Introduction:

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, dental implants often come up as the best option. But the reality is that they're not cheap. Figuring out how to pay for this treatment can be as overwhelming as the dental journey. 

If you're wondering about the cost of dental implants and how to afford it, you're not alone. And we're here to talk openly about it. In this free guide, you’ll find a breakdown of the general price ranges of different treatment options, as well as hidden fees you need to look out for.

The Reality of Medical Costs in Australia

Before we dive in, it's important to remember that dental implants aren't any more expensive than other big surgeries like hip replacements or knee surgeries. The average price of a hip replacement is $31,820 and the average knee replacement costs $26,975.

The difference is that in Australia, Medicare or private health insurance help to cover most of those costs. Sadly, dental implants don't get the same support from either Medicare or private dental insurance. So how do patients pay for these big dental treatments?

Different Ways to Finance Dental Implants

Because dental implants are a big investment, people find different ways to make it work:

• Redrawing on a Mortgage: Some use their home loan to cover the costs.

• Savings: Others dip into their savings.

• Dental Loans: Specialised loans can be another option. There are many different options. Some charge interest, others don’t. Obviously the repayments depend on total treatment cost and how long you take to repay. But some patients pay around $150/week in repayments.

• Family Support: Sometimes parents or adult children chip in to help.

• Superannuation: This is an increasingly popular payment option. We have a full guide to the Early Release of Superannuation. Click here to read it.

Breaking Down the Costs

One of the reasons that dentists are so cagey about providing pricing information online is because the cost of treatment depends on so many different things. The price tag can vary for many reasons. Here are some things that can change the cost:

• General Anaesthetic: Puts you to sleep for the surgery but costs extra. Usually a minimum of $5,000 extra, and is charged by the anaesthetist not the dentist.

• Zygomatic Implants: These are special implants for patients who’ve lost a lot of bone. They cost more and need to be placed by a specialist Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon. This can add an extra $6,000-15,000 to your treatment plan, or more.

• X-Rays: You'll need a few of these, and they add to the bill.

• Quality of Teeth: Websites might say it's one price but then charge you more for better quality teeth later on. For example, final teeth made of ceramic (which are higher quality, stronger and look more natural) could cost you an extra $10,000 or more. Many providers advertise a total price but only include ‘temporary’ teeth to entice you into applying to work with them, rather than being transparent about the total cost.

Price Ranges

With all these variables, prices can obviously vary a lot. Plus, you will generally pay more for a more experienced surgeon.

But here's a ballpark idea:

• Traditional Dentures (per jaw): $3,000-$8,000

• Snap-In Dentures (per jaw): $15,000-$20,000

• All-On-X (per jaw): $25,000-$35,000

The above prices are "per jaw" which means if you need to replace all your teeth, you’d need to double the prices above.

Extra Costs: be aware that some providers quote you a cheaper price that appears 'all inclusive', but doesn't actually include high-quality ceramic teeth. If you want the most natural looking end result, with teeth that are as strong as possible, ceramic teeth may cost an additional $10,000 or more. So make sure you ask your surgeon what material the final teeth will be made from.

Please note that these are general ranges, and individual cases vary a lot. This is why so many dentists are hesitant to publish prices on their website. They don't want to set an expectation of a $30,000 treatment... and have patients be frustrated when they're quoted $50,000. The reality is that this is a complex surgery, and price alone isn't the most important factor.

Choosing your dental implant surgeon is the most important decision you'll make in your journey to a new smile.

Often, the first thing patients think about is the cost. It’s important of course, but really, cost shouldn't be the number one priority. Getting dental implants is a serious operation. More often than not, the cheaper the dentist, the less experience they have. 

This of course is not always the case. Just because someone’s charging a premium fee doesn’t mean they’re skilled. In 7 years of working with dentists, we saw a consistent problem in the dental implant space. There are brilliant surgeons with decades of experience, but they're not always social media savvy. At the same time, some newer dentists are great on social media but might lack experience.

That's why we created a platform where patients can easily find trusted and experienced dental implant surgeons, without the noise of online marketing getting in the way. At our live online information evenings, you get to meet experienced surgeons from the comfort of your own home.

Join Us for More Insight

We help patients connect with highly experienced dental implant surgeons through our live online information evenings. All of the surgeons that we partner with are committed to providing positive and empowering patient care.

Our information evening gives you the chance to meet a surgeon without the fear and anxiety of walking into a dental clinic. Plus you get to ask your questions directly to experienced dental surgeons because our events are actually live. So, if you're thinking about dental implants, make sure to register for our upcoming information evening.