Dental Implants Affordability & Cost

Dental Implants – Price of Dental Implant & Alternatives

I put this section in simply because there were so many people asking for it! The cost of dental implants vary tremendously and depend on several factors:

1. Geographic location—large metropolitan areas with higher overhead structures are more expensive, rural areas tend to be less. (Unfortunately most of the experienced dental implant dentists tend to be in busier areas!)
2. The quality and the amount of continuing education the doctor has invested in varies a lot! This education can be very expensive both in tuition costs, travel costs, and the cost of closing the office (cost of lost production) while the doctor is away.
3. Quality of the materials used. Yes—some offices unfortunately do buy cheap implants. These poor quality implants provide poor results.
4. Quality of the staff—the doctor can’t do everything. He/she needs skilled staff to assist in many areas.
5. Quality of the laboratory services. Restorations crafted by skilled local technicians are generally far superior to lower cost outsourcing options.
6. Quality of the facility and office technology—Advanced dentistry unquestionably requires updated technology both in term of diagnostic equipment, laboratory equipment, and treatment equipment

In the Chicago area, dental implant costs generally range from $2,000 to $3,200 per implant. The abutments and crowns or bridges placed over the implants typically cost between $1,200 and $2,200 per restored tooth. Additional expenses, such as diagnostic X-rays and study models, may also apply. It’s essential to ensure that the surrounding teeth and gums are healthy before proceeding with implants, as neglecting this step could compromise the success of your investment. Keep in mind the long-term benefits of dental implants, including their durability, ease of maintenance, and superior safety compared to removable appliances. For larger cases, many practices, including ours at Smile Glen Ellyn, may offer "courtesy" adjustments to make comprehensive treatments more affordable. Reach out to discuss your options and take the first step toward a healthier, more confident smile!

If you’d like to find out if you are eligible for dental implants and which options would be best for your situation, click here for your complimentary consultation.

Implants Special Offer

Implant Starting at $1495* Plus Complimentary Consultation

Good for first unit. Cannot combine with any other offer.
*Does not include abutment or crown

Expense and Financing of Dental Implants

With all these factors determining the cost of dental implants, and with such a wide variation in the final cost how can we make dental implants more affordable. Several ways to make dental implant therapy affordable are available:

Stage the treatment. Not all steps need to completed at once, and some treatments need to be “spread out” for proper healing!
Don’t compromise quality of materials or the laboratory used. “Penny wise and pound foolish?”
Dental financing with dental finance companies is available.
How about 12 months of interest free payments?

NOTE: Due to the wide range of factors affecting cost we do offer a low cost exam option ($27.00) that includes the 3D bone scan.

The decision to replace missing teeth with a bridge or implant is relatively simple. The two different procedures have practically identical prices for an area missing just one tooth. If a large number of teeth are missing, partial dentures are the least expensive option (with a $2,000 ballpark estimate for Chicago). Remember, though, that partial dentures have numerous drawbacks, including low lifespan of the fixture (about 5 to 7 years), increased food impaction and halitosis, and probable compromising of the surrounding teeth.

SmileGlenEllyn dental office has many options for dental financing, including some no interest payment plans and our dental savings plan.

Cost of Dental Implants & Factors to Consider

Making a decision about replacing uncomfortable dentures with an implant alternative involves weighing a number of factors, including:

1. Amount of bone loss.
2. Desire for esthetics and improvement of facial tone (remember that dentures cause muscle loss and sunken cheeks).
3. Current dental anatomy (smile line, opposing teeth, bruxism/clenching, arch form, etc.).
4. Need and desire for no plastic on the roof of the mouth.
5. Need and desire for the ability to taste food, eliminate food impaction, and not worry about loose dentures.
6. Amount of halitosis (bad breath) and sore gum problems.
7. Financial ability (more on affordability and financing later).

One patient compared the costs of various treatment options using car prices as an analogy:

“Dentures would be like buying a rusted-out wreck. Mini-implants are equivalent to buying a used car. Implant retained dentures are like purchasing an inexpensive car. Implant support overdentures are the same as buying a nice car. And both All-on-Four and implant supported bridges are like buying a topline luxury automobile.”

This analogy, of course, is very broad, and again, the treatment plan depends largely on the individual. An additional consideration is where a patient can begin within the scope of a longer-range treatment plan. For example, a patient may be able to start out with an implant-retained denture, then convert to an implant-supported denture a year later.

“But I’m Too Old!”—Quality of Life & Dental Implants

Finally, if you think you are too old to consider the alternatives to dentures, consider these statistics. At age 65, a woman has a 40% chance of living another 25 years, a 19% chance of living another 30 years, and a nearly 10% chance of living to age 100! Quality of life plays an enormous role in how you actually live your life.

Let me share a story with you about one of my patients.

Quality of Life or Price – A True Story

One of my more memorable patients was a 92 year old woman named Olga. She was in good but not excellent health, being very thin and a little frail, but had a great spirit.

Olga’s complaint was that she could not chew food properly and that her dentures fell out when speaking. Having experienced “old-fashioned” dentistry for her entire life, she now wanted dental implants to restore some of her lost function.

We placed two implants in her upper jaw, and three in her lower jaw to “fasten down” her dentures.

Olga lived to be 3 weeks short of age 96 and moved hundreds of miles from the office. Her daughter came into the office and thanked us “for giving her mother’s life back.” She said that after having the implants placed, her mother regained some of her lost weight and vigor. Proper nutrition and the ability to eat good foods works wonders! Also, her daughter noticed that her mother smiled and laughed more, since she didn’t need to worry about her dentures flying out.

Mostly, her daughter said she was so delighted that her mother could enjoy the last few years being comfortable, eating healthy foods, and being happy again!

Call (630) 326-5811 now to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gibbs or request an appointment online.

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We’ve filled our website with information about our doctors, our team, and our services including family dentistry we offer, location, maps and business hours. Please feel free to take a look around to learn more about what we do and how we can help keep your smile healthy and stunning for a lifetime. We want you to feel confident that when you choose us, you’re choosing to receive the best dental care available.