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.
