
Full arch dental implants cost is one factor that may deter patients from pursuing this worthwhile treatment.
And unfortunately, it’s not because the treatment is exorbitantly expensive or unreasonably costly but because patients often fail to understand the components that make up its cost. All they see is an apparently heavy dollar figure associated with the treatment without realizing what contributes to it.
In this blog, we’ll break down the cost of full arch dental implants, so potential patients may have a full understanding of it.
Clarifying The Basics: What Are Full Arch Dental Implants?
Full arch dental implants are a modern restorative treatment where dental implants and a denture are used as a means of restoring a whole arch of missing teeth.
In cases where both the upper and lower arches (i.e., the entire mouth) lack teeth, the implants essentially restore a full mouth’s worth of teeth, which is typically 32 in number. In such cases, the treatment is referred to as ‘full mouth dental implants’ or ‘full mouth dental restoration’.
Losing an entire arch of teeth (whether maxillary or mandibular, or even both) sounds like an unlikely situation, but it’s actually pretty common, especially in elderly people or those with severe and untreated gum disease. In medical terms, it’s known as complete edentulism.
In this treatment, dental implants are surgically embedded into the edentulous jawbone as a substitute for missing tooth roots, and a denture is attached to these implants. The implants and the denture collectively form a system of permanent dental restoration, where the implants firmly hold the denture in place (just like natural tooth roots hold the rest of the tooth structure in place). Hence, it provides an ideal, closer-to-nature substitute for missing teeth.
Since implants are made of biocompatible metals (like titanium or Zirconia), they don’t trigger a harmful reaction in the body. In fact, they seamlessly integrate well with the surrounding jawbone over time, ultimately becoming a natural and comfortable part of it.
Who Is Eligible For Full Arch Dental Implants?
For edentulous patients, especially the ones that have struggled with the irritating, unstable, and ill-fitting conventional removable dentures all their lives, the idea of getting full arch dental implants is too captivating to ignore. Who would want to miss out on a life full of freedom ahead, where you can eat, speak, and smile as if tooth loss never struck you to begin with? Everybody deserves it.
However, unfortunately, not everybody may be a perfect candidate for full arch dental implants. The following are some basic eligibility criteria for getting it done:
- A healthy jawbone with adequate volume and density. People with jawbone atrophy can’t get implants unless they get the atrophied section of the jawbone fixed with bone grafts.
- The patient should be overall healthy. The presence of severe and untreated systemic diseases like diabetes, osteoporosis, and arthritis are significant deal breakers.
- They should also have decent oral health, with no history of recurrent or serious gum disease or decay.
- They should be committed to maintaining oral hygiene before and after the treatment.
- They should not be chain smokers or be involved in substance abuse, or should at least be willing to leave these habits for the sake of the treatment.
Breakdown Of The Cost Of Full Arch Dental Implants
Now that you’ve got a decent grip on the basics of the treatment and its eligibility criteria, it’s time for you to get a breakdown of full-mouth dental implant cost so you may understand if the treatment is truly worth investing in.
The Financial Impact Of The Implant Surgeon And Dental Clinic
Full arch dental implant cost is not a fixed one. It may fluctuate depending on several factors, the most obvious ones being the experience and skill level of the surgeon performing the implant surgery and the reputation of the dental clinic hosting the surgery.
Each clinic has its own standards of pricing, which again, is not arbitrary but based on the clinic’s infrastructure, the technology housed by it, its operational costs, etc. It’s recommended to do your own research and get quotes on dental implant treatment costs from different clinics. However, it’s pertinent to mention that modern clinics that provide a high standard of care and those that house expert surgeons usually have higher treatment costs. It’s better to pay a few extra dollars out of your pocket than to compromise on the quality of a procedure that’ll essentially shape your smile and dietary experiences for the rest of your life.
Components Contributing To The Cost
Besides the clinic and surgeon-associated cost fluctuations, your treatment cost entails the following components:
- The cost of the initial consultation. This is where the pre-surgical diagnostic procedures (the X-ray, radiography, CT scans, etc.) are performed, which confirm your eligibility for the procedure and kickstart your treatment journey by aiding immaculate pre-planning.
- The cost of the preparatory procedures, like extractions, bone grafts, or sinus lifts.
- The cost of the implant surgery. This includes the cost of sedation, the surgical tools/equipment used in the surgery, and the labor cost.
- The cost of the dental implants. This would be based on the ‘material’ and the ‘number’ of implants required for the surgery. For instance, implants made of high-quality, durable materials like Zirconia are more expensive than those made with basic materials. In the same way, if your surgery is to follow an all-on-4 approach (which requires only 4 implants per jaw), it’d be less expensive than if it’s to follow an all-on-6 or all-on-8 approach (which requires 6 or 8 implants, respectively).
- The cost of the denture. This will also vary based on the type and quality of material used in the denture and the level of customization employed in the shape, color, and texture of artificial teeth.
- The cost of follow-up visits and possible adjustments.
Conclusion
Full arch dental implant cost would fluctuate based on the dentist and dental clinic you decide to get the treatment from. Apart from these subjective influences, there are some objective factors that contribute to the cost, too. These include the cost of the implants, the dentures, the pre-surgical diagnostic and preparatory procedures, and the actual implant surgery.
For more details about full arch dental implants, schedule a FREE consultation with Bay Area Implant Dentistry, a premium dental practice located in California, USA. Get our expert implant surgeons to assess your case and pave your way to a beautiful smile with our customized and affordable treatment plans.