Healthcare in the US can be super expensive, and dental work is no different. Patients may be forced to pay out of their pocket, even if they have proper dental insurance. Some dental procedures are so expensive that many patients find it much cheaper to visit an international dentist in Brazil or India than local dentists.
The prices that are listed below are only estimates based on the national average. It is common for private practices to charge exponentially higher, to the tune of several thousand dollars.
How Much Does Tooth Cleaning Cost?
Paying a visit to your dental hygienist is important to keep your smile bright and improve your general health. A dental hygienist will remove the stains that discolor and dull your teeth, thereby improving your smile. Having a clean set of teeth can prevent gum disease which could lead to tooth loss.
The standard cost of teeth cleaning ranges from $75 to $200, or an additional $100 if you include dental X-Rays.
What’s the Cost of Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Wisdom teeth grow into the far back corners of the mouth, a little after adult teeth have grown in. These teeth create problems because they grow slightly misaligned, causing discomfort and even pain. Worse still is if they grow at an angle, hitting other teeth and causing permanent damage.
Wisdom teeth extraction can be as cheap as $100 per tooth, but it depends on the overall health of the patient.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are more extensive than other treatments. They tend to be shockingly expensive, particularly if you’re replacing your teeth long after loss or removal. This can be explained by the damage done to the jaw as a result of missing teeth. If you’re missing a tooth, then you’re not alone. At least 178 million people in the US have missing teeth, and the number is only going to increase in the next couple of years.
- Dentists first have to fix the patient’s jaw by a process known as bone resorption. As a result, your dentist might command high prices based on the extent of bone loss. Due to the extensive nature of the procedure, the cost of a single dental implant ranges from $1,500 to 4,000.
- The more procedures involved, the higher your bill is going to be. It is common for dental procedures to include the abutment and crown that could end up costing $500 to $3,000. The final total price can be anywhere from $2000 to $7000. This is much more than what most dental insurance plans are willing to cover in one year. In most cases, their annual maximum ‘maxes’ out at $500 per year, forcing the patient to cover the remainder the bill out of their own pocket.
- But that’s just for a single tooth. Multiple teeth will result in a bloated bill that is far more than what most insurance plans are willing to cover. Of course, the final cost varies depending on the patient and their specific circumstances.
Full Mouth Dental Implants
The loss of a single tooth takes an incredible toll on a patient’s mouth, affecting surrounding teeth and causing further decay.
- Most patients might require full mouth dental implants, and the cost for this dental procedure is far too prohibitive, ranging anywhere from $50,000 to $90,000. The biggest advantage with full mouth dental implants is that they are 100% stable and stay in place like regular teeth. Patients don’t need special adhesives or other.
- Because full mouth dental implants require multiple visits to both a dentist and a surgeon, the final cost of the procedure is beyond what most patients are willing to pay. The cheapest way to sign up for dental implants is to sign up for dental discount plans that will save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on dental implant placement and various dental procedures.
- Before a dentist can begin any procedure, they may need a CT Scan or X-Ray of your mouth to closely examine and mark areas that need the implant. These scans can cost between $25 and $200, depending on how many images the dentist needs to take.
Most insurance companies only cover a portion of the total cost, leaving the rest up to the patient. Besides, some companies require users to carry their insurance policy for a certain period before they are eligible for most extensive and expensive procedures, but waiting out this period is a gross mistake.
It is a real bummer having to pay the bill yourself when you already signed up for dental insurance, which is why at Dental Plan Provider we bring you full coverage dental plans.
The benefits include zero waiting times and zero out-of-pocket costs.
Bone Grafts
If the patient’s jaw has lost bone mass due a phenomenon known as bone resorption, they will need a bone graft before a surgeon can place any dental implants. The lack of bone density means that the jaw usually won’t be able to support an implant. The price of bone grafting depends on the extent of bone damage and the source where the bone is extracted from. It is common for surgeons to extract bones from cows, cadavers, and even create synthetic bone. The price tends to range between $300 and $1500.
You can also ask the surgeon to harvest the bone from your own body, usually the chin or hip, but the cost if significantly higher. It is typically between $3000 and $4000 because the procedure requires at least two surgeries – harvesting the bone and then implanting it in the right area, not to mention hospitalization for a speedy recovery.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are used to repair worn out, chipped, and uneven teeth. They also help with teeth discoloration. Dental veneers are ultra thin shells of porcelain that have the same color as teeth. Veneers are widely considered as cosmetic density because they restore a person’s smile by aligning the teeth and giving them proper shape.
Dentists have to work with external laboratories that make use of CAD and CAM technologies to create new veneers from scratch. This price is factored into your final bill and will usually range between $1000 and $2500.
Root Canal
When tooth infection spreads into the nerves, patients will often need surgically invasive procedures such as tooth canals which is at least $1000. This is a two-step procedure because it involves a crown in order to protect the fragile teeth.
- The cost of a single crown can add an additional $1000, which is inconveniently high. The final bill depends on which areas of your teeth were targeted, the front teeth are easier to treat, and the cost of $300 to $1000 reflects this.
- The bicuspids are pricier and will range from $500 to $2000.
- By far the worst offenders are molars which quickly rack up your dental bill, costing anywhere from $500 to $3000.
Gum Surgery
Periodontal disease, better known as gum infection, is more common than many patients give credit for. The cost of periodontal surgery depends on the extent of the disease and the type of procedure patients undergo.
The typical cost for treatments is anywhere from $500 to $15,000.
Dental Plan Discounts
At Dental Plan Provider, you can qualify for the most cost-effective dental plans and receive an additional 10% off when you first join. Visit our website here and sign up online for amazing discounts!
