Dental Implants: calculating the cost and value.

The old saying goes you can’t buy happiness. While that may be true, you can put a price on the next best thing: a perfect smile. Missing a tooth or multiple teeth and want to make a “grin-vestment”? Health professionals agree dental implants are your most effective option.

Smiling not only looks good, but is good for you. Research shows a little grinning can make you a lot more attractive, with another study indicating the health benefits include lowering your blood pressure and heart rate. While smiling itself is free, premium dental implants are not and you must consider whether the return-on-investment is worth it.

Ultimately, dental implants are an investment in your present and future health. In previous posts, we covered many of their non-economic benefits including their natural appearance, the associated confidence boost and their long-lasting nature of implants, among others. While the decision may not be easy, the support and best-in-class treatment you’ll receive at Seaforth Oral Surgery is something to smile about.

If your objective is to return to normal eating and oral hygiene habits via a natural-looking, permanent solution, the advantages of dental implants are undeniable. However, in order to calculate the return-on-investment of dental implants, we will have to do cost/benefit analysis of getting them in the first place.

What Are the costs of getting dental implants and other teeth-replacing alternatives?

The cost of dental implants can vary widely, with a number of factors influencing the price including: the implant type and procedure, which teeth and the number of teeth needing to be replaced, their location, whether bone grafting is needed, the sort of restoration applied (i.e. crown or bridge) and insurance coverage, among others. The average cost of a single dental implant in Canada is roughly $1,600, though the range can start at $1,000 and go well above $5,000. The most accurate way to estimate the cost of your dental implant(s) is talking to your dentist or booking a consultation at Seaforth Oral Surgery.

Dental implants have a higher upfront cost than the most common teeth-replacing alternative, dentures. However, dentures require replacement roughly every five years. Something else to chew on: assuming you keep your dental implants for over 30 years, that equates to at least six sets of dentures. Effective denture upkeep cannot extend their lifespans; your teeth and jaw change over time, necessitating replacements regardless of care.

The other most-common alternatives are bridges. While they require less frequent replacement than dentures (approximately every 10 years), there are associated re-investment costs as well. There is also the concern that when a bridge fails it is because of deterioration to the supporting tooth, requiring further spending.

What is the Return on Investment of Dental Implants?

It can be difficult to place a monetary value on dental implants given that many benefits are intangible. Without having numbers to quantify said benefits, we cannot give dental implants an exact ROI figure. Rather, it is up to you to decide the value of an improved quality of life, better health, confidence and attractiveness, and the most-natural smile solution.

While it is up to the patient to decide whether dental implants are worth the investment, we have put together some questions to help guide you:

• Are you seeking a long-term solution? Dental implants can last a lifetime — with proper care, they will remain securely in place for up-to 30 years.
• Are you concerned about bone loss? Dental implants are the only dental restoration solution that “preserves and stimulates natural bone, actually helping to stimulate bone growth and prevent bone loss”[1], according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.
• Are functionality and aesthetics high on your priority list? Dental implants feel and function exactly as natural teeth do, minus any cavity concerns. They also allow you to eat all foods without hesitation, do not affect speech and you retain your face’s natural shape.
• Can you afford dental implants and have you reviewed financing options? Ensure you understand all the costs associated with your dental implants and be confident that the treatment is realistic for your budget. You should also consult with your dentist or oral surgeon about whether they offer provide financing plans for dental implants.

Dental implants are a lifetime investment in your oral and general health, and require proper research. At Seaforth Oral Surgery in Montreal, we are happy to answer any questions you may have about the procedure — contact us today to book a consultation with our oral and maxillofacial surgeons Dr. Antoine Chehade and Dr. Marc Shenouda.

[1] American Academy of Implant Dentistry.