For many people who are considering the prospect of replacing missing teeth, the cost of dental implants can be a significant consideration and even a barrier.

Sadly, in the UK, most dental implants are not available to be provided under National Health Service agreements within the NHS and only very few people are suitable including those who have suffered severe trauma, have cancer and in some cases are born with many missing teeth.

Otherwise and generally dental implants are provided as Private Dental treatment with costs associated.

When seeking out dental implants in Nottingham, it often seems easy to ask “how much does a dental implant cost?” but this is often a very particular question in relation to the individual patient and their requirements.

It is similar to asking “how much would it cost for a house extension?” or “how much does it cost to get my hair cut?” or “how much would it cost to get my garden done?”.

For a Dentist to be able to give a price for a dental implant they must first be able to assess fully and provide ‘a survey’ of the patient required.

It is essential to do this as sometimes there is not significant bone available for implant placement which may have to be rebuilt or the patient may require other dental treatment needs prior to implant treatment being undertaken.

To begin a complex treatment like dental implants without a mouth which is absolutely ready is to plan for failure.

Many Practices will offer a range of dental implant prices depending on what patients can and would like to afford.

There is often a ‘budget’ option available for using a dental implant system which is less well known, there may be altered costs depending upon the experience of the individual providing the treatment and the components to be used.

In general terms, more experienced Clinicians are liable to get better and more predictable results in the long-term.

Clinicians range from those who have only placed a few dental implants to those who have placed hundreds and then those who have placed thousands.

Further qualifications in terms of surgery, Restorative Dentistry or dental implants themselves are also a potential indicator of someone’s experience.

The dental implant system that an individual uses can vary massively in quality and lower quality systems tend to be priced at the cheaper end.

It is also important to note that the survey of a patient for dental implants includes the production of study models (either digitally or in stone), a design of a new tooth to be replaced and a surgical guide to facilitate implant treatment.

Patients will require X-rays and often a CT Scan and will often require hygiene treatments prior to implants being undertaken.

For this reason it’s important to understand that the cost of the dental implant with a crown is often only part of the cost of the treatment overall and that is why it is essential to undertake a proper and full survey of the area to ensure you’re aware of what is required before proceeding with the treatment.

The more experienced an individual is, the more likely they are to be able to spot problems before they arise having seen many more dental implant procedures carried out.

You can download our Patient Guide to Dental Implants here and some questions you might wish to ask your implant provider prior to undertaking treatment to help you make your decision are as follows:

• How much is a dental implant and crown together?
• What other diagnostics and preparatory procedures might I require?
• How much is an initial consultation and survey together with the diagnostic procedures likely to be?
• Will I require bone to be rebuilt and how will you do that?
• What type of guarantee does my implants procedure come with?
• How many dental implants has the provider placed?
• How many of those implants are still in place and have worked?
• How many years has the individual been placing dental implants and for how many patients?

Investing in dental implant treatment is similar to investing in any quality product and an experienced craftsman with good tools and good equipment is more likely to provide a better long-term outcome but it’s likely to come at a higher cost.