Affordable Dental Implants: Money Talks
When looking at your tooth replacement options, you may feel that affordable dental implants may be a bit of an urban legend! But, there are additional facts that you should consider before letting your wallet make the decision based on the price tag.
Dental implants are one of the premier services that your dentist can provide for you. They are a practical solution for people requiring a replacement for a missing or damaged tooth. As you may know, a dental implant is essentially a custom-made synthetic tooth that is specifically designed to replace your previous one. These implants are extremely durable and have proven themselves to be very reliable, as they may often last a lifetime. They have multiple benefits as well. For example, a dental implant can give you a more youthful appearance by maintaining the bone structure in your jaw. Otherwise, your jaw bone will atrophy over time and give your face a sagging appearance that makes you look older.
Of course, it’s important for you to visit our office to find out whether or not you are a candidate for dental implants. You may want to read more about this in one of our previous blogs: Are Dental Implants Right for You? What Makes a Bad Implant Candidate?
However despite their significantly high success rate, when looking at the price tag for these coveted replacements some people may have second thoughts.
Affordable Dental Implants: Common Myths
In today’s society, frugality is a concept that many of us practice, often for very good reason. However it’s important to realize that even the most frugal approach, (no matter how responsible it may seem) can be a potential misstep, and ultimately prove more costly. This can often be the case when considering your other tooth replacement options.
While cheaper, other options come with numerous disadvantages. The two options that a patient may receive instead of a dental implant are a removable partial or a fixed bridge.
Here are some more details about each:
Option 1: Removable Partial
Often considered the most economical of the tooth replacement options, the removable partial denture or RPD, is as its name implies – a removable row of porcelain dentures that can be used both as functional teeth and to serve aesthetic purposes. While the RPD is a popular tooth replacement option due to it being least expensive of the options, and for being the most accommodating for older individuals who may need several teeth replaced. It does present certain drawbacks as well. Over the years there have been quite a few instances of RPD’s getting lost or going missing, particularly among elderly patients or folks on vacation, leading some to seek a more permanent solution.
Option 2: Fixed Bridge
A bridge or sometimes called fixed partial denture is much like the removable partial, a row of artificial porcelain teeth. However, the differences between an RPD and a bridge is not only the fact that the bridge is fixed (or non-removable) but also that the dental bridge provides greater comfort while chewing, requires less cleaning, and is as convincing as actual teeth. Although more expensive than the RPD, the bridge is in many ways more effective and requires little time to be created.
While both of these tooth replacement options may be less expensive than the dental implant, it’s important to realize that neither option is nearly as strong as the implant, and will eventually and inevitability need to be replaced. It’s not a question of “if”, but a question of “when”?
Along with the more tedious daily maintenance that a bridge or an RPD can add, either can be a bit of a chore, and might actually end up costing more in the overtime.
Affordable Dental Implants: A Worthy Investment
Due to the aforementioned issues, more and more patients today are finding that dental implants are not only a practical solution, but a financially wise decision too; therefore making them affordable dental implants.
Related Article: The Stress-Free Guide to the Top 3 Tooth Replacement Options
Dental implants offer patients a reliable and aesthetically pleasing permanent solution, which is often hassle-free. So remember if you are considering your tooth replacement options, consider the long-term solution as it’s often less expensive to fix a problem right the first time with affordable dental implants.
Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek and his experienced, friendly team at GPS Dental offer affordable family dentistry and gentle dental care in the San Antonio, TX area. Our office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at (210) 633-3477 to make an appointment.
