How Can I Save Money on the Abutment for My Implants?
Josie asks:
I recently have two dental implants done on tooth #30 & #31. I used the implant dentist who charged me $3,600.00 ($3,000.00 for two teeth implant, $400.00 for bone graft, and $200.00 for CT Scan). Then I was to return for an abutment after a month. When I went there I discovered that the abutment is called healing abutment and I would still have to get a customized abutment from my regular dentist. I got an estimate for $5,000 for the customized abutment and crown. This is getting pretty costly and is over my budget, since my insurance doesn't cover a dime of this procedure. Do I really need the second abutment? How else can I save costs here? Do I need to even get the abutment + crown right now? Maybe I can wait till I have more money? Thanks for your assistance.
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How Can I Save Money on the Abutment for My Implants?
Josie-
The healing abutment you received at the time the implant was placed serves a different purpose than the abutment that supports your final crown. The healing abutment cannot be used to support the final crown. The healing abutment is used during the healing phase of your treatment to contour your gums properly for the restorative (crown) phase of treatment. With the gums in their proper position, the second abutment is used as the means of connecting the crown to the implant. You do need that abutment.
An issue I might worry about with delaying the crown placement would be the teeth above the implants over-erupting into the space where the lower crowns should be. This may or may not be of concern based on your individual case, but I would ask your dentist about it.
Lastly, you can consider placing the abutments now with a temporary crowns now, and proceeding with the final crowns when you have additional funds. It may cost you a little more in the end, but it would give you the use of the teeth now and prevent over-eruption of the top teeth.
You have made a good choice for yourself in proceeding with dental implants. Good luck with the rest of your treatment.
Jeffrey R. Brook, DMD
Dr. Jeffrey Brook
http://www.periowellness.com/
dental implant abutment cost
Hi
A custom abutment and crown is necessary to complete your treatment. The temporary abutment is just to keep the implant site open and exposed and it can not be used to build crown on.
You can certainly wait for several months with the healing abutment in place and that should be no problem. Of course, it is important to monitor the adjacent teeth for shifting during that time. If you decide to wait much longer before getting the final crown, then a temporary crown can be done to hold things stable. But that will also add additional cost to your treatment.
Thanks
Dr. Kazemi
Dr. H. Ryan Kazemi
http://www.facialart.com/
Abutment $$$
Hi Josie
Healing abutments help keep the implant site patent. Prosthetic abutments support the crown which will be fabricated for your implant. In many cases the standard prosthetic abutment from the manufacturer or aftermarket supplier will serve perfectly to support a crown in the posterior molar region. These are considerably less expensive than a custom abutment which is often reserved for cosmetic areas (anterior teeth) and implant angulation challenges. Discuss this option with your dentist.
Good Luck.
Theodore M Grossman DMD
www.Fortlauderdaleoralsurgery.com
(305) 466-1804
Dr. Theodore M. Grossman
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