In recent years, the use of human dental implants has become increasingly common, and more lately, dogs have begun to reap the benefits of this kind of therapy (pet dental implants).
If a dog is missing a tooth and has trouble chewing its food, the veterinarian may recommend getting the dog a dental implant. Because of the high cost of the treatment (or costly veterinary medicine), many people who own pets will look into less costly options. But what exactly is the cost of pet dental implants?
For the implant itself, you may anticipate spending anywhere from $3,200 to $4,200 per tooth as your total cost. Additional costs of up to $2,500 may be incurred due to the accompanying crown.
These are estimates that are on the low side. Complications might lead to a significant rise in expenditures as well as put your pet’s life in jeopardy.
Implants for Canine Teeth
Canines can be treated with dental implants, which consist of the placement of a screw made of titanium into the gums in the area where the tooth used to be. The screw will also have a foundation, which will also be composed of a metal alloy and will be coated with a porcelain tooth that a specialist crafts (usually a complete set is known as titanium tooth). Both the screw and the abutment will be coated in titanium. The implants can improve the dog’s ability to chew, which is especially helpful if the dog has difficulty eating because he is missing teeth.
You should also keep in mind that it is possible that you will be required to find a professional vet dentist in order to carry out the process.
As was indicated before, it is not commonly included in standard dental treatment, and some vet dental clinics choose not to provide these procedures because of the possible dangers they pose to patients’ health. This alternative may result in significant expense increases for you, particularly if you are required to travel to see a provider that meets the necessary criteria.
Additional Expenses That Should Be Anticipated
When your pet has dental implants, you will need to schedule any follow-up appointments. This is to be expected. It is possible that the process of bringing your pup to the place where your veterinary dentists can conduct the treatment will take some time. This is especially the case if gum disease was the initial cause of your dog’s missing teeth. That must wait till an already present state has had sufficient time to recover before moving further.
In order to expedite the healing process, your veterinarian will most likely write antibiotic therapy and maybe pain medication. In addition, you need to provide your young dog with a new diet, which is especially important if you feed your pup dry food. If your animal is unwilling to be inspected following its adventure, follow-up routine dental care may include using an anesthetic. This might add to your expenses, both monetarily and in terms of the amount of time it takes.
Your veterinarian could recommend blood tests to look for an illness’s indications. Alterations in the numbers of particular types of white blood cells can serve as an early indicator of a potential health issue. Naturally, this will result in increased visits to the animal hospital, which will incur further costs.
How are dental implants placed into a patient’s jaw?
The placement of dental implants in the canines will include a few different processes. To begin, the veterinarian will take a radiograph of the affected bone to evaluate the state and determine whether or not bone grafting is required.
If your dog needs bone grafting, the veterinarian will remove a piece of bone from another part of the body and place it into the gum tissue.
This will allow the affected region to heal while the dog’s body assimilates the bone. It’s possible that this will take a couple of months. The following are the actions that need to be taken:
- The process of inserting the titanium teeth/screw, which needs both general anesthesia and surgical intervention.
- The canine will have to be patient for three to six months while the veterinarian monitors how well the titanium screw is integrated into the dog’s body
- The attachment of the abutment to the titanium screw at its current location
- Placing a ceramic tooth over the abutment to cover it.
Effectiveness of Implants in Dental Procedures
Dental implants have not been used in many canines because they were just recently introduced, and the increased costs are implicated. Still, in the known instances, dental implants are considered to be highly effective and have recovered full chewing function. This is because dental implants are just like natural teeth. Most dogs quickly adapt to living with something foreign in their mouths.
Dental implants are more successful than dentures or bridges, but since they are non-removable, there is a higher chance of the dog swallowing these implants. This risk is compounded by the fact that dental implants are more expensive.
Consequences of Dental Implants for Dogs
The high cost of dental implants for canines is the primary drawback of this treatment option (as discussed above). Additionally, in most cases, dogs who need dental implants will require more than one tooth to be replaced.
Furthermore, dental implants for dogs are considered elective veterinary procedures and standard pet insurance policies do not cover the costs associated with getting them.
Other potential drawbacks include the necessity of surgical intervention and the length of time and complexity involved in installing a dental implant.
Due to the location of the operation and the fact that pups may eat numerous stuff from the trash while the wound is healing, it is highly typical for infections to occur. The procedure may have specific dangers, and infections are also fairly prevalent.
How to Take Care of Your Dog’s Teeth After the Dental Procedure
Infections and rejection of the implants are the primary risks following dental implant surgery (oral surgery). Antibiotics and good tooth hygiene are both critical components in preventing the former. After the treatment, you need to keep a careful eye on your dog. Also, check your dog’s broken teeth or broken implants regularly.
In addition, we encourage you to carry out all of the recommendations made by your veterinarian, including making follow-up appointments to avoid any mishap or jaw bone loss in case of implant failure.
A bacterial infection might manifest itself very rapidly. Finally, remember If you decide to do dental implants on your dog, it will be lengthy, and teeth replacement may be necessary.
Conclusion
It is not surprising that technology has progressed to the point where there are now more options to keep our dogs healthy and free from suffering. It’s likely due mainly to the fact that many consider their dogs their family.
Dental implants offer some positive aspects, but you should also carefully consider the negative ones. We strongly advise having an initial conversation about the matter with your veterinarian because a dental implant could cost $3200 to $4200.
