Patients often ask me, "How much do Dental Implants cost?".
Dental Implants have become tremendously popular over the past 20 years. They have been marketed as the "gold standard" in tooth replacement dentistry. While implant treatment can provide a reliable replacement for missing teeth, treatment costs vary widely. Patients often ask why this is so. In the article below, I hope to clear up some of the confusion about dental implant costs and address why there is a wide range of prices out there.
When you replace a tooth with a dental implant, what do you get? Well, you are paying for installation of the surgical implant screw. You also pay for the crown that eventually sits on the implant. Costs will also include other small pieces of equipment and the labor to make it all happen. In short, the total implant fee will include a number of smaller "parts and labour" costs.
"How much do dental implants cost?" is a tricky question to answer in a precise way. The reason is that there are a number of practitioners within the dental "sphere" who provide dental implant restoration. An Oral Surgeon can place implants. Periodontists (Gum Specialists) can place implants. Prosthodontists (Dental Prosthetics Specialists) can place implants and restore them with a crown. Some General Dentists place and restore implants. And, each one of those providers has their fees determined by a different Ontario Dental Association Fee Guide.
Generally, an implant and crown provided by a Dentist will cost around $3,500 - $4,000. If you have an implant placed by either an Oral Surgeon or Periodontist it will need to be restored with a crown by a General Dentist. Oral Surgeons and Periodontists cannot restore implants with crowns. The implant placement fees will be higher with Oral Surgeons and Periodontists. The result is that the whole package, implant and crown, will come in at about $5,000. An implant and crown restoration with a Prosthodontist can cost as much as $8,000.
It is important to keep in mind that, in some cases, pre-treatment procedures may be necessary to make implant placement possible. If there is a lack of jawbone volume at the placement site, a bone graft may be recommended. When replacing upper molars with dental implants, sinus lifts may be necessary to create vertical space for an implant of appropriate length. Each of these preliminary procedures can cost upwards of $1,000.
So, as you can see, the cost of an implant crown varies with the type of provider you use (i.e. General Dentist Vs. Periodontist Vs. Prosthodontist) and the need for pre-prosthetic procedures like bone grafting or sinus lifts.
Thanks for reading today!
If you would like to arrange a no-charge consult to discuss treatment options for missing teeth, give us a call at (519) 576-8160 or request a consult here.
Our Kitchener Dental Clinic is conveniently located in Downtown Kitchener and we are a short drive away for families in Waterloo, Breslau & Stratford.
This article is meant to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Accordingly, always seek the advice of your Kitchener Dentist or other healthcare provider regarding a dental condition or treatment.
