With a growing number of Americans being uncomfortable with their teeth and smile, it’s no wonder the dental prosthetic and implant market has grown to more than $6.4 billion. Whether they’re getting cavities filled in or having wisdom teeth removed or having teeth whitened, its clear that Americans will do everything they can to have their smiles restored.
It’s no secret that many Americans aren’t too fond of visiting a dentists, often waiting long periods between appointments or avoiding them all together. But the truth is, dentistry is considered one of the most trustworthy professions out there and with more dental problems popping up, people will likely swallow their pride and go see a dentist for help.
Three million people have implants already and that number continues to rise by 500,000 by the year. Even if you’re skeptical, it should be noted there are many benefits of dental implants:
- Looking good: It’s estimated that about half of the U.S. population is unhappy with the look of their teeth with discolored teeth (64%) being the biggest reason. Whatever the reason, more and more people try to hide their smiles. Fortunately, dental implants feel just like natural teeth and become permanent once they fuse with bone. This gives people a natural look they can be happy with.
- Self Confidence: If you’re someone who tries to hide in the back of family photos or avoids smiling all together because of a lack of teeth or discolored teeth or cracked teeth, dental implants can be a godsend. With dental implants, folks can get a tremendous shot of self-confidence where they’ll be smiling from ear to ear all the time.
- Comfort: It’s been noted that dental implants feel like natural teeth and since they feel so natural, they can provide relief, especially from tooth pain. This can be a big relief for people who have struggled with dentures for years as well as denture adhesive. The natural feel of dental implants makes it easy for folks to enjoy all the foods they love and not have to consistently struggle with dentures.
- Convenience: Dentures still have an important place in dentistry, but they’re not for everyone. Unlike dentures, implants are permanent and durable. With proper care, they can last a lifetime.
- Better overall health: The whole purpose of implants is to get rid of tooth pain and create the natural look and feel of permanent teeth. They are also less invasive than other procedures and help other teeth intact.
- Success rate: It’s true that the dental implant needs of different individuals vary, but in general the success rate of implants is very high (about 98%).
As you can see, there are many benefits of dental implants, but paying for them can be an issue for some people. Typically, implants aren’t covered by dental insurance and it’s important to check with an insurance provider before going ahead with a procedure. Implants can be very beneficial and compare favorably versus the cost for dentures. But if you’re paying for them yourself, you need to find something you can afford.
It should be noted that implants, even for a single tooth can range anywhere from $1,500 to almost $8,000, and that most of that cost isn’t all in the tooth, but in the service provided. People might end up paying more if the place where the procedure is performed has to pay more for all the necessary materials.
Keep in mind that dental implant prices can also depend on:
- The number of teeth that need replacing and the type of replacement teeth being used
- The number of implants needed to support the teeth
- Location, amount and quality of the bone where the implant is needed
- The appropriate type of implants
As you can see, there are many benefits to dental implants and they can do a lot to restore your smile. Before you undergo an implant procedure though, it’s best to talk to your dentist about the best plan of action. It’s also advisable to talk to your medical insurance provider to try and get a handle on how much everything will cost.