For most people, dental implants are the best option for replacing damaged, unhealthy or missing teeth. But you may experience a bit of sticker shock when you encounter the price range commanded by this gold standard of tooth replacement.
How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?
No two dental implant procedures are the same, which is why costs are always given as a wide range. “Implant procedures are complex and there are multiple parts to each procedure,” explains Roger Levin, D.D.S., CEO of the Levin Group, Inc., a dental management consultancy. “There are different fees to every part of it.”
The elements that go into the final cost of your new tooth or teeth include:
- Comprehensive dental exam, including 3D imaging
- Extraction of problem teeth, if necessary
- Installation of the dental implant(s)
- Placement of the abutment hardware
- Fabrication of the dental crown
- Placement of the crown
How much each element costs depends on the dental practice. Some dental practices offer a free computed tomography (CT) scan at the beginning of the process as an incentive (the CT scan helps determine your suitability for dental implants). But if you have to pay for that 3D imaging, you could be billed between $350 and $515 for the service.
Overall, implants are a lifetime investment and are priced accordingly. Levin estimates the total cost per tooth, start to finish, normally runs between $3,000 and $4,500, and a person who needs a mouthful of implants is looking at a final price of between $60,000 and $90,000.
The main reason that there’s no standard price is because no two procedures are the same. “Unlike a single service, like a filling, implant fees are assessed on the type and complexity of the work,” he says.
In other words, variables like whether you have a CT scan done in the preliminary exam or require a sinus lift or bone graft—and what kind of bone graft—all affect the final price.
Additional factors that influence the price of your dental implants include your practitioner’s location—large metropolitan areas tend to be more expensive.
The bottom line? Ask what it will cost in your individual case beforehand.
The Cost of a Single Tooth Implant
No one buys just an implant—the implant is only the metal or ceramic screw that goes into the jawbone. In addition to that, you need an abutment (the part that attaches the crown to the implant) and the crown itself. All of these items have separate prices.
Many patients will also require a sinus lift or bone graft to make the jawbone healthy enough to keep the implant stable. That, too, adds to the cost.
Based on the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute cost survey, the total cost of an implant, abutment, crown and other necessary procedures ranges from $3,100 to $5,800.
The Cost of a Multiple Tooth Implant
If you’re replacing more than one tooth and those teeth are next to each other, you have more implant options and thus more pricing choices.
For example, if you’re filling a gap of three or four neighboring teeth, you may be able to use a bridge held in place with just two implants, which lowers the total cost: Figure $6,000 to $10,000. Because two implants can support three or four adjacent teeth, it’s less expensive than four individual implants.
The Cost of a Full Mouth Implant
Since there are different approaches to full-mouth tooth replacement, there’s a wide range of pricing.
The most expensive choice is replacing the teeth individually. This method is the most comfortable and allows the dentist to preserve some of the existing teeth, if they’re healthy enough. This option typically runs $60,000 to $90,000.
A less expensive option is implant-supported dentures, where two full arches of false teeth replace the natural upper and lower teeth (after any remaining teeth are removed), just as non-implant-supported dentures do. The arch is anchored to four to six implants each in the upper and lower jaw. This option, also known by the trademarked name All-on-4, typically ranges from $24,000 to $50,000 for a complete set.
Additional Costs of Dental Implants
Make sure you and your dentist discuss pricing and that you understand the costs. “Very rarely are there any hidden costs,” says Levin. “Most dentists will present the entire cost upfront.” If you’re seeing multiple specialists such as a dentist and an oral surgeon, make sure you take into account both sets of fees.
The only additional expenses you might have are over-the-counter or prescription medications, such as a painkiller after some of the procedures or antibiotics before or afterward if the dentist decides it’s necessary.
Does Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Dental insurers have traditionally deemed implants to be “elective,” meaning that in the past, they haven’t covered costs associated with them. However, that’s changing, says Levin. “Coverage is improving. The amount insurance is paying is growing every year.”
Now, dental insurance typically pays for a small portion of the total cost of implants. The percent of reimbursement may vary by procedure. There may also be a dollar cap on reimbursement for a given calendar year or even a lifetime cap for a given procedure.
If you have dental insurance, you can now expect to be reimbursed about $1,500 per implant, per year. If your implant work stretches across two calendar years, you may be able to collect for both years.
Flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health reimbursement accounts (HRAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) all cover spending on dental implants. These accounts function similarly to each other in that they either pay for or reimburse expenses incurred, including the difference between what your insurance covers and what you must pay out-of-pocket.
Make sure you’ve checked with your insurance provider or administrator before you begin the procedures so you fully understand what costs you’ll be responsible for.
