If you have suffered tooth loss and are looking into your options in missing teeth treatments, chances are that you know that dental implants are the best solution to tooth loss available today in terms of protecting oral health and function, as well as comfort and appearance. You likely also know that dental restorations done with dental implants are typically more costly than other treatments. What you may not know is that the cost at the time of initial treatment is not the whole story – and that the ongoing expenses associated with other options generally makes implants the most cost-effective option over the long-run.

Differences In Longevity Are Key To Accurate Long-Term Cost Comparisons

So how can dental implant based restorations, given their higher initial costs, turn out to be a better bargain over the long-run? There are a number of factors that contribute to the greater cost-effectiveness of implants as compared to traditional dentures and dental bridges, but longevity – or how long they last – is among the most important.

Once an implant is surgically placed in the jawbone to anchor replacement teeth, patients can expect it to last an average of 25 years, and with careful brushing, flossing and regular professional cleaning and checkups, they can last a lifetime. In comparison, traditional dental bridges last, depending upon the specific type a patient is fitted with, anywhere from 4 to 12 years on average. Conventional full or partial dentures must be replaced quite often as well, typically every 3 to 5 years.

So here’s how that breaks down in terms of long-term costs. According to Healthcare Bluebook, the average cost of full dentures for patients is $1,623 and partial dentures cost, on average, between $1,200 and $1,700, depending upon the type chosen. While that initial cost may be significantly less than the amount you’ve been quoted for an implant-based restoration, given the need for regular replacement of conventional dentures, this will be a recurring expense, an investment you’ll be repeating every 3 to 5 years – or 5 to 8 times over the 25-year average lifespan of a dental implant.

The story is similar with traditional dental bridges. These appliances, depending upon the type used and the number of teeth replaced, typically cost anywhere between $500 and $3500, an expense that you will incur every 4 to 12 years as the need for replacement arises.

As you can clearly see, the long-term costs of other missing teeth treatments provide an entirely new perspective on the cost of dental implants. To get an accurate picture of which is most cost-effective in your particular case, you’ll need to look beyond those up-front costs, comparing the cost of replacing those temporary solutions to tooth loss – traditional dentures and bridges – over your lifetime to the price you’ve been quoted for the much more permanent solution – dental implants.

Contact our office to schedule a consultation and find out the actual cost of dental implants. Call us at (202) 386-7100.