How Much Do Dental Implants Cost
Dental implants are popular tooth replacement options that both dentists and patients alike value for their incredible strength, durability, and natural good looks. They are also highly individualizable and can run the gamut from single to multiple tooth replacement, fixed or removable crowns, and multiple permutations of bridges, dentures, or overdentures. They can also vary dramatically in terms of cost. Put quite simply, there is no easily set number for what dental implants cost but below you will find averages for some of the most commonly used forms of dental implants used to replace multiple teeth at once.
Fixed Implant-Supported Bridges
Fixed implant-supported bridges are designed to replace all of the teeth in a single arch (either the top or bottom of the jaw). They typically rely upon four to eight implants fixtures for structural support, onto which the full-arch bridge is finally attached. Fixed implant-supported bridges are among the most durable, reliable, and effective dental implants there are. They are also among the most costly, starting at approximately $26,000 per arch.
However, many find that the value of this durable and long-lasting tooth replacement technology far outweighs the cost. Not only do the high-quality materials used in their construction mean that the prosthetic teeth themselves are less likely to wear down or break over time, the increased support of more than four implant fixtures means that the bridges themselves rely on a more robust support system, making the fixture much less likely to fail over time.
Fixed Implant-Supported Dentures
Fixed implant-supported dentures are another non-removable option for replacing most or all teeth via dental implants. Commonly referred to as “all on four” dentures, this implant-supported replacement option typically relies upon four implant fixtures for support (hence the name), thereby simplifying the implant placement procedure somewhat. This reduced number of implants, along with more cost-effective materials involved in the creation of the fixture, means lowers costs for the consumer, typically around $23,000 per arch. However, it also makes for a less durable final product, as both the prosthetic teeth and the system itself are more susceptible to failure given then the reduced support built in from the outset.
Implant-Supported Overdentures
In contrast to the aforementioned fixed dental implants, implant-supported overdentures are designed to cover more of the gumline for those whose smiles naturally expose more of this area. They are also removable, which facilitates thorough nightly cleaning and the ability to repair the fixture outside of the mouth should that ever become necessary in the future. While some people do not want to have to take a tooth replacement system out at night to clean it, some find that this gives them more peace of mind knowing that they are able to clean all sides of the fixture. Removability does come at some increased cost, though, to the tune of $23,000-30,000 per arch.
Implant-Retained Overdentures
Like implant-supported overdentures, implant-retained overdentures are also designed to be removable dentures supported by implant fixtures that provide a larger prosthetic gumline. A more minimally invasive solution, this appliance uses fewer (as few as two) implant fixtures per arch to reduce costs as well as implant sites. Lower arches can be as inexpensive as $6,500-8,000 per arch. The top arches tend to be more expensive due to the fact that two implant fixtures are not enough to hold these in place; a minimum of four implants are required here for structural support. For this reason, top arches typically cost between $12,000-13,000.