Tooth Implants

[CRLLS]

Since it is an important chewing tooth, I opted for root canal/crown to preserve the original Moler instead of implant replacement.

Similar diagnosis and cost including my work dental insurance plan ($2500) which I believe out of my pocket was ~$1800.

That was my idea also. I lost a very large filling on #3 molar. HE gave me options of a crown or implant. I chose the crown and subsequently went to an endodontist for a root canal. He stopped halfway thru the root canal procedure. He saw the roots were cracked, so a relatively simple crown procedure would not be viable. An implant was in my future. I then went to the oral surgeon for tooth extraction and bone graft, an implant post and various checkups. After just under a year, I am finally getting the crown installed in a couple of weeks. What a long process. 3 different drs made $$$ from this person. I just don't want to add it all up,

 

[ratface]

$5000 in Chicago for extraction, post and tooth. Most painful experience of my life. I don't think I would do it again. My dentist claims their failure rate is high and typically last about ten years. I equate the implant industry right up there with Car salesman as they will upsell as many procedures as possible.

 

[athena53]

$5000 in Chicago for extraction, post and tooth. Most painful experience of my life. I don't think I would do it again. My dentist claims their failure rate is high and typically last about ten years. I equate the implant industry right up there with Car salesman as they will upsell as many procedures as possible.

Wow- sorry you went through that. What part was painful? I've seen plenty of ads for "implants in a day" and touting low prices and yes, I'm suspicious. I went with an oral surgeon recommended by my dentist. The process took 6 months because they allow for healing in between stages (putting in the implant, uncovering the implant and putting on a healing cap and then installing the prosthetic tooth). I think my oldest implant is over 15 years old and I haven't had a problem with any of them. My late husband had one that was over 10 years old when he died- no problems, either.

I chose the crown and subsequently went to an endodontist for a root canal. He stopped halfway thru the root canal procedure. He saw the roots were cracked, so a relatively simple crown procedure would not be viable. An implant was in my future. I then went to the oral surgeon for tooth extraction and bone graft, an implant post and various checkups.

Sometimes it's hard to tell from an X-ray what's wrong. I had a similar issue- knew there was a problem, dentist said it MIGHT be a cracked root and he could drill in and see if it was something else he might be able to fix. I decided to just do an implant. The oral surgeon who extracted the tooth confirmed that it was cracked and could not have been repaired.

 

[wmc1000]

DW is currently in the process of getting 2 implants and 1 crown. Including 1 extraction, 1 bone graft with plasma enhancement the total between oral surgeon and regular dentist charges will be $8k.

 

[Rianne]

We only use HSA funds for dental work. Our local office, highly rated, said dental insurance is kind of a rip-off. Not worth the premiums b/c they nickel and dime you for the more expensive procedures and there are yearly caps ($1500-$2000). The dentist said they will create an interest-free loan as long as needed. My last cleaning was $100 and my teeth are in good shape so far.

 

[ratface]

Wow- sorry you went through that. What part was painful? I've seen plenty of ads for "implants in a day" and touting low prices and yes, I'm suspicious. I went with an oral surgeon recommended by my dentist. The process took 6 months because they allow for healing in between stages (putting in the implant, uncovering the implant and putting on a healing cap and then installing the prosthetic tooth). I think my oldest implant is over 15 years old and I haven't had a problem with any of them. My late husband had one that was over 10 years old when he died- no problems, either.



Sometimes it's hard to tell from an X-ray what's wrong. I had a similar issue- knew there was a problem, dentist said it MIGHT be a cracked root and he could drill in and see if it was something else he might be able to fix. I decided to just do an implant. The oral surgeon who extracted the tooth confirmed that it was cracked and could not have been repaired.

Wow- sorry you went through that. What part was painful?

I don't want to dissuade anyone about having the procedure but mine was very painful. I think it was a combination of not enough Novocain along with having the extraction, bone graft, and post installed all in one sitting. Honestly I barely made the drive home. In retrospect I should have taken a driver and gotten some meds for the ride.

 

[athena53]

In retrospect I should have taken a driver and gotten some meds for the ride.

Yeah, that would make a difference. I've always gotten sedation and from the residual numbness I'm guessing a lot of local as well. I do have to get a driver but it's well worth it. I do NOT want to be conscious though drilling and all the other motion and sound effects even if it's 100% painless.

 

[jesaco]

cOST ME $2,800 for extraction, bonegraft and putting implant by the oral surgeon on ONE tooth. The dentist who put on the crown for the one tooth charged me $1,780. so overall cost for ONE tooth upon competion cane to $4,580. crazy!

 

[aja8888]

Wow- sorry you went through that. What part was painful?

I don't want to dissuade anyone about having the procedure but mine was very painful. I think it was a combination of not enough Novocain along with having the extraction, bone graft, and post installed all in one sitting. Honestly I barely made the drive home. In retrospect I should have taken a driver and gotten some meds for the ride.

When I had an extraction and the bone graft installed, I had to wait 6 months for the bone to assimilate before the surgeon drilled into it to install the threaded insert. How did they do your "post" install on the same day?

Are you sure you had a bone graft?

 

[reneeh63]

$5000 in Chicago for extraction, post and tooth. Most painful experience of my life. I don't think I would do it again. My dentist claims their failure rate is high and typically last about ten years. I equate the implant industry right up there with Car salesman as they will upsell as many procedures as possible.

Frankly, I feel the same way. I've had very good luck with posts and crowns, with them lasting more than 20 years...and certainly no immediate failures which seem so common with implants. Not sure why they are recommended for older people who are losing bone in their later years.

 

[ratface]

When I had an extraction and the bone graft installed, I had to wait 6 months for the bone to assimilate before the surgeon drilled into it to install the threaded insert. How did they do your "post" install on the same day?

Are you sure you had a bone graft?

Now I'm questioning it especially considering my mindset that day. It could have been two visits. I see TV commercials where people get an entire mouth done in one day and just can't understand how they tolerate it. The funniest thing about the ordeal was how they screwed in the post to the insert using what appeared to be a fancy socket wrench similar to something I have in a toolbox at home.

 

[CRLLS]

Sometimes it's hard to tell from an X-ray what's wrong. I had a similar issue- knew there was a problem, dentist said it MIGHT be a cracked root and he could drill in and see if it was something else he might be able to fix. I decided to just do an implant. The oral surgeon who extracted the tooth confirmed that it was cracked and could not have been repaired.

DW had a nerve giving her problems in one molar. a crown put in a while back She went to an endodontist as the regular dentist does not do the root canal in molars due to the many small nerves in the many roots. Returned to the dentist for the crown. She still had temperature issues. Back to the endodontist and he found one nerve that he missed. Finally, no more tooth sensitivity. Even the specialists can miss something. He stood by his work and there was no extra charge for the return visit.

$5000 in Chicago for extraction, post and tooth. Most painful experience of my life. I don't think I would do it again. My dentist claims their failure rate is high and typically last about ten years. I equate the implant industry right up there with Car salesman as they will upsell as many procedures as possible.

I actually had no pain at all during all the procedures. All done with a local. The dentist, the endodontist and the oral surgeon all said I have a very small mouth. The only issue I had was trying to stretch out my mouth to make room for the tools. They had to use a bite block sized for adolescents for a couple of procedures.

My dentist told me that if the crown ever fails, they take it out, send it out for repair and put the same, repaired tooth back in. There is typically no new bone graft or implant necessary.

 

[Focus]

you can have more than one tooth per post...

Depends. In my case, the periodontist thought it *could* work, but my dentist thought this would probably lead to eventual failure, so I ended up with two posts.

 

[dixonge]

Implants - $485US
Crowns - $240US

Even with multiple trips (to let the implant 'set' and heal) you could probably throw in the flight and *still* save a significant amount. These prices are with Dental Express (Guadalajara, Lake Chapala and Puerto Vallarta locastions) but there are probably several other places in Mexico with similar prices.

 

[deadhorse]

In 2013 I had four implants, two crowns and one filling replaced at the University of North Carolina dental school. The cost was about 75% less, compared to a regular dentist.
Not a single problem for ten years.

 

[hpnutty]

What is the going rate in your neck of the wood ?

In mine it's about $3500, give or take.

I had an implant done last November and it was $1,800. Cypress, Texas. That is the implant cost only, no extraction or crown in that amount. At the time I had Metlife dental via COBRA plan.

 

[waynezo]

Here in South Florida I did a bicuspid 8 years ago for $2800. Last year I did two molars for $7000. Now I am doing a molar and bicuspid anchored Implant bridge for $8000 to replace 3 teeth. Also an incisor that needed extra bone graft for $4000. Delta Dental Ins. only covers the extraction. They gave me a pre treatment estimate that was less than the dentist wanted. I was able to negotiate these prices.
I believe $3500 to $4000 is a fair price. There are a lot of variables and most dentists will try to get more. Kind of like buying a used car

 

[NoEZmoney]

Upper left incisor had two root canals that failed. Got an infection in bone, had extracted and bone graft, post installed, Zirconium crown. Looks great, all healed nicely. About $8K after all was said and done. This was in 2015.

 

[indiajust]

I had an I40 cross country roadtrip from LA to Birmingham. I called every major city for a root canal and crown. Cheapest place was a short bike ride from my parents old house in Homewood, at the apex of the steepest hill around, that I used to bike up on an old beater single speed because it was there. I drove the old route and got the work done for about 65% less than new england. Alabama had a light regulatory touch and low fees, plus less extreme wealth, that all conspires for much lower prices. Its rather like going to the Oklahoma Surgical Center in OKC, they run closer to 90% off, and with fixed price quotes.

 

[RaySharpton]

Atlanta, Georgia 2022-2023
Medicare, cash only.
$5,810.00 for One Implant with One Crown depending on extra procedures.
$2,800.00-Endosseouus Implant and tempoary Abutment Healing Cap Screw
$1,875.00-Crown permanent Abutment fused to hi-nob
$237.00-Provisional retainer crown (if needed)
$452.00-Surgical Extraction of Tooth (if needed)
$1,595.00-Root canal (if needed)
$350.00-Bone Replacement Graft (if needed)
$130.00-General Anesthesia 15 min (if needed)
$148.00-3D x-ray
$263.00-Office consult 30-min.

 

[Murph]

Interesting thread. I just don’t understand why implants are so darned expensive!

 

[Buckeye]

So true!
My dental covers $2,000 also but cleanings take about $400 of that.

As a side question: I currently have dental insurance through my former employer which ends when I turn 65 later this year. I asked my dentist office what insurance they recommend and she told me any of the ones outside of being offered through an employer are crappy and don’t usually cover what they say they will.
Is that your experience as well?

If you happen to be a veteran, the VADIP (VA Dental Insurance Program) offers group policies from Delta Dental and another company. I have the DD high tier for $43 a month. It's a PPO so the coverage is excellent. I think the total cost of my extraction and implant was about $3500 and about half was covered by DD. The procedure was in 2 calendar years.

 

[Catkins]

Implant Costs

I went to Costa Rica for my implant. Saw an oral surgeon well known in the world of mandible surgery and educated at Baylor U in Texas. Costa of surgery and entire trip was half of that in the US and because it was necessary, not cosmetic, my CPA could write off entire trip. This was years ago, and I don't remember exactly numbers, but far less expensive than CA.

 

[athena53]

I went to Costa Rica for my implant. Saw an oral surgeon well known in the world of mandible surgery and educated at Baylor U in Texas.

The trick is finding a good doctor/clinic outside of the US. I saw a few when I was in La Paz, Mexico but have no idea of the quality. Unlike the US, if it goes bad, you're not going to get recompense in the courts (which is one reason it's cheaper).

I once watched a train-wreck Netflix series called "Botched-up Bodies" that showed some of the disasters from medical/dental tourism. Some of the implant jobs were just awful- I think I might have been able to do better with a couple of hours of instructional videos on YouTube.

 

[fh2000]

Interesting thread. I just don’t understand why implants are so darned expensive!

I don't know.

My friend just finished a laser periodontal scaling for whole mouth, in just 2 sittings, that cost him $7000. He has insurance but it does not cover this procedure.

I went thru the scaling using old method one quadrant at a time. Periodontist surgically opened my gum and sewed it up when done. Each recovering took at least a week or more. I do not remember the cost, but should be cheaper than $7000 total.