How Much Do All-on-Four Dental Implants Cost?
Dental implants are a great way to restore missing teeth and for patients who have a significant number of teeth missing on one or both arches, an all-on-four dental implant denture is a restoration option that provides the comfort and stability of implants with the full-mouth restorability of a denture.
How Much Do All-on-Four Dental Implants Cost?
An all-on-four is a type of implant-supported denture that falls on the higher end of the cost spectrum but the results are often worth it for many patients. For one arch, the range can be between $20,000 and $50,000 with a few variables that affect the overall cost of treatment.
Cost Affecting Factors
When receiving all-on-four dental implants, you will be treated by multiple doctors. Some offices have different dental specialists in-house and are able to provide treatment from extraction to final denture placement all under one roof. Other offices may need to refer you to a specialist at a different office. Since all offices have their own fee schedule, using multiple doctors can lead to an overall higher cost of treatment. Using an office that can treat you from start to finish in one location is off and less costly and reduces the chance of miscommunication between different offices.
Another major factor that can greatly affect the cost of your all-on-four dental implants is the types of materials that are used. Typically, the denture is fabricated on a metal frame using acrylic and composite materials for the gums and teeth, respectively. When porcelain is used to create the teeth instead of composite, the fee can add an additional $5000 or more per arch. While this may sound like an unnecessary extra, porcelain is significantly more durable than composite and will last much longer. Porcelain is also easier to repair. If a tooth breaks, the process to fix it simply involves replacing the individual tooth and will cost about $2000, possibly less.
Financing Options
If you have dental insurance, it is important to check your benefits to see if your plan covers dental implants. Most plans will only cover a maximum, usually around $1500-$2000, per year so get the most out of your insurance, consider having your treatment over the course of two calendar years.
Additionally, some offices offer in-house financing options that will allow you to spread out your out-of-pocket cost over the course of multiple payments. A lot of providers do work with third-party financing companies, such as CareCredit, which you will apply for on your own. Financing is a great way to receive the best treatment possible without having a huge impact on your wallet.
All-on-four dental implants are more costly than other restorative options but will last much longer. A traditional denture typically lasts about 10 years before needing to be replaced and may be less cost effective in the long run. Your dentist and periodontist will help determine if an all-on-four is the best treatment option for your individual needs.
