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Welcome to the third and final article installment of this three-part series on dental implant financing and the cost of implant procedures in Houston. Thus far, we’ve covered many of the questions patients frequently ask implant dentists, from how much the various implant procedures cost to what kind of financing options are available. We have two issues left to discuss and we’ll start with perhaps the most obvious question. FAQ: Why are dental implants expensive? Answer: Dental implants aren’t actually expensive when you consider exactly what it is you’re buying. This is one of the most detrimental misconceptions abound when it comes to dentistry because it compels many patients to choose inferior tooth replacement solutions rather than make a solid and long term investment in the future of their good oral health. Think about it this way: a good quality car that costs $20,000 isn’t considered expensive just because a bicycle costs $200. The same applies to the cost of dental implants. A good quality solution to missing teeth shouldn’t be considered expensive just because there are far cheaper and rudimentary solutions, such as removable dentures, available. The bottom line is, when you consider the benefits and advantages, as well as the lifespan of dental implants in comparison to inferior technologies, such as dentures and bridges, there is no comparison. Dental implants work out to be the most cost effective option in the long term, especially when you factor in the incredible savings you make on anesthetic gels, adhesives, denture refitting, soaking solutions and other typical repeat denture expenses. FAQ: What benefits do dental implants offer that dentures don’t and are they worth the price discrepancy? Answer: You need only speak to a person who has been wearing removable partial or full dentures for some time to appreciate the vast difference between non-removable teeth that are anchored naturally in the jawbone and removable teeth that rely on bulkiness and the underlying soft tissue covering the jawbone for support: • Dentures are uncomfortable and even painful to eat with. Many patients end up removing their teeth at mealtimes because it’s more comfortable to eat without them. • Dentures are bulky and cause unnatural smile aesthetics. This can have quite a devastating effect upon a patient’s smile confidence and self-esteem. • Because dentures rest upon the gums, patients cannot bite down with a strong force. This restricts their diet to softer and more manageable foods. After 15 years of denture wearing, a patient’s bite force can be reduced by a staggering 97%. Not surprisingly, this is a primary cause of malnutrition amongst the elderly. • Dentures cause a myriad of problems and challenges, including chronic bad breath, gagging, sores and the impediment of taste, texture and temperature sensation. • Dentures do not promote good jawbone health. Over time, this hard tissue atrophies and wastes away, necessitating denture refitting, which is an expense that adds up over the years. Eventually, a patient will have lost so much jawbone volume that not even dental implants can be considered a viable tooth replacement solution. Dental implants, which function like natural teeth, do not cause any of these problems for patients, thus offering a far more comfortable, functional and aesthetic solution to tooth loss, edentulism (not having a single original adult tooth left) and near-edentulism. They also promote the health of the underlying jawbone, keeping it stable and healthy. This bypasses many of these problems associated with dentures. For all these benefits and more, it works out far better – financially and in terms of quality of life - for patients to cover the dental implants costs in Houston than to opt for cheaper and inferior tooth replacement technologies.
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