Dental implants are the longest-lasting and most natural looking/functioning solution for replacing missing teeth. Unfortunately, the cost to have implants placed can be quite prohibitive since a single implant can cost thousands of dollars. Luckily, there are few ways in which a patient can obtain implants at a more affordable price.
In This Guide
- 1) Comparison Shopping
- 2) Geographic Location
- 3) Travel Abroad
- 4) Schools of Dentistry
- 5) Dental Societies and Charitable Organizations
- 6) Financing
- 7) Discount Dental Plans
- 8) Know the Alternatives
- 9) Insurance Coverage
- 10) Fundraising Campaign
- What to Read Next
1) Comparison Shopping
To find the best rates, patients should get quotes from several dentists, asking for a comprehensive breakdown of the fees and estimated total cost of the necessary consultations, imaging (x-rays or CT scans), anesthesia, modeling, surgery, materials (post, abutment and crown) as well as any additional procedures such as sinus lifts and bone grafts.
Dentists are not the only dental professionals that can be certified to perform implant procedures, so patients can get quotes from other qualified professionals including periodontists and oral surgeons. Selecting a newer dental practice may help reduce the price as a dentist who is looking to build a clientele and gain experience may charge less than a more established dentist. That said, be sure you know what to look for when you’re trying to find a good dentist.
2) Geographic Location
The cost of dental implants can vary quite significantly geographically, so patients can find savings by considering a larger geographic area. This is especially true for patients in larger cities. Dentists in urban centers generally have a higher cost of living and higher overhead costs than those in smaller towns and as a result, are more likely to quote higher prices.
3) Travel Abroad
Taking the search a step further, dental tourism has become a popular option for those searching for low cost dental implants. Developing countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Hungary and many Asian destinations offer treatment for a fraction of the price patients can expect to pay in developed countries like the United States, Canada and the UK.
This is especially useful for less severe cases in which a patient is a candidate for simultaneous implant and crown placement. While the savings can be impressive, dental tourism should be approached with caution. The licensing standards and regulations of the country in question as well as the credentials and reputation of the prospective dentist should be carefully researched.
4) Schools of Dentistry
Another option is to take part in a dental implant clinic/program held at a school of dentistry. These programs provide recently graduated dentistry school students looking to gain hands-on experience with the opportunity to perform dental implant procedures with the assistance and supervision of experienced dentists or dental surgeons. Some schools only offer this service to low income individuals – and don’t be surprised if you’re placed on a wait list. The work can take a long time (multiple visits), and the hours can be inconvenient (during working hours), but if you qualify, the wait is well worth the thousands of dollars you’ll save.
The work is typically very good quality since work done at a dental school includes quite a bit of oversight. Each diagnosis and treatment is analyzed and discussed by several students and professors. They provide the same quality treatment as professionals for a fraction of the cost since they’ve studied and practiced the procedures on models.
At the very least, these clinics are a great place to go for a second opinion.
Here are a few example schools/programs that offer implants at reduced rates (and the reader who mentioned them in brackets):
- An interview I did with Jennifer who went to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
- An interview I did with John who went to the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine.
- University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School (Read Susan’s comment here.)
- University of Florida College of Dentistry (Joy had a bad experience. Read her comment.)
- A.T. Still University School of Dentistry & Oral Health (Read Diana’s comment).
- And here is a list of all the schools that offer services to the public.
5) Dental Societies and Charitable Organizations
Some dental societies and non-profit charitable organizations offer free or discounted care for low income patients, often during planned events. There are also associations that provide free care for patients in specific demographic groups, such as victims of domestic violence, people with disabilities, women and children. The American Dental Association lists both state and county dental associations in its online directory.
6) Financing
There are companies such as Care Credit that finance dental work, allowing a patient to receive implants and make monthly payments along with the applicable fees and interest. The main requirement to qualify for the loan is a decent credit score. Since they are the longest-lasting restoration option and typically do not require continuing dental work in the future, financing the cost (despite fees and interest) can be a great way to afford implants.
7) Discount Dental Plans
Discount dental plans are a membership-based plans in which patients pay yearly or monthly fees in order to receive discounts on dental care, ranging from 10% to 60%. Patients participating in these plans are generally required to use only affiliated dentists within the plan’s network, but the discounts can potentially take hundreds, if not thousands of dollars off of the total cost of an implant procedure.
Find out how one of our readers saved $3300 on his implants thanks to a dental discount plan.
8) Know the Alternatives
Bridges and partial dentures are the main alternatives to dental implants for replacing missing or extracted teeth. This is especially the case if there are still viable abutment teeth to support a bridge crown. They do not usually last as long as implants, but dental bridges can last an average of 15 years if they are properly cared for. Bridges are bonded to the abutment teeth so they do not need to be removed for cleaning like partial and full-mouth dentures. The drawback of a dental bridge is that the bone in the jaw supporting it under the artificial teeth will atrophy over time, eventually causing failure of the crown and bridge.
9) Insurance Coverage
Most dental insurance carriers do not cover implants because it is considered a cosmetic procedure, but company policies continue to change. Some dental insurance providers are starting to offer to pay up to the cost of similar, but less expensive procedure such as bridge or partial dentures. Insurance coverage will usually include procedures that restore functions that are compromised by the pain caused by missing teeth. If dental implants are the only procedure that can bring your oral health back to normal, then your insurance will probably cover at least a portion of it.
10) Fundraising Campaign
If you’ve tried all of the options above and found that they aren’t available in your area, don’t make the procedure affordable enough or that you’re ineligible, then you should consider starting a campaign to raise the funds using a website such as Indiegogo.com or GoFundMe.com. These services are similar to Kickstarter – the most well-known crowdfunding service – but they will allow you to raise money for a personal health matter.
Once you’ve setup a page and written an honest and detailed explanation of your situation (and maybe even created a video), you can send a link to your family, friends, co-workers, local churches and any online communities you’re a part of asking them to donate towards the cost of the dental work. Make sure that you outline how your new teeth will positively impact your life (and possibly the lives of your family) as well as exactly how the money will be spent.
Important to Remember
- Asking other people for money isn’t for everyone – especially when it is for a personal health issue. If this approach would make your or a member of your family embarrassed/uncomfortable, then it might not be a good idea.
- It isn’t advisable to pressure people, beg or ask multiple times for money.
- Before asking somebody, ask yourself: If this person asked me for money, would I donate to their cause?
What to Read Next
- Does Medicaid or Medicare Cover Dental Implants?
- Find a Dentist Using Our Clinic Locator Map
- How to Find a Dentist You Can Trust
- Dental Implant Surgery, Recovery and Aftercare Guide
- Dental Schools That Provide Dental Implants
- Dental Bridges vs Implants: Comparison of Costs & Benefits
- Dentures vs Dental Implants – Costs & Benefits
- 5 Tips to Finding Affordable, Quality Dental Implants – A Patient’s Journey
Over to You
Which of these methods did you use to save money? How much did you pay for your treatment? Leave a comment and let us know!
I feel horrible, but my mother feels so badly for me she is willing to pay for me to get my teeth fixed. She said I. Could take a credit card and use it. I am only 38 years old I have been losing teeth for over 10 years. I have medical issues right now preventing me from working. My poor husband is a police officer, so we barely have enough money to pay the bills for our 3 kids. I don’t want to seem ungrateful because I am so thankful for my mom. It’s just I can’t figure out a way to get the few teeth I have left removed and then the implant type dentures for $10,000.00. I wish I could do regular dentures, but I have a horrible gag reflex and I just can’t do it. Several years ago I paid almost 2000 for a partial I never could wear because oof gagging. Does anyone have any ideas? I’m in St. Louis.
I’m 41 years of age with failed crowns/bridges…I’ve had 2 dental implants thus far. I used to have a pretty smile, but having kids and years of being afraid of the dentist has left my teeth in really bad shape. I guess my situation may be a little different…I’m not asking for a complete hand-out…If I could find someone to restore my entire mouth for around 5 or 6 thousand dollars I would do it tomorrow! It’s just so expensive…I wish some dentist would take that in consideration and reduce the cost. Some places want over $30,000 dollars and that is just not feasible for a person making 33,000 per year who is single and has a household to take care of…if there is help, please let me know.
Shoot, you sound like me. I am 25 years old and have had terrible teeth problems my ENTIRE life. I have always brushed everyday, usually twice. My flossing habits weren’t so great though, and now I am regretting it big time. I just realized a few months ago that all of my gums are receeding, and I think I have pretty severe periodontal disease and will most likely need dentures at 25! While I know this is probably my fault (I haven’t gone to a dentist in 3 years), it is so depressing. I’m taking on a second job to pay for whatever dental work I need, I figure it will cost between 8000-10000. The sad part is I am not sure that will even help since my gums are in such terrible shape, I don’t think I can even get implants!! :'(
And this is gonna sound like I am conceited when I am not (matter of fact my confidence is blowing away in the wind like my deteriorating gums) but I am actually quite a pretty girl and all I see when I look in the mirror now is some girl with messed up gums and on her way to dentures.
But my first appt is on 3/4/15 at 9:00 am everyone wish me luck. I swear it feels like I have no future I can’t even stand my own reflection anymore and to top it off, I think the “gaps or pockets” are causing more plaque to build up in between my teeth and have now caused a cavity which leaves me in paralyzing pain where I can’t even see straight (and I am at work when this happens). All of this kinda makes me wanna just jump off a freaking cliff sometimes.
Rant over I guess.
Good luck to you all 🙂
You aren’t alone in feeling helpless and hopeless. I’m glad you could at least find a dentist to consult, though of course that isn’t likely much comfort until you know for sure what it’ll cost etc. It’s a true shame, the robbery that transpires with the prices of dental work!
There’s so many times I consider, as you said, “jumping off a cliff” because I see no future for myself other than becoming some old woman who can only eat apple sauce and has no teeth or dentures/implants. It’s depressing, and our country should be ashamed that it’ll put tax dollars toward stupid, political crap but not toward making sure all Americans have the necessary dental care to at least be able to eat properly.
I am 25 years old and when I was 19 I underwent chemotherapy to decrease the saliva production in my mouth which rotted my teeth. I am on medicaid but I don’t want to face the social stigma of dentures. People tell me there is no way my teeth would be as bad as they are if I hadn’t been on recreational drugs, but I have never done any drugs in my life. Its sad because it affects my social interactions as well as employment opportunities. I have had many interviews and been turned down for the jib and I am sure it is because of my teeth. I don’t have one dull tooth left in my mouth. I need help finding affordable implants. Not only is it affecting me emotionally but I have also became malnourished because I can’t really eat much. Even bread causes tooth pain.
May I ask on what basis did you put the dental implant prices in those countries on your website? Thank you, Mihai.
Hi Mihai. Thank you for your comment. The costs we list for the various countries are the average amounts people have reported paying for a dental implant. All of the data used is submitted to us from visitors like yourself. It is important to note that the cost of an implant varies widely as it is based on a number of factors, so the amounts we show should be taken as an approximate level or range – not an exact price list.
I need an implant, long story, I been fighting with insurance companies, heres the thing if insurance can support other things they should be able to pay for an implant, as it is hard for me to eat anything and they won’t even pay for a partial, does anyone know where i can go in upstate ny for help.