Why are dental implant estimates so different?

5/9/2016

I have gotten that question multiple times in my office regarding why dental implants are being advertised for $600 as opposed to our estimates which can average $3500 per tooth!

Assuming the philosophy, "you pay for what you get", has already been exhausted, there are many factors to consider when getting a dental implant. I will list a few of the things I have observed that affect the quality of implant. By quality I do mean you do not have problems with them as early as 3-5 years. An implant comes in 3 parts, implant body, implant abutment and implant crown. Below are a few things to consider when deciding to move forward with a dental implant tooth replacement.

1. The surgeon placing the implant body is very important in my opinion.

Have they placed implants successfully for many years and are they honest about this from the beginning? (3-5 years)

Do they take precautions to place it in the right location? (Cone beam xray)

Are they selecting the right thickness and length of implant? (Cone beam x-ray or utilizing gauges to measure bone or extracted root thickness).

Are they selecting a reputable implant company with good support from the company?

Are they keeping to placing implants based on their training? If they are getting started placing implants are they case selective and able to select simple cases with you while also offering the use of a specialist?

Did they make sure adequate bone was available before placement and discussed the extra costs for bone grafting or sinus lifts?

Was a Cone Beam CT scanner used to obtain the bone in the 3-D in order to study ideal placement, vital structures, bone denstiy and implant size?

Do they take precautions to avoid vital facial anatomy, like the maxillary sinus, inferior alveolar nerve, mental nerve, and perforation past bone as to limit risk of complication?(Cone Beam CT Scanning)

Are they utilizing current techniques is bone grafting, membrane placement and tissue management where needed(emergence profile)?

Here are a few things to consider regarding implant body. With hundreds of dental implants on the market, it is recommended to be using the type of implant that has a strong customer support team, solid research proving it's success, flexibility to adapt to unique situations (bone level vs. tissue level, mini-implant, etc, etched surface for better osseo-integration), threading to allow ideal primary stability of the implant at placement. Generic or less know companies producing implants may be available but in 5-10 years they may be out of business or hard to get in contact with since they may have discontinued production or discontinued earlier models(I've run into this restoring an implant system I will not choose to mention here).

3. Here are a few things to consider regarding the implant abutment. Ever heard of failure due to dental cement excess, or failure due to a loose abutment from a weakened screw. Well if the abutment was a screw retained abutment vs. solid abutment life has gotten a lot easier for you. Removal becomes very predictable and most of the time inexpensive. Did they use implant abutments that are manufactured from the same implant body company as to avoid errors in fitting and not void the warranty or increase chances of loose abutments?

4. The implant crown. Is it screw retained or cement retained? Did the dentist take the extra precautions to limit the excess cement around the implant? Did they offer a screw retained option vs. cement retained to allow access easy access to the screw if the abutment get's loose and decrease risks of complications due to cement? Are they keeping good records so in 8 years there is a problem the solution can sometimes be a simple implant maintenance visit versus having to redo the whole abutment and crown.

Not to overwhelm the patient but I do encourage knowledge. Not all implant cases are done with the same level of quality and concern as they should. I do believe some specialists are not always perfect either and few can be caught charging high costs for implants. That being said I also feel cutting corners to go with the cheapest dentist can sometimes result in getting what you pay for.

Another note, after calling a few of the offices that advertise 'cheaper' implants I found they were only pricing out the first step of the implant process and that was only given after a consult concluded it was an 'basic' case. If not so 'basic' you would be given the 'real' cost of the implant. So $600 was only the implant body but the abutment and crown resulted in a total of $2800-$3000. A little misleading if you ask me!

Best of luck on your journey to good oral health. We are always happy to give a second opinion on any cases out there so feel free to call the office number and set up an appointment. I am always happy to tell people they do have an excellent dentist and encourage them to stay with them if they found one!

Dr. Maq Serang, DMD
CEO, Serang Dental Associates

17 Comments

Amethyst Boheur link

6/27/2018 08:20:54 pm

I really like your suggestion of going for an implant body that has a strong customer support team and has a long proven research related to its success. If that is the case, then I will have to conduct a thorough research before considering getting dental implants so I can be sure. After all, I already decided that I will spend a considerable amount of money on it, it makes sense that I want only the best. Thanks!

Maq Serang, DMD link

7/5/2018 05:04:28 pm

Your welcome! Good luck.

Cyber New South Wales link

3/10/2021 09:28:56 am

Great poost

Summit Smiles link

10/27/2021 11:59:37 pm

It was nice reading this blog post! It's very informative. Dental implants are tooth replacements made of synthetic material that can be used to replace lost teeth. They are placed into the jawbone and function similarly to actual teeth. Dental implants are a long-term solution to dental problems and are frequently the best option.

An implant is surgically placed into the jawbone and secured in place with the aid of an abutment (metal stub) on its upper surface. After that, a prosthetic tooth or bridge can be affixed to the abutment, completing the tooth replacement process. Bridges, dentures, or other non-implant based dental procedures are alternatives to implants.

The implant is shaped like the root of a tooth and provides strength and stability to aid with tooth loss prevention. Dentures, bridges, and partials supported by implants can also be utilized to replace lost teeth.

Highland Oak Dental link

12/3/2021 02:16:14 am

Thanks for this very educational blog post! Dental implants are synthetic tooth replacements that can be used to replace missing teeth. They are implanted into the jawbone and work in the same way that natural teeth do. Dental implants are often the greatest option for long-term solutions to dental problems.

An implant is surgically implanted into the jawbone and held in place by an abutment (metal stub) on the upper surface. The tooth replacement process can then be completed by attaching a prosthetic tooth or bridge to the abutment. Alternatives to implants include bridges, dentures, and other non-implant based dental surgeries.

The implant is formed like a tooth root, and it provides strength and stability to help prevent tooth loss. To replace missing teeth, dentures, bridges, and partials supported by implants can be used.

MckimmeCue link

5/30/2022 09:50:09 am

What an exquisite article! Your post is very helpful right now. Thank you for sharing this informative one.
If you are looking for coupon codes and deals just visit coupon plus deals dot com

Mia Evans link

6/7/2022 06:28:37 am

It really helped when you said that we should consider dental implant services and materials of good quality to ensure stability. I hope that I find a dentist that I can trust soon so that I can finally have my gap filled and prevent food particles from getting stuck in it. It can probably cause various health issues if it is not covered properly with the right material.

Victoria Addington link

7/7/2022 05:29:21 am

It helped when you shared that a dental implant can last for 3-5 years without experiencing any problem. My friend told me that her untreated cavity caused tooth decay. I should advise her to talk to a dentist about a dental implant so she can smile again.

Braden Bills link

7/18/2022 09:15:28 am

I need to get some dental implants put in, but I'm not sure what to do about it. It makes sense that I would want to get an estimate first. That way, I can figure out how much they will cost.

Local Dentist David Robertson DDS link

8/24/2022 09:11:58 am

Great Post. I really appreciate your suggestion about estimating dental implants, because that gives you an idea of the cost of treatment .Treatment costs can vary significantly from one dentist to another, and it is important for patients to get an estimate before they undergo treatment. By getting an estimate, patients can make an informed decision about whether or not they can afford to undergo treatment.

Eli Richardson link

2/16/2023 02:31:37 pm

It really helped when you explained your experience when asking for a dental implant quote from different dentists. My mom needs to get a dental implant to replace the tooth she lost during her last month's accident, so I think your article will help her know more about dental implants. I appreciate your information on dental implants and how to find a quality option without compromising the price.

Samara link

3/22/2023 09:33:30 am

What a beautiful piece! Right now, your post is very helpful. Much obliged to you for sharing this enlightening one.

Harold link

3/22/2023 09:35:02 am

Thanks for mentioning that it is recommended to be using the type of implant that has a strong customer support team, solid research proving it's success, flexibility to adapt to unique situations (bone level vs. tissue level, mini-implant, etc, etched surface for better osseo-integration), threading to allow ideal primary stability of the implant at placement.

James Clark link

8/22/2023 03:22:58 pm

The following are a couple of interesting points in regards to embed body. With many dental inserts available, it is prescribed to utilize the sort of embed that has major areas of strength for a help group,

Lucifer link

9/4/2023 06:58:25 am

A bright smile can help improve the quality of our life — physically, mentally, socially, and professionally. So if you need an implant. Go get it!

Bertha link

9/4/2023 09:56:48 am

The surgeon placing the implant body is very important in my opinion too! Great post!

Millie Hue link

9/14/2023 10:22:59 am

It really helped when you said that we need to choose a dental implant type that has a strong customer support team, solid research and success, flexibility, and more. I have to find a dental implant consultation first to know more about the dentist I can find near me. Doing so will give me the assurance that I am getting the right treatment from someone who I can really trust with my oral health.

INSIGHT DENTAL CARE

Blog