Cosmetic Dentistry Treatment Options: Dental Implants

During the past twenty years, more and more people have turned to cosmetic dentistry for a number of varied reasons. There are many options available to people when it comes to cosmetic dentistry. One of the more commonly used treatment options that is used when it comes to cosmetic dentistry is the placement of dental implants. This article provides you some basic information about when dental implants are best used, the procedures that are involved in placing dental implants and the costs associated with dental implants.

Of course, if you want specific information about dental implants and other cosmetic dentistry procedures, you will want to consult with your dentist.

Dental Implants: When They are Best Used

Some dentists maintain that dental implants should only be utilized when there has been an accident, injury or disease that has required the removal of a tooth. They maintain that because this is a fairly invasive procedure -- because the installation of dental implants is an invasive process -- it should not be pursued on a whim.

Overall, there likely is some truth to that analysis and line of thought. But, with that said and understood, the cosmetic reasons for seeking dental implants likely arose out of some sort of dental disease or an injury or accident. Therefore, despite the seeming debate, there likely probably is a great deal of agreement as to when dental implants can best be used.

Generally, therefore, dental implants should be used when it is deemed necessary to remove an unhealthy or unattractive tooth (again, the tooth likely have been rendered ugly in appearance because of some sort of injury, accident or disease).

Procedures to Place Dental Implants

As referenced a moment ago, the implantation or installation of dental implants is rather the invasive process. The first step in the process -- following the initial evaluation by a dentist experienced in cosmetic dentistry -- is the removal of the natural tooth. This can be an unpleasant process … certainly not something to be savored.

The dental implant cannot be installed the same time that the offending tooth is extracted. Rather, there will be a waiting period of at least a week before the installation phase can occur.

Unlike with caps and crowns, because the natural tooth completely is removed, there exists no post onto which the dental implant can be placed. Rather, the dental implant actually is placed within the jaw by a dentist who specializes in cosmetic dentistry.

Costs for Dental Implants

There can be some pretty significant price variations in obtaining dental implants. There will be charges for the initial evaluation that will cost about $100 in dentist time and $100 in x-rays. This will be followed by the extraction procedure which will cost another $100 in many instances. If the extraction is more involved, the costs associated with the extraction phase of the procedure will be greater.

There will be costs associated with the design and construction of the dental implant itself. The cost of the dental implant itself will vary depending on what the “tooth” is made of -- composite materials or porcelain, for example. These costs can range from $75 upwards to several hundred dollars (in some instances, even more).

Finally, there will be procedure costs associated with the implantation itself. These costs can run upwards to a few hundred dollars depending on how involved and difficult the actual implantation proves to be on a particular occasion.