The cost of a dental implant depends on the implant system, whether bone grafting is needed, how many teeth are being replaced, the crown material, the scans required and the number of visits. Two people told they need "an implant" can have very different plans, so a written, itemised estimate after an examination is the only reliable guide.
An implant is a package, not a single item
A dental implant replaces a missing tooth in stages. A titanium post is placed in the jawbone, it bonds with the bone over about 3 to 6 months, and a connector (the abutment) and a crown are then fitted. Each stage has its own materials, time and laboratory work, and each can change from one person to the next. That is why a number quoted in an article, or to a friend, rarely matches your own plan. No figures are given here for that reason.
For how the treatment itself works, see the dental implants page. For costs in general, see what affects the cost of dental treatment.
1. The implant system
Implants are made by different manufacturers, in different designs, lengths and widths. Some systems have been studied for decades and come with matching parts that will be available years from now. Others have a shorter track record. Ask which system is proposed, who makes it, and whether replacement parts are easy to obtain if the crown ever needs work.
2. Bone and gum condition
An implant needs enough healthy bone around it. After a tooth is lost, the bone in that spot slowly shrinks. If there is too little, you may need:
- a bone graft, which adds material to build up the site, sometimes at the same time as the implant and sometimes months earlier
- a sinus lift in the upper back jaw, where the sinus sits close to the bone
- treatment of gum disease first, since infection around an implant can cause failure
These extra steps add time, materials and surgery, and they are one of the biggest reasons for a higher estimate.
3. How many teeth are being replaced
One missing tooth usually means one implant and one crown. Several missing teeth may be replaced by an implant-supported bridge, which can need fewer implants than teeth. A whole arch may use four to six implants carrying a fixed set of teeth, as described in All-on-4 full mouth implants explained. The more implants and the more units on top, the more the total changes.
4. The crown and its material
The visible tooth is made in a dental laboratory. Metal-ceramic, zirconia and all-ceramic crowns differ in appearance, strength and laboratory cost. A front tooth, where colour and shape matter, can need more careful laboratory work than a back tooth. A custom-made abutment costs differently from a stock one.
5. Scans and planning
Planning usually starts with an examination and X-rays. For many implants, an OPG or CBCT scan if needed gives a three-dimensional view of the bone, nerves and sinuses. Some clinics include imaging in the quoted figure and some list it separately. Ask which applies.
6. Extractions and temporary teeth
If the tooth is still in the mouth, it must come out first, and sometimes the socket is grafted. You may also need a temporary tooth or denture while the implant heals. Check whether these are in the estimate.
7. Number of visits and who does the surgery
Implant treatment commonly takes several visits over 3 to 9 months, longer if grafting is involved. Surgery is carried out by a dentist with suitable training, and a trained oral and maxillofacial surgeon may be recommended for complex sites. Training and time spent on planning form part of the fee. A higher fee does not by itself mean a better result, and a lower one does not mean a worse one.
8. Your health and habits
Smoking, poorly controlled diabetes and teeth grinding can affect healing and long-term success, and may change the plan. Your dentist may suggest stopping tobacco first or a night guard afterwards.
Questions to ask when you compare estimates
- Which implant system and crown material are included?
- Are scans, the abutment, the crown and review visits all in the figure?
- Is a graft or sinus lift likely, and what would it add?
- What is included if something needs to be adjusted or replaced?
- Who will place the implant and who will make the crown?
Compare what each estimate contains, not just the headline total. Looking after an implant also affects its long-term cost, as covered in how long do dental implants last.
When to see a dentist
- A gap from a missing tooth that you are thinking of replacing
- Loose or uncomfortable dentures that you want to discuss alternatives for
- Bleeding, swollen or receding gums, since gum disease should be treated before an implant
- An estimate that does not say what it includes
- Pain, swelling or pus around a tooth that needs removal
Related treatment: Dental implants →