If your dentist recommends having a tooth replaced, they will go over the options that are available for you. Oftentimes, a dental implant will be recommended as an option to consider. The initial cost of the dental implant can seem shocking, but before rejecting this tooth replacement option, consider all the benefits it can provide (when compared to other tooth replacement options).
Dental implants provide the most natural looking and feeling tooth replacement option available. They should never cause you discomfort, affect your speech, and they are considered a long-term replacement option. Dental implants are also extremely durable. The post of a dental implant is made of titanium and the crown of the implant can withstand normal pressure from chewing and eating.
If you compare implants to partial dentures, you will find that dentures have a much greater risk for breaking and often need to be refitted or replaced. The same goes for traditional bridges. Bridges can break and often need to be replaced every 5 – 10 years. With dental implants, you will never replace them and they only require minimal maintenance (brushing, flossing, and an occasional fluoride rinse is all that is needed).
When weighing the costs of a dental implant against the other options available to you, always remember that while the cost of an implant can be significantly more than other options, there are reasons for that. Implants are long-term solutions while options like bridges need to be replaced every 5 – 10 years and can cause daily discomfort overtime – whereas an implant feels like a natural tooth, so you are not expected to feel any daily discomfort. If finances are a concern and if your insurance does not provide coverage for implants, you may want to consider looking into a healthcare credit card like Care Credit, that sometimes offers no interest financing.
