How Much Do Dental Implants Cost in Woodstock? What to Expect

If you're missing a tooth, cost is probably the first question on your mind. At Towne Lake Family Dentistry, we want you to have a straight answer, so this post walks through how dental implant pricing works at our Woodstock dental office, what changes the number, and how insurance, financing and our savings program fit in.

How much do dental implants cost in Woodstock?

The cost of a dental implant depends on how many teeth you're replacing, whether a tooth still needs to come out, and whether your jawbone needs a graft first. We give you the full cost of your own treatment plan before any treatment starts, once an exam shows us what your mouth needs.

Two people replacing one tooth can have very different plans. A single implant placed in healthy bone is a simpler case than a tooth that has to be removed and grafted first, so you'll see your own options laid out side by side, with the cost of each one.

Our team goes over the money in plain terms at that visit. In our own words: "We talk about everything upfront, including finances, no surprises, a clear plan, and we do it together." You can read more about dental implants at our Woodstock dental office before you come in.

What affects the cost of a dental implant?

Three parts of treatment shape most of the cost: the implant, the crown that sits on top of it, and any preparation your jaw needs first.

A dental implant is a small titanium post that replaces the root of a missing tooth. After the implant heals into your jawbone, we place a crown on top, and the crown is the part you see and chew with. Mayo Clinic explains that the titanium fuses with the bone, and that the whole process can take several months because it happens in stages, with healing time in between.

These factors shape your treatment plan and its cost:

• How many teeth you're replacing, and where they sit in your mouth
• Whether a tooth needs to be removed before the implant goes in
• Whether your jawbone is thick enough to hold an implant, or needs a bone graft to build it up first
• Your overall health, since your body has to heal around the implant

Dr. Ray Morgan checks the bone first. As he puts it, "we want to make sure that you have plenty of bone to hold the implant in because that's pretty key." When the bone needs building up, the graft comes before the implant. The ADA's MouthHealthy guide to dental implants is a good place to read more about the process.

Does dental insurance cover implants?

That depends on your policy. Most dental insurance is a benefit package with a yearly maximum, so it may pay toward a portion of your treatment rather than the full cost. Dr. Morgan points out that those yearly maximums haven't changed in years.

We're a mostly out-of-network practice by choice, so we can recommend the treatment you need. You can still use your insurance here. Most PPO plans cover a portion of treatment even out of network, and our team files the claim for you.

To spread the cost out, you can apply for financing through CareCredit, Cherry or Sunbit. Applications take a few minutes, and approval is usually instant.

If you don't have insurance, our In-Office Savings Program covers your routine cleanings, exam and check-up x-rays for a year. Its Plus add-on gives you additional discounts on restorative and cosmetic work, and it has to be added when you first enroll.

What is a cheaper alternative to implants?

One alternative we offer for a single missing tooth is a dental bridge. A dental bridge fills the gap by anchoring a natural-looking replacement tooth to the teeth on either side, with no surgery required. Whether it costs less than an implant depends on your case, and we'll show you both numbers.

Dr. Morgan lays out every option as good, better and best, with the pros and cons of each, and then you decide. In his words: "Look, we're going to give you all the options, but we're not here to judge you. Whatever you choose, you choose."

Leaving the space empty is a choice too, and it can affect your bite over time. When a tooth is missing, the teeth next to the gap can shift into the space, which changes how your teeth come together when you chew.

Why do Woodstock patients choose Towne Lake Family Dentistry for dental implants?

Dr. Ray Morgan, DMD, opened our Woodstock dental office in 1988 as the first dentist in the Towne Lake community, and many of the families who came to him from day one still see us today. Every patient of ours who's missing a tooth hears about implants, because a full set of teeth makes chewing easier and keeps your bite where it belongs.

If you've been missing a tooth for years and feel fine, Dr. Morgan's answer is simple: "just because you've been missing the teeth for a while doesn't mean that you don't need them now." He'll show you what he sees, give you your options, and leave the choice with you.

Ready to find out what your own implant plan would cost? Call our Woodstock dental office at 770-591-7929 or request an appointment online, and we'll go over your options, your cost and your timeline with you before anything starts.

Published by Towne Lake Family Dentistry.