Is denture supported by implant cost becoming a barrier in your path to permanent teeth replacement? If yes, you’re not alone!
Ironically, when we talk about implant supported dentures cost, the issue is not so much affordability for most patients (as they know that the cost is a long-term ‘investment’ that’ll consistently pay off) but of cost disparity. There can be huge price differences in the cost, with little to no explanation about the cost breakdown. This leaves patients confused, brewing suspicions about being overcharged.
The key, then, is to understand the ‘general’ cost makeup so you may know exactly what you’re being charged for.
In this blog, we’ll answer the question ‘how much do implant supported dentures cost’ with respect to the cost makeup, giving you solid insights into the subject rather than citing vague cost amounts.
What Are Implant Supported Dentures?
Implant supported dentures is a type of permanent dental restorative device, or permanent artificial teeth in simple words. These are meant for people with complete loss of teeth – a condition known as complete edentulism – which affects numerous people around the world.
Such people often relied on traditional dentures (a series of artificial teeth attached to an acrylic/metal framework, placed on the patient’s gums for support) to restore their dental functionality and aesthetics. However, these dentures did the job only partially – as they only provided a replacement for the visible missing teeth, with no replacement for the underlying tooth roots.
Dentures supported by implants work on this insufficiency to bring about a complete and comprehensive replacement to missing teeth – a truly ‘permanent’ replacement. These are actually an overhauled version of traditional dentures with added dental implants for absolute stability and support to the dentures.
For context, dental implants are fixtures made of sturdy materials (such as titanium or Zirconia) that are surgically embedded into the patient’s jawbone to substitute for missing tooth roots.
These artificial tooth roots make up for the lack of stability found in conventional (gum-supported) dentures, anchoring the dentures securely in place and providing a holistic replacement for the missing dental arch.
Structure And Types
A denture supported by implants generally has 4 core components:
- Artificial teeth
- Denture base
- Dental implants
- Abutments (connectors that connect the dentures to the implants)
They may either be:
- Fixed: Dentures that are permanently attached to the implants (they can only be removed professionally by a dentist)
- Removable: Dentures that snap onto the implants and can be off for cleaning or maintenance
The Benefits Of Dentures Supported By Implants
Adding dental implants to a conventional denture is a seemingly minor structural addition, but it has some incredible consequences for the denture.
It causes a total uplift of the dentures’ functional and aesthetic benefits, including:
- Improved chewing efficiency and seamless speaking ability (absolutely no awkward moments with the dentures getting dislodged or falling out in the middle of eating or speaking, impairing diet and speech).
- A natural-looking, fitted appearance of the teeth (the dentures won’t wobble or appear loose as they stay attached to the implants).
- Preservation of the gums and jawbone he alth (as the implants keep stimulating the gums and the jawbone).
What’s The Real Cost Of Denture Supported By Implants?
As we discussed earlier, many people get taken aback by the price variations in implant denture treatments, making it difficult for them to pursue the treatment despite its super compelling benefits. These variations may give the impression that the treatment is unreliably priced or unreasonably expensive when the reality may be quite contradictory.
In reality, these variations are a result of several factors that contribute to the treatment price and affect it in one way or another. These factors include:
Dental Clinic/Surgeon’s Unique Pricing
On the most basic level, denture supported by implants cost is determined by ‘where’ and ‘who’ you’re getting it from – meaning the dental clinic housing the surgery and the surgeon performing it, respectively.
These are the two major driving forces behind the treatment, whose collaborative effort can (literally) make or break your future dental he alth.
This is why it’s extremely important to choose a clinic that has all the necessary facilities (including the diagnostic tools, staff availability and surgical equipment) to house your surgery, as well as a surgeon who possesses considerable competence to carry it successfully.
Needless to mention, such clinics have pricing standards warranted by these qualities (as they add heavily to the clinic’s operational costs). Similarly, a specialist surgeon will charge more for his services owing to his experience and expertise.
Treatment Complexity
Not everyone getting an implant supported denture will have the exact same surgical experience – some will have a pretty straightforward case with little to no complexities while others may have pretty complex cases.
The treatment complexity will not only affect the treatment duration but the cost as well, depending on:
- The condition of the patient’s jawbone. Weak or damaged jaws require additional pre-surgical procedures (like bone grafts or sinus lifts) to make them he althy enough for implant surgery. These procedures bear separate costs, which will contribute to the final treatment cost.
- The number of implants required by the patient per jaw. Modern techniques like all-on-4 implants are pretty cost-effective (but they have their own eligibility criteria which need to be met).
- The number of visits required by the treatment. Quick procedures like same-day dental implants are generally more expensive than conventional elaborate procedures (but the super quick and advanced results of this commendable technology heavily compensate for the slight cost difference).
Quality Of Materials Used
No matter how diligently and expertly your implant surgery is performed, your implant dentures will last only as long as their material’s durability allows them to.
Fortunately, advancements in implant and denture materials have extended the life of implant dentures to as long as 20 years or more, with the implants themselves possibly lasting a lifetime, depending on their material. Such premium level materials, however, bear a higher cost than the materials with basic durability levels (due to the difference in manufacturing techniques and the materials’ intrinsic worth).
Getting implant dentures is a one-time investment, so it’s wise to opt for durable materials that also promise comparable aesthetic value (such as Zirconia) for the most satisfying results.
Conclusion
The quote that you get for implant dentures from a particular dental clinic is not some arbitrary measure of the treatment’s cost; it’s carefully calculated as per the clinic and surgeon’s unique pricing standards, the treatment’s overall complexity and the quality of materials used in the treatment.
For specific information about implant dentures, schedule a FREE consultation with Nashville Implant Clinic, a premium dental practice located in Nashville, Tennessee. Talk to our team of implant experts to set yourself up for an affordable, he althy and beautiful smile restoration!
