Dental prostheses options with Caser Dental Insurance

The simple gesture of a smile can really make someone’s day, including your own, and it’s not just a cliché: scientific studies have backed this up, showing that smiling really can trick your brain into putting you in a more positive mood. With this, and the current obsession with taking selfies in mind, the state of your smile and the health and look of your teeth is increasingly important nowadays. 

As we all know, dentistry can be an expensive treatment and many people worry about the cost of treatments, for both cosmetic and practical procedures. In many cases when someone suffers dental issues, a prothesis may be required, which conjures up the notion of painful extractions, both from your mouth and your pocket. 

So, as the dentist would say, “let´s open wide, and take a closer look” at the reasons why a person may need dental prostheses, what the different treatments options are, and some examples of insurance policies.

Reasons for dental prostheses 

1. Tooth loss can occur for various reasons including decay, gum disease, trauma, or genetic conditions. 

2. Poorly Fitting or Worn-Out Teeth can develop over time due to factors like bruxism (teeth grinding), aging, or previous dental work. 

3. Oral Trauma, such as accidents or injuries can lead to significant damage to the teeth, gums, or jawbone. 

4. Congenital Conditions or Developmental Disorders, for example, some individuals may be born with missing teeth, ectodermal dysplasia or a cleft lip/palate. 

5. Severe Tooth Decay or Infection that progresses to an advanced stage, may mean that it is not possible to restore the affected tooth with a simple filling or root canal treatment. 

6. Periodontal or Advanced Gum Disease (periodontitis) can lead to the deterioration of the supporting structures of the teeth, including the gums and jawbone. 

7. Malocclusion, which is the technical term for misaligned teeth or improper bite alignment, can affect speech, chewing, and overall oral health. 

In these cases, a variety of dental prostheses have been developed to be used to repair and replace the damaged structures or missing teeth, restore oral functionality, stability, strength, and support, and improve the aesthetics of your teeth, in order to enhance the overall oral health and appearance.

Types of dental prostheses 

Luckily, nowadays, science and medical research has also provided us with many different options and types of prostheses, each designed to address specific dental conditions or needs. Here's a brief explanation of some common types and a rough idea of the cost:

1. Dental Bridges are fixed prostheses used to replace one or more missing teeth. They consist of artificial teeth (pontics) anchored to the adjacent natural teeth or dental implants. The supporting teeth (abutments) are prepared and crowned to support the bridge. Bridges can improve aesthetics and restore proper chewing function. The average cost of a traditional dental bridge can range from €800 to €3,500 per unit.

2. Dental implants are the most advanced and durable option for tooth replacement. They are titanium posts surgically inserted into the jawbone to replace missing tooth roots. Once integrated with the bone, they serve as stable anchors for dental crowns or bridges. Implants provide a long-term, natural-looking, and functional solution. The cost of a single dental implant can range from €1,500 to €4,500 or more, depending on the complexity of the case and additional procedures required.

3. Dental crowns, also known as caps, are prosthetic restorations that cover and protect damaged or weakened teeth. They are custom-made to match the shape and colour of the natural teeth. Crowns are typically used when a tooth has undergone root canal treatment, suffered significant decay or fracture, or to support dental bridges. Dental crowns in Spain might be cheaper than other European countries because Spain produce their materials for the created crowns. The porcelain mixed metal-based crown starts from €350, and the full porcelain or zirconium crown can be around €700.

4. Dental veneers are thin shells made of porcelain or composite resin that are bonded to the front surface of teeth. They are primarily used for cosmetic purposes to improve the appearance of stained, chipped, or misaligned teeth. Veneers can enhance the shape, size, and colour of teeth, creating a more aesthetically pleasing smile. In Spain, the average cost of composite dental veneers is €400 per tooth but porcelain dental veneers can cost €600 or more per tooth.

5. Dental Inlays and Onlays are indirect restorations used to repair moderately damaged teeth. They are fabricated in a dental laboratory and then cemented onto the tooth. Inlays are used to restore the inner biting surface of a tooth, while onlays cover a larger area, including one or more cusps (projections) of the tooth, you can check here for a good diagram of the differences between these 2 options, and a traditional crown. 

6. Dentures are removable dental prostheses that replace multiple missing teeth or a full arch of teeth. They consist of artificial teeth set in a gum-coloured acrylic base. Dentures can be complete (replacing all teeth) or partial (replacing some teeth while natural teeth remain). They rely on suction, adhesives, or metal clasps to stay in place.  The average cost of complete dentures can range from €500 to €2,500 per arch, and partial dentures from €300 to €1,500, depending on the number of missing teeth and the materials used.

It's important to note that the suitability (and the final cost) of a specific dental prosthesis depends on a range of variables, including the patient's oral health, the extent of tooth loss, and the individual's preferences, not to mention the geographical location of the patient, which can be a postcode lottery. It's best to consult with a dentist or prosthodontist who can evaluate your specific case and provide a more accurate cost estimate based on your needs and circumstances. 

One recommendation is to ensure that you use a dentist who is registered with the General Council of Colleges of Dentistry and Stomatology of Spain - Consejo Dentista de Colegios de Odontólogos y Estomatólogos. Dentists must possess recognised qualifications, meet specific hygiene standards and provide a certain level of facilities to be able to register. There is a useful resource, the Consejo Dentista database which you can use to find a registered dentist, or to check if one you have been personally recommended is registered. 

However, the biggest recommendation is to take out dental insurance cover, as this can significantly reduce the costs of treatments, including prostheses, and also give you peace of mind that the professionals within their dental network have been approved and are specialists for the job in hand. 

For example, Caser Expat insurance offers 2 dental policies Sonrisa Esencial (Essential Smile) and Sonrisa Perfecta (Perfect Smile). Essential Smile is available from only 6.85€ per month, or from 17.55€/month for family cover, and the Perfect Smile is available from 8.95€ per month or from 21.65€ for family cover. 

Both policies give access to 40 free services, including check-ups, cleaning, x-rays, maxilofacial consultation, and diagnostic tests with Dentascan. However, more importantly, these policies include discounts of up to 50% off treatments including periodontology, dental aesthetics, prostheses, orthodontics and implantology. 

There is a whole host of different treatments available from over 1500 trusted dental partners and clinics within the network. You can use the easy to search database to find dentists in your area and if you click here you can compare the costs of treatments to the average costs quoted earlier in this article.

So, as you can see, taking out dental insurance can really give you something to smile about, both financially and psychologically. Having a broken smile can be devastating for self-confidence and really have an impact on a person’s wider well-being, and we are so lucky that we can now fix these issues as we live in an age where technology has developed the realm of dental prostheses. 

Smiling has no language barrier, so, in the words of Dolly Parton “If you see someone without a smile give them one of yours."