The Cost of Dental Implants in New Zealand: What to Expect
Did you know that 44% of people in New Zealand don’t visit the dentist regularly? Not visiting the dentist for regular check-ups could lead to all sorts of dental problems such as tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and sometimes even tooth loss. Tooth loss is a big problem for several reasons, namely because it can negatively affect the entire state of your oral health.
But there are many ways to fix this problem such as with dental implants. But how much do dental implants cost NZ? What types of dental implants should you be looking for and what is the process of getting dental implants like?
Keep reading and learn more about what to expect from dental implants, NZ, below.
What Are Dental Implants Exactly?
A dental implant is a form of dental technology that aims to replace a real tooth. It is usually only possible to get a dental implant if you no longer have the dental roots of the tooth you lost. If you have lost a tooth but the roots are still in your jaw, you will need to have them removed before you get dental implants.
This is because a dental implant involves the use of a metal post that will rest where your dental roots usually reside. If the dental roots remain, they will only get in the way. There are several different types of dental implants. For example, there are single dental implants that only replace one tooth at a time.
This is best for those who are only missing one or a couple of teeth. If you are missing several teeth in one area, there are also some dental implants that can replace several teeth at once. These implants usually need to be anchored to nearby real teeth, otherwise, they won’t be able to remain stable.
If you don’t have real teeth nearby for these dental implants to hang onto, you can also get crowns to act as anchors instead. There are also some implants that can be great substitutes for dentures. For example, all-on-4 implants are those that can replace several teeth at once.
Dental Implants vs Dentures
You might be wondering why a person would get this dental implant when they can get dentures instead, especially since dentures are generally cheaper. However, there are many benefits of dental implants that dentures don’t have. For example, dental implants are typically much easier and more convenient to deal with.
With dentures, you will have to take them out every evening, make sure they stay clean, make sure they stay put in your mouth, and so on. This can be messy and irritating to deal with, but since dental implants are permanent, you won’t have to worry about any of those problems.
Dental implants, in general, are also very beneficial for your dental health. If you have one or more missing teeth, these missing teeth could be detrimental to your dental health in various ways. In particular, if your jaw isn’t under a certain amount of pressure applied by your teeth, your jaw bone could start to get weak and might even start to erode.
This is especially common in those who don’t have any teeth. But what should you expect if you plan on getting dental implants? How long will the procedure take and will it hurt?
Preparing to Get Dental Implants
The process of getting dental implants is quite a long one for several reasons. The overall length will also depend on a variety of factors such as how many teeth you want to replace and the state of your jaw bone. More than anything, getting dental implants requires a lot of preparation.
Your dentist may even need to consult with other specialists such as oral surgeons or periodontists. So much preparation is required because getting dental implants is quite an invasive procedure. If it is done in the wrong fashion, you could easily acquire an infection where the dental implant was placed.
There is also a risk of the nerves in the jaw being damaged if the procedure is done incorrectly. As long as you’re getting your dental implants from a reputable dentist, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Long before the procedure begins, your dentist will evaluate your oral health and your medical history.
It is important to tell the dentist about whatever medications you might be taking, especially those that affect the clotting of your blood. Your dentist will also analyse your jaw and teeth with X-rays and other tests and scans. That way, your dentist will see the full extent of your dental situation.
From these scans, your dentist will create some 3D models to better understand your dentistry. From there, your dentist will come up with a treatment plan that will best satisfy your dental health needs. It is important to tell the dentist what you want from your dental implants and what kind of results you’re hoping to achieve.
What You Need to Know
Your dentist will tell you what results are realistic and give you advice on how to prepare for the procedure. In particular, your dentist will tell you whether or not your jaw bone is strong enough for dental implants. This is important because dental implants need to be drilled into your jaw.
If your jaw bone is too thin or too weak, it will not be possible to drill in the dental implants. This may also damage your jaw bone. Does this mean that if your jaw is too weak that you can’t get dental implants?
Not necessarily. If you are willing, you can get a bone graft to strengthen your jaw. This involves grabbing some bone from another part of your body and grafting it to your jaw.
This will take quite a long time to heal, but once it does, your jaw should be strong enough to receive dental implants. However, getting a bone graft will add to the overall cost of the dental implant procedure since bone grafts usually cost several thousand dollars.
If you don’t need a bone graft, the process will be much simpler.
The Process of Getting Dental Implants
Once your dentist renders you a good candidate for dental implants and all the necessary preparations are made, the procedure can begin. The first stage is to insert a metal post into your jaw bone. The metal post is typically made of titanium or surgical steel since both of these metals don’t have any negative interactions with the human body.
Your dentist will use a strong sedative to ensure that you don’t feel any pain during this procedure. In some cases, you may be rendered unconscious with general anaesthesia. The first part of the procedure is quite straightforward.
It involves cutting open the gums and gaining access to the jaw bone. From there, the dentist will drill a hole in the bone larger enough to fit the metal post. The metal post is perhaps the most important part of the dental implant because it is essentially the anchor of the entire implant.
After installing the post, you will need several months to heal. During this healing time, your jaw bone will slowly grow around the post. As the bone does this, the position of the post will become solid and permanent.
This is important because the post wouldn’t be of much use if it’s wiggling around in your jaw. While you heal, it is important to take very good care of your oral hygiene. This is because your mouth will be particularly vulnerable during this time, and it will be more susceptible to infection.
The Details
A bad infection could ruin the progress of your dental implant and it could also be very harmful to your health. So, it is best to avoid the problem entirely and keep your oral health in good shape. After you heal, you can go back to the dentist for one final appointment.
The last appointment will be to apply the crown (the part that looks like a tooth) of the implant. During this time, you will have only been wearing a temporary crown. Getting the real crown won’t take very long since it is not as invasive as the first part of the procedure.
Some crowns are removable while others are permanently fixed to the implant’s abutment. Whatever the case, the crown should look very realistic. No one will even be able to tell that your dental implant really isn’t a real tooth.
As long as you take care of your implant, along with the rest of your teeth, it should last you many years, if not the rest of your life. But what about the cost?
As it turns out, the cost of dental implants will vary according to a variety of factors.
The Dental Implants Cost NZ
Your cheapest option is to get a single dental implant. A single dental implant in New Zealand typically costs between $6,000 and $7,000. This price includes the price of the dental implant and the crown for the implant.
However, you may need to pay more for several reasons. For example, if you need to extract a tooth or need to have dental roots removed, this will add several hundred, if not several thousand dollars to the cost. And, of course, if you need a bone graft for your jaw, this will cost you even more money.
This is not to mention that you may need several dental implants if you are missing more than one tooth. This, of course, can get very expensive very fast. But what you should keep in mind is that dental implants are very durable.
The implants themselves are made of metal and the crowns are usually porcelain. Porcelain is a very strong material and it is not likely to chip or crack even after several years. For that reason, dental implants are somewhat of a long-term investment.
Investing in Your Dental Implants
Since most dental implants easily last a decade, if not two or more, the cost of the implants up front is not really as steep as it seems. Over the years, the cost will spread out and your implants should still be in good shape. But what should you expect to pay if you need many dental implants all at once?
Suppose you want a full set of dental implants on your upper jaw. This will cost you tens of thousands of dollars, but usually no more than $30,000. If you want a full set of dental implants for both your upper and lower jaw, you can expect to double that number.
At this point, the price of dental implants becomes too expensive for most people. However, keep in mind that most people do not get a full set of dental implants. Instead, if they are already missing most or all of their teeth, dentures may be the better option because it is simply easier and more affordable.
On the other hand, if you still have most of your teeth left, dental implants will still be the better option.
What You Need to Know About Dental Implants
Dental implants may be the perfect solution if you are missing one or a few teeth. Dental implants look like real teeth, and they are very durable. They can easily last more than a decade as long as you take care of them.
While the dental implants cost NZ can be steep, especially when getting several implants, the price is often worth it because of the high-quality and long-lasting results. If you’re thinking about getting one or more dental implants, don’t hesitate to contact us here.
