Many of our Raleigh patients wonder if they can afford dental implants, and the answer is usually yes. In fact, you may be surprised at how affordable dental implants are when compared to traditional dentures or bridges! If you need to replace all of your teeth at one time, treatments like “All-on-4 Implants” might be a more affordable option than other alternatives.
Here’s what you need to know as you plan your smile reconstruction budget:
Fewer Implants, More Affordable Cost
An “All-on-4” implant system uses only four–or sometimes six–implants to support a full-arch, hybrid dental appliance. That means you won’t have to pay to put 14 dental implants in your upper or lower jaw to restore all of those teeth at one time. Instead, you’re using strategically-placed implants. The fact that we’re using 10 fewer implants per arch can save you thousands of dollars in dental treatment costs.
The Type of Dentist You’re Seeing
Some dentists refer their patients out for dental implant installation. This can increase the cost of your All-on-4 treatment and require additional dental appointments. Some general dentists have extra postgraduate training in implant therapy, preventing the need to send you to an offsite surgeon. When you receive comprehensive implant treatment under one roof, your overall out-of-pocket costs tend to be streamlined. And if you can find a Raleigh implant dentist offering in-house sedation, even better! Having your entire implant process performed and managed with the same provider or team of dentists ensures one-of-a-kind accessible care.
How Much do all-on-4 Dental Implants Cost?
How much do All-on-4 dental implants cost? What does the price come out to if I’m using my dental insurance? Each person is different. Some have oral health concerns that need to be addressed in conjunction with their implant therapy, so we can’t provide a single number for every implant case or even quote it over the phone, as much as we would like to. However, if you compare getting individual dental implants for all of your teeth with All-on-4, you’ll see that All-on-4 implants actually cost less. And that’s not mentioning the long-term return on investment they have on your personal budget.
But don’t worry. Every prospective patient will be given a clear, easy-to-understand treatment plan that outlines the fees related to their unique implant case. Whether it’s just a few implants or All-on-4. Our treatment coordinators are always happy to answer any questions that you have.
Are All-on-4 Implants Cheaper Than Dentures?
All-on-4 is an investment worth considering since its low maintenance with a high return on investment. A properly maintained implant can last for the rest of your life. Whereas dentures usually need to be replaced every 5-10 years, even if you take care of them. The costs incurred every time you need to update your dentures–not to mention the inconvenience that it causes–probably won’t offset the price of All-on-4 implants.
Besides the financial implications of constantly needing to update removable prosthetics, there are also “costs” that come in the form of comfort and self-esteem. If your dentures are painful to wear or cause embarrassing slurring when you speak, investing in something fixed and more streamlined is worth it.
Will Insurance Cover All-on-4 Dental Implants?
Most dental insurance plans will cover at least some of the cost of dental implant treatment. To ensure coverage for All-on-4, it’s essential to plan a consultation with our Raleigh dentist before scheduling any treatment. If you don’t have dental insurance, financing is an option.
Be sure to bring an updated insurance card to your exam appointment and let us know if you have any secondary coverage. Insurance plans didn’t always cover implants in the past, but that’s typically not the case anymore.
Use Flex Spending or Health Savings Accounts
FSA/HSA benefits can be used toward the cost of any dental treatment, including All-on-4 implants. An HSA is a powerful way to save on future expenses since contributions are made with pre-tax dollars specifically for healthcare-related expenses. Flex spending accounts are similar. Both HSA/FSA funds can be applied to your dental treatment plan, similar to using a debit card. If you already have a treatment plan in effect–from an exam earlier this year–you will have a better idea of how much to set aside in your flex spending or health savings account for the upcoming year. Just keep in mind that treatment quotes can fluctuate, depending on any changes in your insurance from year to year.
Flexible Financing on Raleigh All-on-4 Implants
Most of our private 3rd party lenders make it simple to finance All-on-4 or other implant treatment with 0% or low interest. Some of the more popular implant financing companies that people are familiar with include those like CareCredit, Lending Club, etc. We work with certain lenders to provide our patients with accessible care, but most applications can be completed in our office or online, with immediate access to treatment funds.
Once approved, you’ll be able to choose from several flexible payment plans that fit within your budget and time frame for treatment completion. Whether you’re hoping to pay off your dental implants in just six months or closer to a year, there’s something for every budget and situation.
And yes, you can combine dental financing with other payment options like FSA, HSA, and dental insurance benefits.
Other Factors Impacting Implant Costs
The main reason why it’s nearly impossible to quote a flat price for All-on-4 or other dental implants is because of the numerous factors impacting the price of care. For instance:
If any teeth need to be extracted.
Maybe you don’t need to replace all of your teeth. Or maybe you do. We’ll need to see which teeth can be restored and preserved. If other teeth need to be extracted, the cost of those additional procedures will impact the total cost of your Raleigh dental implant process.
How many dental implants you need.
Will you be getting four implants, or are you one of the people who will need an “All-on-6” version of full mouth reconstruction? Some people may not have enough bone support to safely anchor a full hybrid prosthesis on four implants while others do. If two additional implants are needed taking your “All-on-4” treatment and making it “All-on-6” the total cost will need to be adjusted. The rest of the procedures (including the cost of the hybrid appliance) will remain about the same.
Whether sedation or anesthesia is being used.
Are you one of those people who prefers to feel like you’re sleeping during your entire dental procedure? Various levels of sedation and anesthesia can impact how aware you are of things going in during your appointment. Some—like laughing gas/nitrous oxide—are extremely affordable. Others cost more, because of the medication and specialized supervision that is required.
The type of prosthesis you’ve chosen.
A typical full arch implant restoration is a U-shaped, hybrid prosthesis that anchors on top of your dental implants. However, there are other options out there such as stabilized dentures (removable overdentures) that only use 2-4 implants in total. Depending on what your preferences are, there is a flexible pricing window when it comes to full arch reconstruction.
If you need a bone graft.
People with tooth loss or who have worn dentures for several years may not have enough bone to support dental implants. The price of a bone graft may need to be added to their treatment plan.
When sinus lift surgery is required.
Missing upper teeth at the back of your mouth can cause the sinus lining to “drop” into that area. We will need to lift the sinus lining and add a bone graft to make sure there is a safe space to install the implant.
Start With a Consultation for Individual Pricing
An exam with X-rays is the first step to finding out how much All-on-4 implants cost. We’ll discuss your specific needs and lifestyle, as well as your long-term goals. Once we’ve determined your candidacy for dental implants, we can help you decide on the best path of care. Such as other therapies or options that you may need in conjunction with your smile reconstruction.
If all-on-4 or fixed implant dentures are right for you, treatment options will be discussed and explained in detail so that you understand your options—including the costs of each. Even if you’ve had a recent exam, you can meet with our Raleigh implant dentists to discuss what options you have to choose from.
Once we have the total estimate on your All-on-4 implants treatment, you’ll know exactly what the costs will be. And at that point, you can plan whether you want to use HSA/FSA funds, take advantage of 0% financing, or prefer to pay for them via another option.
All-on-4 Implants in Raleigh
Raleigh Dental Arts offers comprehensive dental implant treatment including single, multi-tooth, and full-arch restoration. Learn more about how All-on-4 implants may be an affordable alternative to traditional dentures for you. We’re here to help! Call us today to request a consultation.
