Dental Implants – Are Cheaper Options Available?

A look at why dental implant placement is not an inexpensive procedure.

A lot of people now are taking up the option to have dental implants fitted instead of dentures. Some, however, question whether they are really such good value for money.

This is a valid question, and one that, at Mike Allen’s Dental Practice, we are very happy to answer.

Training

First of all, let us look at the training involved for placing dental implants.

This is a highly skilled procedure which a non specifically trained general dentist is unable to perform.

On top of the regular training period to be a family dentist, an implant dentist can be expected to train for several more years. The need for this high level of skill is one of the reasons why implants may appear quite expensive.

Material

Dental implants are made from titanium, or titanium alloy. This is a very expensive material; in fact one of the most expensive that there is.

Implants are not made from this because it is expensive however, but because, to date, this is the only material which has been proven to bond firmly with the bone in the jaw. It is this fact, of course, which makes dental implants such a secure option.

Cheaper options

It is not unnatural for patients to look around for cheaper options and, unfortunately, the internet is full of them. Most of these are dental implant ‘clinics’ based abroad.

Whilst some may be able to offer a small reduction in the cost of implants based on the lower cost of living in their country, some of the prices are quite frighteningly low.

As experienced implant dentists, we know that unrealistically low prices can imply that some corners are being cut.

This is likely to be in two areas. Firstly, the skill level of the dentist involved. This is not necessarily intentional and may simply reflect the lower grade qualifications in that country.

Secondly, cheaper materials may be used instead of the precisely engineered Straumann titanium implants that we offer at our Burton Upon Trent dental practice.

In either, or both, of these cases, the likelihood of a dental implant failure is greatly increased. This can be costly to correct and may also cause a lot of pain and discomfort for the patient concerned.

Long term finances.

Although we accept that dental implants do not come cheap, they are, in fact, good value for money.

Whilst bridges etc may be expected to last for up to fifteen years (although some do last less, depending on the individual); with good care, dental implants have been known to last for up to thirty plus years. Add to this the fact that once placed, they both look and feel natural and require no special cleaning and you have a very efficient replacement tooth.

If you spread the cost of a dental implant over say twenty years (bearing in mind that they may well last longer), suddenly, they appear much better value for money.

For more information, please call us on 01283 845345.