It's no secret that a single dental implant can run in the four figures. That may seem like a lot to spend on just one tooth when your budget is tight. However, as expensive as it seems, opting for dental implants will be worth it once you start enjoying the results.

Implants Are Better Than Bridges and Dentures

Bridges and dentures are cheaper than implants, but they come with physical downsides which may affect your comfort level or lead to more dental work in the future. Also, to put in a bridge, the two adjoining teeth will have to be filed down. This can make them weak and prone to decay. You may end up with a larger bill in the end as well as more frequent trips to the dentist. 

Dentures, on the other hand, don't look as natural as dental implants, and they will also limit the kinds of foods that you can eat. Dentures also trap more bits of food and can be challenging to clean. After a few years, your dentures may also start to shift and may not fit as well in the mouth due to changes in the shape of the jawbone. This means that you may have to think about getting new dentures every 3-6 years. 

As for dental implants, once they're in place, they'll serve you as well as any natural tooth. For starters, they are almost indistinguishable from natural teeth in terms of appearance. The implants are also quite durable and can last for years or even for life provided the user takes proper care of their oral hygiene.

You Can Still Save Money on Implants

As expensive as the average implant is, this doesn't mean that you have to pay just any amount for your implants. You can join a discount plan and get a sizeable discount when it's your time to get an implant. In case you have a flexible spending account at work, you can schedule your procedure towards the end of the year. Implants generally involve two separate procedures to complete; the dentist starts by putting in an implant and then puts a crown on the implant several weeks later. If you schedule the first procedure in one calendar year and the second the following year, you can use two years' worth of the FSA account funds to cover part of the cost of your new implants. 

For more information, reach out to offices like Burgess Dental.