Implants are used to replace missing or damaged teeth. They mimic a real tooth in the sense that they are fixed and look similar to a real tooth. A titanium screw is placed into the jawbone much like a tooth root, then at a later appointment, a crown is placed onto this titanium screw to make it functional and look like a real tooth. The cost of these dental implants will vary depending on the situation. Implants can either be a single tooth or a set of teeth and the whole process of the implant will normally take a few appointments. For a single implant including the screw and crown, you can expect to pay anywhere between $4000-8000. There are various factors that can affect the price that you pay.
(1) Who provides the treatment can affect the cost you pay for the dental implants
The cost of dental implants can range between dental providers. Some general dental practices may do the whole implant procedure in-house, whereas others may do the implant surgery at a specialist clinic and the crown attachment with a general dentist. Some experienced general dentists can perform implant surgery often on more straightforward cases whereas complicated cases are normally handled by Specialist. In New Zealand, you have the option of 3 types of specialists that you can choose to see : (1) Prosthodontist (2) Periodontist (3) Oral Surgeon
Prosthodontist is a dentist that specialises in aesthetic restorations and replacements of teeth. Click this link to see the location of Prosthodontists near you.
Periodontist is a dentist that specialises in gum (periodontal) diseases. They are often the choice if you are considering placing implant in the highly aesthetic zone , ie you front teeth. Click this link to see the location of Periodontists near you.
Oral Surgeon is a dentist that specialises in surgery to correct the problems of the jaw and mouth. Click this link to see the location of Oral Surgeons near you.
For more complex cases or dental practices that do not perform implant surgery, you will be referred onto a specialist Periodontist, Prosthodontist or an Oral surgeon.
(2) Additional treatment needed to prepare the implant site may affect the cost you pay for your dental implants
Implants require an adequate bone level and healthy gums to be successful. In some cases where the bone level is inadequate, a bone graft surgery may be required for the implant to have enough retention. This additional procedure will increase the overall cost of the treatment. Bone grafting procedure range from $400-$1000 depending on the amount of sites and complexity of the case.
As mentioned before, healthy gums are required for the dental implants to be stable and successful in the long term. If you have gum disease (periodontal diseases), your dentist will recommend full periodontal treatment prior to dental implant placement. Again, this will affect the final price you pay for the dental implants.
(3) Which dental implant system you choose will affect the cost of dental implants
The number of different dental implant systems are increasing worldwide. Most dental practices will select only a few systems to use, often ones that are trusted and reliable. These systems may vary in price. To name a few: Straumann, Zimmer Bioment 3i, Nobel Biocare, Astra Tech, Ankylos, Xive, BioHorizons etc. We recommend using the more brands that have long term studies with high success rate. Your dentists or specialists can give you some recommendation.
As you can see, cost of dental implants can vary depending on various factors. The range of the cost per dental implant is from $4000 to $8000. See your dentists today for a consultation to see if you are suitable for dental implants.
