With millions of Americans wearing dentures, there are many people out there searching for another option. Most people want a full set of teeth that don’t come out and feel like natural teeth. This style of treatment allows people to live their lives and not have to think about their teeth. Everyone wants to eat, smile, kiss and talk without the embarrassment of bad breath, loose and yellow teeth or their teeth falling out! This is where implant dentures come to the rescue! One of the biggest questions that patients ask us is “what is the cost of permanent dentures?”
Costs can, of course, vary greatly by region but we have found that most practitioners are usually in the same ballpark with the price. It actually doesn’t have to cost more to go someone who is a world leader in implant dentistry and a global teacher to other dentists! When thinking about the cost of implant dentures, there are few things that must be considered that can make the cost very:
Do any teeth need to be removed?
Often times, patients come to us with failing teeth that must be removed. There are even times when all of the teeth are failing and must be removed. This takes more time and can, therefore, increase the cost of your treatment.
How many implants are needed for your desired result?
The number of implants that must be placed varies greatly depending on each individual person’s situation. The minimum number of implants that can be placed in the lower jaw is 2 (for a removable option) while the minimum for the upper jaw is 4 implants (for a fixed or removable option). This is because the bone in the upper jaw is softer and therefore requires more implants. The maximum number of implants per jaw is usually around 8 implants for cases where we need extra support or the patient grinds their teeth. Although the minimum is 2 and the maximum is 8, the average number of implants is 4-5 per arch for a fixed solution (something that doesn’t come in and out).
What is the final material of your implant retained teeth?
There are many different types of materials to make implant dentures. These vary from acrylic (normal denture teeth material) to gold with porcelain and zirconia. Acrylic is a more affordable material but it can wear and chip easier over time. Zirconia is our ideal material because it is very strong and has much less chance to chip, break, or fracture. Zirconia, however, costs more due to higher lab fees.
What implant company is the surgeon using?
There are over 100 dental implant companies but only a few premium implant companies that our team trusts. These premium implant companies have the best designs, the longest histories, and the most research but they come with a price tag as you can imagine. If you are having implants placed into your body, wouldn’t you want your surgeon to use the highest quality implant company?
Will you need to be sedated for treatment (twilight sleep)?
Most of our patients prefer to be sedated for their dental treatment in order to avoid bad memories from past dental experiences, hearing anything, seeing anything that might make them nervous, or simply because they can! Dentists that are trained in anesthesia must go through rigorous training, testing, and licensure. Being sedated for your dental treatment definitely makes the experience better but can add to your overall cost.
Financing Your Treatment
Before we give you the ballpark costs of implant dentures, please take into account that many people are financing their treatment! We work with a company called Carecredit that allows approved patients to finance their treatment for months or years. This makes permanent dentures affordable for almost anyone and allows us to treat more people in need.
For example, a treatment that costs $15,000 can be as low as $327 per month and treatment as high as $35,000 can be as low as $868 per month!
Please understand that there can be a large range of treatment costs from doctor to doctor and city to city but after taking into account all of these factors, here are the ranges for permanent implant dentures:
Lower Arch
Traditional Acrylic Denture (removable) [$5,000-$8,000 per arch]
- acrylic material
- no implants
2-Implant Supported Prosthesis (removable) [$15,000-$20,000 per arch]
- snaps in and out
- still can rock and move a bit
- teeth are acrylic
- sits on the gums in the back
4+ Implant Implant Supported Prosthesis (removable) [$20,000-$30,000 per arch]
- fully supported by implants
- does not rock and move
- will stay in unless you want to remove it
- easy to clean
Fixed Implant Prosthesis (not-removable) [$35,000-$50,000 per arch]
- fully supported by implants
- 4+ implants
- fully fixed
- does not move or come out
- feels and looks like natural teeth
Upper Arch
Traditional Acrylic Denture (removable) [$5,000-$8,000 per arch]
- acrylic material
- no implants
4+ Implant Implant Supported Prosthesis (removable) [$20,000-$30,000 per arch]
- fully supported by implants
- does not rock and move
- will stay in unless you want to remove it
- easy to clean
Fixed Implant Prosthesis (not-removable) [$35,000-$50,000 per arch]
- fully supported by implants
- 4+ implants
- fully fixed
- does not move
- feels and looks like natural teeth
Posted on behalf of Helm Nejad Stanley – Dentistry
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