fill the space while we wait for your permanent crown to be made in the lab.
Once the crown has been created and delivered, we will attach it to the implant. The crown will be perfectly colour-matched to the rest of your teeth, resulting in a seamless and natural look. Afterwards, you can expect to leave our practice with your brand-new smile, which should last you a lifetime.
There are several steps involved in the dental implant process, and the expertise of an oral surgeon skilled in implantology is required to perform the procedure. Not all dentists are able to offer this specialist dental service, and this should be taken into consideration when calculating the cost of treatment.
Why Do Dental Implants Cost So Much?
Dental implants are a costly treatment option compared to dentures or bridges, but they are a permanent solution to tooth loss. Once placed, they become a permanent part of your mouth and of you. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the procedure is done correctly using the best quality materials available.
Materials:
At The Bristol Dental Practice, we use only high-quality porcelain and ceramic for our crowns to achieve exceptional results that closely match natural teeth. Additionally, we use high-grade titanium for our implants to ensure they are biocompatible and long-lasting. In contrast, dentures and bridges, which are typically cheaper, are made of an acrylic material.
Skill:
Dental implants require a high level of expertise and specialised training to ensure successful outcomes, and only some dentists are capable of performing them.
At our Bristol dental practice, Dr Cochrane is highly qualified and experienced in dental implantology. He is the youngest dentist to have received a Master’s degree in Dental Implantology from the University of Bristol and the first British dentist to be awarded a Certificate in Implant Dentistry by the German Board of Oral Implantology.
Dr Cochrane has also assembled an exceptional team here at TBDP who have successfully performed more than 5,000 dental implant surgeries for our patients. By choosing The Bristol Dental Practice, you can be confident that you are receiving the best dental care from the most skilled professionals in the field.
Timeline:
Dental implants are a complex dental service that requires multiple visits to allow ample time for healing. This means that they take longer and cost more than most other dental procedures.
Considerations:
Although dental implants are costly, they are very low-maintenance once they have healed, just like natural healthy teeth, and only require regular dental check-ups and yearly hygiene visits to help them last for as long as real teeth. However, our other replacement options need regular maintenance as your bite alignment changes and with wear and tear. Therefore, in the long run, dental implants can be more cost-effective due to their incredible reliability and benefits.
Our Pricing:
At The Bristol Dental Practice, we transparently display our prices so you can make an informed decision about your dental care.
We understand that dental implants can be expensive, which is why we offer financing options to help you manage the cost. With our financing plans, you can spread the cost of your dental implants into more manageable monthly instalments.
Single implants £2,995
Longer-term finance £62.37 per month for 5 years at 9.9% APR
3-unit, 2-implant bridge from £6,995
Longer-term finance from £145.67 per month for 5 years at 9.9% APR
‘All-on-4’ or ‘Same-day-teeth’ from £15,995
Longer-term finance from £333.11 per month for 5 years at 9.9% APR
See our Dental Implants Costs page to learn more.
Final Thoughts
Dental implants are a significant investment towards your dental health. However, they offer unmatched functionality, aesthetics and reliability. The cost of dental implants depends on various factors such as materials, skill, timeline and your chosen dental practice. If you need additional treatments, such as a sinus lift or bone grafts, or if you wish to have the treatment under sedation, the cost will increase accordingly. Nevertheless, our patients who have chosen dental implants have reported that it was a life-changing decision, and they are incredibly pleased with their new smiles.
Looking for dental implants in Bristol? Contact us today to book a FREE consultation with Dr Jonathan Cochrane:
Call us: 0117 910 5929
Our Address: 1 Queen Square, Bristol BS1 4JQ
We look forward to hearing from you!