As we grow older, we tend to lose a tooth or two because of the many physical and physiological stresses that our body deals with. Such a loss is inevitable. But with the growing importance of cosmetic dentistry, there is always a solution for such common everyday wear and tear and one such resolve for a missing tooth is dental implants. Unfortunately, the cost for having implants can be prohibitive because getting just one can cost thousands of dollars. Fortunately, we have a list of ways you can get yourself affordable dental implants.

1. First compare

To nail the best deal, you may start with comparing different dentists’ quotes for dental implants. Request for a comprehensive breakdown of fees as well the estimated total cost of the consultations, modeling, imagine, anesthesia, materials, surgery and also other additional procedures.

It is important to note that dentists are not the only professionals who have the certification to perform the implant procedures; you could speak about it to other qualified doctors such as oral surgeons and periodontists. You are lucky if you end up scoring an appointment with a budding dentist who is looking for experience and a source to build clientele because he will charge lesser than a dentist who is already established in the field.

2. Map geographic location

As is the case with everything material, the cost of dental implants will vary depending on the geographic location of the clinic. Dentists in urban centers usually have a higher cost of living and will, therefore, charge a lot more than someone who is located in a suburban area. Besides, premium clinics that have the latest equipments and facilities will charge a lot more than standard ones. If you plan to locate a clinic in a suburban area or small town, do not assume that its services would be below average. You may end up finding just the right dentist who understands your concerns and with whom you feel comfortable, thus helping you find affordable dental implants.

3. Check dental implant clinics/programs

Dental implant centers are popularly held at schools of dentistry. These programs help in providing all the recently graduated students of the dentistry school to get hands-on experience. These dental implant procedures done by these graduates are assisted and supervised by experienced dentists or dental surgeons. There are some schools that offer these services only to people who belong to low-income groups. It may sound like the services would be sub-standard because it is provided by just-out-of-college dentists, but the fact of the matter is that the work done is of quite good quality. Every diagnosis as well as prospective treatment options are discussed as well as analyzed by more than one person. If you do not want to go to a dentistry school, you could at the least visit one for a second opinion.

4. Visit dental societies or charitable organizations

These are easy to spot. Moreover, most dental procedures organized by dental societies and charitable organizations are either free of cost or discounted. There are also some associations that offer special discounts to victims of violence, women and children and people with disabilities. You could look up such places online through directories on dental associations’ websites to find out whether they can offer you affordable dental implants. A good place to start is the American Dental Association website.

5. SOS

There are multiple finance companies that can provide monetary help for dental procedures. These companies offer the benefit of paying off the dental fees along with interest and other applicable fees over a period of time. You may also be able to find that these finance companies offer dental plans in which the patients pay some amount of money monthly or yearly so as to avail discounts on dental procedures.

Finally, if you do not end up finding affordable dental implants, check with your dentist whether he or she offers a financing plan that can make the implants within your budget. Most dentists are more than willing to accommodate their patients and have no qualms in offering affordable payment plans to valued patients.