How to Find Low Cost Dental Implants

By Susan Braden

If you are in need of a tooth implant, then you probably know how expensive they can be. Most dentists consider implants "cosmetic" surgery and traditional dental insurance will most likely not cover this procedure. Most of us can't afford to pay full price for dental implants, despite how much we may want or need them. However, there are several ways you can find low cost dental implants. Here are four alternatives you can try to make your implant procedures more affordable.

Low Cost Dental Implant Options

1. Schools of Dentistry

You may want to see if a school of dentistry in your area offers cheap implants. Newly graduated students enrolled in dentistry schools must usually be the best of their class, so you can have confidence that they are dedicated to excellent dentistry. Plus, these students are also assisted and supervised by experienced dentists.

However, dentistry schools only accept certain people based on their yearly income. Along with this requirement, there can be a waiting period to receive treatment and your appointment could be substantially longer than at a professional dentist. If you are eligible for treatment, then you will be asked to come in on a specific day. Dentistry schools do not usually offer treatment on weekends and evenings, so your schedule does need to be flexible.

2. Travel

If you feel that you can’t wait for implants any longer, or want a cheap dentist who also may have more experience, traveling to receive implants may be another option. Some people choose to investigate Asian, East-European, and South American dentists for the potential of affordable care. Traveling to receive dentistry care is an interesting option, because it allows you to see some of the world, and also because dentistry can be cheaper in developing nations and countries.

3. Financing

If neither of the first two options appeals to you, then you may want to investigate a payment plan with your dentist to break down your procedure into a series of low cost bills. When financing your dentist bill, you are able to receive the implants you need by simply making a down payment. From there, you can make monthly payments until you pay off the rest of the procedures. If you are in a tight situation and need implants right away, financing may be a good choice for you.

4. Dental Savings Plans

Dental savings plans are also available to cut down your implant bills substantially. Though many plans and insurances consider implants to be “cosmetic,” the best dental plans can discount implants at 15-20% off. That 15-20% off could turn into hundreds of dollars or more in savings.

For the average person, low cost implants can seem out of reach. However, you can pursue several options to get the implants that you need. Dental schools do only accept certain people and have a waiting list, but they have the brightest new minds in dentistry and are supervised by experienced dentists. If you like to experience new cultures while receiving dentistry, traveling may be a good option because foreign countries usually have lower dentistry costs. However, if you have an emergency and need low cost dental implants for multiple teeth right away, financing and a discount plan can often make your procedures most affordable. Whichever cost-cutting option you choose, know that you don’t have to live without the implants you need.