Dental Implant

Ideal candidates for dental implants are patients that are in good oral health without any type of gum disease. They also need to have a sufficient amount of dense bone tissue in the jaw so the implants can properly fuse to the natural bone tissue for stability. Patients that do not have sufficient bone density can have a bone graft, harvested from their own body, placed in the mouth to improve the amount of bone density available to secure the implant.

The cost of dental implants depend on how many need to be placed, if a bone graft needs to be performed, whether or not any gum disease needs to be treated before the implant is placed, the area of the country where the procedure is performed, any fees charged by the doctor or facility and if insurance will cover any of the cost. In general, dental crowns cost from $500-$1200 while dental bridges run from $6000-$10,000.

The results of dental crowns and bridges can be seen immediately after they are bonded into place. They can last between 5 to 15 years depending on the condition of the teeth prior to the treatment and the patient maintaining proper oral hygiene after receiving the implants. Improper oral hygiene can lead to a higher risk of developing gum disease. While dental crowns require the same oral hygiene as natural teeth, bridges require special cleaning aids like a floss threader to clean under, and around, the bridge. Bridges will eventually need to be replaced. The shaving down of the enamel for a crown is permanent and will always need a crown to cover it.