Dental implants can completely change people’s lives. They can significantly improve a patient's quality of life and self-confidence. However, most people struggle to or simply cannot afford this expensive procedure. This article will discuss why dental implants are so expensive in Australia and which factors affect the price of implants.
What do dental implants usually cost in Australia?
In Australia, dental implants can cost anything from about 3,000 AUD to a whopping 8,000 AUD per implant. In other words, full mouth implants can cost anywhere from 20,000 AUD to about 45,000 AUD. This does not include consultation fees or the cost of general anesthesia. Dental insurance may cover the cost of consultations and checkups. However, they generally do not cover dental implants due to their expensive nature.
Which factors influence the cost of dental implants?
Complexity
A dental implant procedure can take a few hours or even a few sessions to complete. When getting tooth implants, the longer and more complex the procedure, the more it is will cost. This is another reason for the variation of prices from person to person. Since each person's teeth are different, no two procedures are the same. Some patients also require extra procedures such as bone grafting which will increase the costs.
Location
Some bigger cities such as Melbourne, Adelaide, the Gold Coast and Sydney have a higher cost of living. Salaries are also higher in these cities. Dentists in these cities have higher expenses like rent and utilities. Because of this having implants in the Gold Coast are likely to be more expensive than dentists in more rural areas or smaller cities.
Dentists quality of work and experience
Some dentists are more experienced and have a higher level of expertise due to specified training and skills. These dentists are usually seen as more likely to deliver the best quality work. For this reason, they are usually more expensive, and patients will be paying more to have a more experienced dentist work on their teeth.
Which other options are there?
Most patients who are unhappy with the appearance of their teeth or are struggling to bite and chew due to a tooth that has been chipped or removed can opt instead for dentures or bridges. However, both are short-term solutions, unlike dental implants which serve as a more long-term solution. A way to slightly reduce the costs of dental implants would be to ask a dentist to use a local anesthetic instead of a general anesthetic. Patients will not feel any pain, but they will be awake for the entire procedure.
Many people have a strong desire to get dental implants because they feel as though it will dramatically change their appearance and how they and other people see them. While this may be true, unfortunately, many of these people cannot afford dental implants. The cost of dental implants is dependant on a few factors. Patients who are looking for a cheaper alternative can speak to their dentist and find out what the best alternative would be for them or how they can reduce the costs of the procedure.