Implant Teeth Cost

Dental Implant Cost: Three-Unit Bridge v. Single Dental Implant

Tooth implants are considered the ultimate dental restoration solution for tooth replacement, especially when only a single tooth needs to be replaced.

Traditionally, the best dental restoration for a single missing tooth was a three-tooth bridge, better known as a three-unit bridge. This type of missing teeth restoration worked by linking three false teeth together. The middle tooth was used to bridge the gap. Even though this type of dental restoration was considered state-of-the-art for many years, it had its limitations.

For instance, the fabrication of a three-unit bridge required the teeth on both sides of the gap to be whittled down to allow for the false teeth to be slipped over the top of the teeth. Because the three teeth were linked together, they could not be cleaned in the same way as normal teeth. In addition, they required special dental cleaning tools in order to maintain healthy gum tissue.

Today, dental implants are the first choice to replace missing teeth and dental restoration. In the case of a single missing tooth, a tooth implant can be placed by the implant dentist in the jawbone area of the missing tooth. The implant will serve as a replacement for a tooth root and an individual dental crown. The total apparatus is referred to as a single-tooth implant crown.

Once in place, the dental implant crown will look, feel and function like your natural teeth. They are cleaned and flossed just like your natural teeth, and best of all, they do not require any special tools to clean around them, like bridges. Although tooth implants will not decay, they require that you maintain impeccable oral hygiene.

Does a Dental Implant Crown Last Forever?

Even though dental scientists are developing advanced materials to create a more durable crown, the old adage "nothing lasts forever" also applies to dental implant crowns. Because each patient is different, dental implant crowns last a varied amount of time depending on the patient.

Dental crowns that were thought to last only 3 to 5 years can last 10 to 20 years if meticulously cared for. On the other hand, dental crowns that should last for ten or more years can last only two years in a mouth that is neglected.

The dental implant cost factor is hard to determine precisely. The bottom line is that no one can tell you how long a tooth implant will last, but if you take excellent care of your mouth and see your dentist every six months, you stand a better chance of extending the life of your dental implants and other dental restorations.

How Does the Cost of a Dental Implant Crown Compare to a Three-Unit Bridge?

The cost of a three-unit bridge can range from $2,000 to $3,000. The cost of single tooth implants is approximately $3,000. If teeth associated with a dental bridge fail due to recurrent decay or periodontal disease, ordinarily, dental restoration must be done on the entire dental bridge and possibly add a new filling or build-up of the teeth.

The cost of any foundations under a new dental bridge will add to the dental restoration and tooth replacement cost. If and when a dental implant crown has to be reconstructed, most likely, it would be due to the wearing away of the dental crown material.

The only dental restoration cost would be for that of a new dental implant crown and would not incorporate any adjacent teeth. The dental implant cost over your lifetime would be much less than compared to a three-unit bridge, and is the most natural replacement for a missing tooth.

By Benjamin O. Watkins, III, DDS

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

A Simple Description of a Dental Implant Procedure

Permanent replacements that feel like original teeth

If you have a missing tooth or have lost teeth, you're far from alone. In fact, you're one of over 100 million North Americans with a similar problem. Some lack but a single tooth; others are completely edentulous (without teeth).

Dentures are generally the first thing considered in connection with tooth loss. However, over time a jawbone lacking natural teeth will shrink. Dentures begin to slide, irritating gums. After a while, patients either cannot or will not continue wearing dentures. Their quality of life diminishes as they go on to become "oral invalids."

For many patients, dental implants can be almost the same as having their natural teeth back again. That's because instead of being a removable device inside the mouth, teeth implants are bridges that are permanently anchored into the jaw itself. The dental implant procedure is surgical, yes, but usually performed under local anesthesia.

The key to a successful tooth replacement is something we call osseo-integration, or the meshing together of implant and bone. Good candidates for tooth implants need jawbone ridges that are in good shape and healthy oral tissues. Then, when the implant device is inserted, a chemical and mechanical bond is formed. The jawbone actually grows into the tooth implant.

That's a highly simplified discussion of an extremely complex and technical procedure. For more details on dental implantology, contact your dental implant dentist. Or use our search form above to find one.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.