Everyone wants a perfect white Hollywood smile. But, as you can imagine, a movie star set of pearly whites is not cheap. Even Tom Cruise had to go through quite a bit of work to get that perfect smile.
However, a perfect smile is not the only reason to get dental implants; you may need to replace a tooth that was lost to an accident or disease.
If you need dental implants and your insurance does not cover the expense, (and you don’t have a movie star bank account), you may need to save up for them. Here, we’ll go over some of the details concerning dental implants, and we’ll provide tips on how to finance them.
The Cost of Dental Implants
The cost of a single tooth can vary wildly but generally costs between $3,000 and $4,500. If you want or need, a full set of dental implants, you’ll be looking at a price tag of between $60,000 and $90,000.
However, you might be able to find a single tooth implant for as little as $1,000. It all depends on the quality of service, what needs to be done, and your location.
Getting dental implants consists of several different phases and procedures. First, you’ll need an exam that includes 3D imaging of your mouth. Next, you may need to have additional teeth pulled. Finally, there is the fabrication and installation of the implant, along with the abutment hardware. Dental implants involve surgery and require time to heal before a permanent crown can be attached. According to Conestoga Oral Surgery, “dental implants are titanium fixtures that replace the root structure of your teeth”.
Implants are not only a financial investment, but also an investment of your time. Although the actual implant surgery only takes an hour or so, the healing process can take months. And since it is surgery, you’ll also need to be prepared for a few days of discomfort.
Financing Dental Implants
If you have dental insurance, you might be reimbursed for a portion of the cost of an implant. But, don’t expect your dental insurance to cover the full cost, especially if you want dental implants solely for cosmetic reasons. Before you make the commitment, check with your insurance to find out exactly what is and isn’t covered.
Although not technically an “insurance program”, some companies offer discounts on dental services. 1Dental offers programs that lock in lower rates at participating dentists for many common procedures like fillings and crowns. However, for implants, they just give you a flat discount off the Dentist’s regular rate. Their Careington 500 program will get you a 20% discount for a membership fee of a little over $100 a year. This can result in substantial savings on your dental procedures.
Just like anything, the best way to pay for dental implants is with cash rather than going into debt to pay for them. If you have a health savings account or a health reimbursement account, you can use it to cover the expense of dental implants. The same is true of flexible spending accounts. The benefit of these accounts is that they let you use “pre-tax” money to pay for your health-related expenses.
If you don’t have one of these special savings accounts, you can save money for dental implants the old-fashioned way, by putting a little bit of money aside each month. While you might want to have a perfect, dazzling white movie star smile, you also need to be realistic. Dental implants are not cheap, and the process is not fast, easy, or pain-free. But, if you need to replace a missing or damaged tooth, implants are certainly worth it.
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