How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?

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If you are one of many people with a missing tooth or teeth and you are considering a dental implants in wilmington as an option, one of the many factors to address is the cost of this option. According to a recent article in The New York Times, one dental implant can cost between $3,000 to $4,500 or more depending on the complexity of your needs. The total price will reflect the materials for the titanium implant, the crown itself, surgical procedures, and possible bone grafts depending on the condition of your mouth prior to the implant.

What Influences This Cost

Dental implants tend to cost more along the east and west coasts of the country and in larger cities, so your geographical location will influence the final price of your implant. Dentists tend to adjust their prices as their experience level increases, so a dentist who performs implants every week will be more skilled and have a price quote to reflect that refined technique. The type of material the dentist uses for your implant will also affect the pricing. Just like any other good, there is the name brand material which is from a Swedish manufacturer who first developed the material and there are generic options. Your dentist may have a preference or insight from experience with the different material options so you may want to discuss these choices when you are reviewing your treatment plan with your dentist.

Insurance Coverage

If you have dental insurance, you will want to review your coverage with your insurance provider as well as review insurance billing procedures with the dental office staff to see what is covered and what your responsibility will be. Some insurance companies consider dental implants an elective procedure rather than a necessary dental treatment, but some insurance policies will cover portions of the implant bill. For example, the costs for the surgical procedure may not be covered, but the implant crown or replacement tooth is covered. Another factor to consider is the reason for your tooth loss. If you lost your tooth as a result of an accident or as the result of a disease, then your health insurance company may even cover some of the cost of the implant. Before finalizing any treatment, be sure to speak to your insurance company and the dental office staff to have a clear idea of who is expected to pay each portion of the bill. Having oral surgery may cause you some discomfort, you do not need an unexpected bill to add to it.

Dental Discount Plans

There are dental discount plans available to you which could offset the cost of the dental implant up to 5 to 40 percent off, according to the New York Times. A little research into the plan options available to you will help you discover if the plan offers discounts on implants or not and if the plan has a waiting period before it takes effect. If you join a dental discount plan, you want to ensure the plan covers dental implants when you are ready to have the procedure.

Flexible Spending Accounts

If your employer offers a flexible spending account, then the assets you set aside in that account can be used towards your implant. The pretax money in that account can be used for the two part implant process over two years if you schedule the implant procedure at the end of the calendar year and then covering the implant with the crown at the beginning of the next year. A clever way to maximize those assets and invest in a toothy grin is easier than you think.

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