It’s an unfortunate truth that dental implants, probably the most indispensable dental technology developed in the last 50 years, aren’t covered by most dental or health insurances. This becomes a problem because dental implants can be expensive, and people in lower income brackets are more likely to lose all their teeth and need to replace them with dentures.
So it’s not surprising that you might find yourself looking at the cost of implant dentures and asking: should I finance this purchase or try to save up so I can buy it with my own money? Although in many cases saving is the best way to go, when it comes to implant dentures, it’s usually best to finance them so you can buy them today. Here’s why.
Time Is of the Essence
Many purchases can be put off easily. If your old TV is working (and maybe even if it’s not), you can postpone buying a new one until you save up the necessary money.
But with implant dentures, it’s different. Once you lose your teeth — and don’t replace them with implants — your body begins a process of bone resorption. Essentially, your body removes bone from the jaw because, without the teeth to stimulate it, the body perceives that jawbone is not necessary.
During the first six months of wearing dentures, you will likely lose a significant amount of bone. For some people, that’s the difference between being able to get dental implants and needing a special procedure to get them (see below). In other words, by the time you save up the money for dental implants, you might not be able to get them without additional procedures.
You Can Save Time
If your body removes too much of your jawbone, you might not be able to get dental implants without a bone grafting procedure. In a bone grafting procedure, material is added to your jawbone to replace lost bone. You may have to wait for this graft to take before you can get your implants placed, which can add six months or a year to your procedure. And that’s on top of the time you spent saving up to get your implants.
You Can Save Money
In many cases, financing can be expensive. That’s not the case with dental implants. Financing for dental procedures is relatively inexpensive. The additional procedures you might need because of bone resorption can be expensive.
In other words, getting dental implants today, while you have adequate bone, can actually save you a lot of money.
Cheap Alternatives Are Damaging
Another problem comes in what dentures you get while you are saving money for dental implants. Cheap dentures can be bad for you. Not only can they speed bone loss because of the way they pinch and put pressure your gums and jawbone, but they can lead to bite problems, headaches, and may even increase your risk of falling.
Your Quality of Life Is Worth Something
As we mentioned before, financing for dental procedures is inexpensive (if not a net savings). And in return for that small cost, you benefit during every hour of every day. Implant dentures help your quality of life in so many ways.
You will be able to talk and smile with confidence. You will be better able to live an active life. You will be better able to eat all the foods you enjoy and taste them. You may even experience benefits during your sleep. Removable dentures are typically taken out at night, but this can lead to the collapse of your airway, which will wake you up many times during the night.
When you put it all together, implant dentures are worth the small cost of financing. If you would like to ask us about financing for your implant dentures in Columbia, please call (803) 781-9090 for an appointment with a denture dentist at Smile Columbia Dentistry today.