Dental Implants Cost And Information

[Last Updated: April 2018]

If you're reading this, you need one, or a few, dental implants.

The problem is - You need to know how much dental implants cost so you don't OVER pay.

Keep reading, you've come to the right place.

This is a procedure where a metal fixture is placed into the jawbone (this is usually a screw), and this implant acts as a support or anchor for a new false tooth, or set of teeth.

Quite a straightforward concept, but not a straightforward form of cosmetic dental surgery .

Implants are used to replace teeth when they are badly damaged, and have no hope of survival.

Over time, the implant or screw, fuses with the jaw bone and remains a strong support for the fake teeth (a process known as Osseointegration).

There is the option to have one, or multiple implants in order to support a single tooth or multiple teeth - which will all depend on your individual situation.

‘All-on-4’ implants are a whole set of teeth (lower or upper jaw) that sit on a set of 4 dental implants. They are a great solution to dentures as they are a permanent solution that do not need to be removed and are extremely strong and natural looking.

A very common question asked by patients is: “what is the cost of dental implants?” and "what are my options for dental implants?"

This guide will answer all of your questions regarding tooth implants and the associated costs, and help you in making the right choice when it comes to this expensive procedure.

The 'Quick Navigation' table below will take you to the section, if you click on the link.

Not sure if implants are right for you? It's a great idea to speak to your dentist before making any decisions, however dental implants can have many benefits for the right case.

Implants provide many benefits over traditional forms of tooth replacement:

The first question that you will need to ask is: "am I a suitable candidate for a dental implant?".

Procedures such as teeth whitening may sometimes be a 'one size fits all', however this is definitely not the case with dental implants (commonly referred to as a 'fake tooth').

There is a great explanation of implants and the different options within the following video:

We recommend that you ask your dentist or an specialist for their opinion, as each case is different, however in general to be suitable for a dental implant you must:

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Most of the time your general dentist will recommend the option of having an implant

Most implants today are made from titanium, which is a special metal used very often in surgical applications.

Titanium has the ability to avoid corrosion, is lightweight and is non-magnetic, but the largest benefit is that the human body does not reject titanium as a foreign object.

This means when a dental implant is placed in the bone, the bone grows around the implant, which is a process called Osseointegration.

There are a few different options when it comes to implants, and the most suitable implant for you depends on your individual case:

A mini dental implants, as the name suggests, are smaller than regular implants.

They are used in certain cases instead of a traditional, larger implants for medical, financial or anatomical reasons.

Most commonly they are used for small teeth, front teeth, pre-molars, teeth in narrow areas or for patients where bone tissue density is low.

Supporting most types of replacement teeth, mini implants are used for dentures, bridges and fixed crowns but as per MDICA (Mini Dental Implant Centers of America) they are also suitable for securing loose and lower arch dentures.

Differences between mini and regular implants:

The procedure for a dental implant will be determined by the type of dental implant you are receiving, and the number of replacement teeth required.

In general, the procedure of a single tooth dental implant will follow this scenario:

If a damaged tooth is present, it is removed using tooth extraction surgery. If there is no tooth present, the gum is sliced and folded back to allow the bone to be drilled to receive the implant.

The implant post is placed within your jawbone and generally covered while the bone fuses to the implant, or becomes osseointegrated.

Between 3-9 months later when the implant has been osseointegrated enough, a second operation may be required to uncover the top of the implant. At this stage, the dentist can start constructing your crown or bridge.

The recovery time depends on a number of factors. These include your medical and dental history, restoration needs, the condition of your jaw bone and the exact methods and materials that will be used.

The typical time for implants is six to 12 weeks. In some cases, it may take longer—anything from two to six months—from the initial dental implant consultation to go home with your new replacement teeth. Each case is different.
If you need bone or gum grafting before the implant surgery, it will take even longer, up to eight month to one year to complete the entire process.

With a single dental implant, you can get back to normal activities quite quickly. The initial healing once the implant is in place take place within a few days, if there are no complications. The bone fusion process may take a few weeks. It is only once the osseointegration is complete that your dentist will load the implant, and fix on the artificial tooth. 

Occasionally, implants fail to integrate with the bone or, as some people say, they are rejected.

In most instances, they are replaced with another implant, usually of a slightly larger size, and the problem is solved.

There are a few other complications, such as gum infections or breaking the implant, but these complications are very rare and account for less than 5% of all dental implant related problems.

The cost of implants will vary due to a number of factors. The following issues should be kept in mind when searching for dental implants prices:

​Do you need implants to support one tooth, or multiple teeth?

​(i.e. tooth extraction) - Often you'll require tooth extraction, and in some cases, a lack of jawbone will require a bone graft. These extra procedures, of course, cost money!

​i.e. both the titanium anchor AND the porcelain tooth which is screwed into the anchor?)

​Everyone is different, and some patients will require more or less work, such as complex vs simple bone grafting, which will add to the cost.

The following points should be taken into consideration when determining the cost of a dental implant:

The number of actual implants required

It's important to be aware that you do not require an implant for every missing tooth.

The following rule of thumb can be used as a basis for determining how many implants you require:

Do you need any work done before you get a dental implant?

If you have a damaged tooth, consider saving it before getting a dental implant!

Having implants installed is an expensive procedure, so consider the option of saving the tooth before having a dental implant procedure.

Saving a tooth that is deemed ‘dead’ is possible, and often very cost effective when compared to having an implant.

A specialist called an Endodontist deals with root canal treatment and specializes in minor-root surgery, and can often save a tooth that is considered gone. Read more about root canal treatment and costs on this page.

​The following costs illustrate the difference between saving the tooth via root-canal therapy and a dental implant procedure:

Make sure you're being quoted for BOTH parts of the dental implant together

 

A dental implant consists of 2 parts:

It’s important to make sure that when receiving a quote from your specialist, you are being given an accurate price which involves the cost of both the dental implant and the porcelain tooth.

As mentioned earlier, if you are having a tooth at the same time, ensure the costs of this procedure are also covered within the quote.

Typically, in Australia the cost of the the implant fixture will cost anywhere between $2000 – $3000, and the Porcelain tooth/crown will cost anywhere between $3000 – $4000.

The Complexity of the Individuals Situation
Can Affect Costs

Every patient is different and every dental implant procedure is different. Sometimes a patients case may be more complex, and this can add to costs as additional procedures will be required.

Here is a list of the factors that affect the cost of a single dental implant:

Having implants installed is an expensive procedure, and you want to make sure you are getting quality work done by a professional. 

It’s a very complicated process only to be performed by dentists and specialists with extensive training, and not something you'd want to risk.

One way to save a little money is to ensure you are covered by a reputable private health insurance provider, however is most cases, implants are not covered by dental insurance in Australia as its considered cosmetic dentistry.

There is also a growing popularity in dental tourism, this is where patients travel to countries where the procedure is much more affordable, yet still provided by competent surgeon’s and dentists. Find out more about dental tourism here.

Once you have determined the number of implants you require it becomes easier to get an idea of the costs involved for your individual case.

The following table illustrates the costs of implants in Australia.

Please note that this is simply a general guide for what you can expect. Your quote may vary significantly based on the factors which we covered above:

How Much Are Teeth Implants Per Tooth?

 The above prices include the cost of both parts of the implant (i.e. the anchor + the crown)

The lowest costs we found for dental transplant and crown were $2,850 per tooth, but the service provider did not give costs for the dental visits and surgical procedures. There were a number of services offering significantly higher prices than the average range given above.

Costs Vary On A Number Of Factors

It is important to keep in mind that costs vary significantly depending on a number of factors.

Where you are in Australia: You can expect to pay more for implant procedures in Melbourne or Sydney Australia than in the rest of the country. The costs for the same procedure may be significantly lower in Gold Coast, Queensland.

Number of dental visits and other procedures. Dental implant cost calculations take into account the number of dental visits you need before the procedure is complete. There will be periodic oral exams, removal of tooth or parts where necessary, cost of fixing provisional implant abutments and provisional crowns and final implant abutment and full crown implant. All these costs can vary by location.

Costs of the Titanium implant and the crown. There can be a range of prices on each of these items too.

Additional procedures. If you need additional procedures, then your costs will rise accordingly. For example, if your dentist finds that there is extreme tooth or gum loss on a larger scale, your fees in Australia may be higher.

How many teeth you need fixed with dental implants. Some dental implant experts may offer you discounts for getting multiple teeth fixed. Others do not.

It may be worthwhile to shop around a bit, keeping in mind reviews and service quality.

Does Having Insurance Minimise The Price You Pay?

Dental implants are not considered a necessary dental procedure, as they are not covered either by Medicare or under general dental coverage insurance. 

If you want to cover the cost, you will have to opt for a major dental coverage policy.

If you are planning to obtain major dental cover for expensive dental procedures, you want to do your research and get the insurance plan well ahead of time. Be extra careful in reading the small print before finalising your dental plan. In particular, look at annual limits for ‘extras’ such as dental implants.

Also look at how long you need to have the plan before using it for paying for procedures. Sometimes this waiting period may be as long as 12 months. 

What Would A Full Upper Implant Cost?

A full upper implant, also referred to as all-on-4 dental implants or all teeth on 4, refer to using four dental implants to replace your entire set of teeth on the upper jaw.

Sometimes this procedure is also referred to as “same day teeth”. This method uses a permanent dental bridge affixed onto your jaw using the dental implants.

The dental bridge is made of solid false teeth and exterior porcelain crowns. When you need full upper dental implants, the dental bridge is designed to cover the entire upper arch, replacing all upper teeth.

Full upper implants are suitable for people who have severely compromised teeth, as they want to replace, or those who are wearing full upper dentures.

You can expect the full upper implant cost to vary between $13,500 - $23,500.
 
Don’t forget that your implant dentist will need to see a dental X-ray before deciding whether you are a candidate for full upper implants. You must factors in these costs as well.
Typically though, most dentists give you all inclusive costs.

This video explains some of the reasons for cost difference and some tips regarding prices of all types of oral implants:

Mini implants will cost less than standard implants, mainly because of the size, and the ease of insertion (when compared to normal implants).

Since mini implants are not suitable for every case and are a relatively new area, obtaining accurate costing is difficult without actually being consulted by a specialist regarding your individual case.

In general, they cost approximately half the amount of a standard dental implant.

This means that for a single, straightforward implant, you can expect to pay between $2,500 – $4,000 per implant.

It’s important to note that they are not suitable in many cases in place of a full size implant, and there suitability will be determined by your specialist.

Other Costs Involved

The cost of a procedure from one patient to the next will always be unique as we all have different genetic makeups.

Costs may increase or decrease, depending on your individual circumstance.

You dentist specialist will be able to give you a more accurate price depending on the requirements for your case.

There could be additional costs involved with implants which are listed in the table below on the cost of implants in Australia:

​Dental costs in Australia can be extremely high when compared to the costs in other countries.

This gap has led to the emergence of dental tourism, which is a healthy and thriving industry.

Many Aussies are combining their holidays with a dental procedure in order to access more affordable dental treatment in countries abroad and with reported savings of up to 75% it’s a worthwhile consideration if you are in need for dental implants.

The most popular overseas locations for Aussies getting dental work complete are Thailand or Malaysia, where patients can experience extremely affordable dental implants with equivalent levels of quality care. You'll find similar treatment and service that you would find at home in Australia. 

Here are some tips for considerations when looking at Dental tourism: