Dental Implants are a great way of regenerating a smile.

Whether you’re missing a few teeth or just one, they are durable, natural looking and act as a fantastic replacement for real teeth.

One thing that always puts people off opting for dental implants is because of the cost of implants. For something the size of a tooth, so small, why does it have such a big price tag?

 

What do implants do?

Dental implants are designed to act like natural teeth. They are customised to your mouth and tailored in such a way that day to day things such as speaking, eating, talking and sleeping are not affected. They’re a long-term solution and will last longer than traditional dentures if cared for correctly.

Can it really be this cheap?

Careful scanning of teeth is required, fit has to be measured and the implants have to be made. It may also be necessary to remove any remains of the missing tooth if it has chipped or snapped. This can often be difficult if teeth are brittle and then the tooth has to be placed. It is undoubtedly a lengthy process that can only be done by full trained dental professionals. The tools and materials needed are expensive, and that is without labour costs added on. So why are some practices offering implants for £150?

Super savings or dangerous discounts?

The average dental implant comes in at £1000 in the UK. So with a saving of roughly £850, what could you buy? 858 McDonald’s cheeseburgers, 85 Ryanair flights priced at £9.99, a 3 star all-inclusive week-long holiday in Spain for 2 at the beginning of June, A Louis Vuitton ‘Never Full’ tote bag, a pedigree cat…

or you could just spend the money on safe, durable, implants that are made of proper materials and fitted professionally.

In recent years, we’ve seen a massive increase in what we like to call ‘discount dentistry’. On deal sites such as Groupon we have seen professional whitening for £50 or invisible braces for £300. Evidently, costs have been severely undercut and it’s likely that the quality and care has been too. Discount Dentistry might seem like a good idea, but is it really?

What should you do?

While everyone loves a saving, it’s a tough one when it comes to dentistry. Everyone loves to pinch pennies wherever they can, particularly around this time of year. While you might be saving hundreds on costly dental treatments, you might not necessarily be doing your oral health a favour.

Ultimately, if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Question the price – why is it so cheap? Will th

e materials be of a lower quality? If you spend less, you may end up paying more in the long run as a result of poor quality treatment that needs constant check-ups and amendments.

Opting for implants

If you’re considering getting dental implants, but don’t know where to start and don’t want to go down the discount dentistry route, head to www.defactodentists.com. There, you’ll be able to search your location to find a whole list of dentists near you that are offering implants. You can read reviews from previous patients and get to know the practice teams. Then, pick the practice that suits you best!