What is the cost of dental work?

The dentist's fee depends on a variety of factors. But before we get into that, please be reminded that the choice of a dentist should not be based solely on cost, since it is also important to consider the dentist's experience, reputation and how well he does the dental work.

Having said that, here are some factors that determine cost of dental work:

• Kind of treatment. Dental implants are more expensive as compared to other procedures, such as bridges or dentures. Bridges may cost somewhere from $500 to $900 each while crowns will cost an additional $500 to $1,000 for each tooth. Dentures may cost around $500 to $1,500 per set.
• Materials used. Of course, the kind of materials used will be a factor of the cost of dental work. For example, for dental crowns, all metal, gold dental and porcelain fused to precious metal crowns are more expensive than crowns that use non-precious metals. However, non-precious metal crowns are cheaper than porcelain crowns. Not only are precious metals more expensive, they also have advantages with regards to crown placement and fabrication.
• The number of services availed in one appointment/session. If you opt to have more than one dental implant at a time, the cost per implant may be cheaper because some dentists provide discounts if you're having the implants done at the same time.
• The placement being worked on. It's more expensive to have implants for the back of the lower jaw, as compared to areas that are more easily accessible for the dentist. Also full dental implants are three times more expensive than mini implants that are used to cover up narrow sections.
• Location of the dental clinic. If the dental clinic is located in a high-traffic, high rent area, the dental costs will most likely be higher.

To help you gauge the cost of dental work, try to schedule a consultation appointment so that you can already know how much treatment for your teeth will cost. It will also give you a feel of how the dental work will go.

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