How Much Are Full Mouth Dental Implants?

Full Mouth Dental Implants

Dental implants are a permanent solution for anyone who has lost a tooth or several teeth. They are considered both a prosthodontic and a cosmetic procedure, which is why most insurance companies do not cover the cost. If you are looking to improve your smile and not have to worry about a bridge or dentures, then dental implants might be right for you. They look, feel, and function exactly like real teeth. 

How Much Does It Cost for a Tooth Implant?

If you're wondering, "How much does it cost for a tooth implant?" you may be surprised by the price. A single implant can cost as "little" as $1,500 to as much as $5,000. However, if you take very good care of your implants, you will never need to replace them. That's a huge savings over bridges and dentures that need to be replaced every 5 to 10 years.

What Is the Full Mouth Implants Price?

The full mouth implants price is based on a number of factors. If the prosthodontist needs to remove a few remaining teeth or do a bone graft where there's not enough bone to hold an implant, you will incur a tooth extraction cost and/or a bone graft cost. These additional costs increase the price of full mouth dental implants.

If no teeth need to be removed and/or no bone grafts are necessary, you could be looking at an average price for full dental implants is around $30,000 to $40,000 dollars, with a high cost of about $90,000 and a low cost of about $20,000. Depending on where you live and what prosthodontist you see, you may find that the full mouth dental implants cost varies widely.

Dental Implants Cost Break Down

To get a better idea of what the cost of full mouth dental implants in Los Angeles is, you need to break it down into the procedures involved. The best dentist in West Los Angeles is Arman Torbati DDS, and his price structure looks similar to the following. Every patient's implant procedures will look a little different, but this will help you determine what your own costs might be.

Initial Consultation and Development of the Treatment Plan

An initial consult is around $250-$500, although most insurance companies will cover this as a dental exam/dental visit. Occasionally, prosthodontists and dentists offer new patient discounts on the initial consult, which helps with the initial costs of getting a dental implant treatment plan.

Tooth Extraction Cost

Tooth extraction cost is based on the reason for extracting the tooth. Is it diseased or just in the way of full mouth dental implants? If it's diseased, dying, has bad roots, etc., your insurance may pay for most of the extraction costs and you only pay the co-pay for that extraction.

You should also be aware that extracting a diseased tooth is easier than extracting a healthy tooth. A diseased tooth presents with fewer complications because part or all of the tooth is dead. Dead tooth roots rot and decay, decreasing in length and loosening as they decay. A healthy tooth's roots go deeper and are harder to remove, thus incurring a slightly higher cost for extraction.

If you are extracting one or more teeth with the intent of purchasing full mouth dental implants, you may be paying somewhere between $500 to over $1,000 per tooth as the tooth extraction cost. Dr. Arman Torbati DDS will discuss with you what the exact cost will be after your initial consultation.

Bone Graft Cost

Some people unfortunately have to have a bone graft placed in their jaws before dental implant surgery. This happens if the missing teeth have been missing for several years, or if the patient has a bone disease or calcium deficiency. The areas where the implant screws are to be inserted needs to be built up again to accept the screws. 
Any bone graft cost listed on your treatment plan usually costs somewhere between $1,500 to $5,000 per graft. The bone sample used is removed from another part of your own body, which contributes to the higher end cost of the procedure.

Oral Surgery for Implant Screws

The next step in the procedure is to surgically plant the abutment screws. This process takes a little bit longer, but you shouldn't feel any major discomfort during the surgery. A local anesthetic is used, much like having a cavity filled. There is a cost for the anesthesia, the time the dentist/prosthodontist spends inserting the screws, and the screws themselves. You can request an itemized bill for everything involved with the abutment screw surgery if you want.

Additionally, there are different types of abutment screws used for implants. Individual implants each require their own screw, which is time-consuming and not really cost-effective. For that reason you might want to look at purchasing the All on 4 or All on 6 dental implants.

All on 4 dental implants allows the dentist to insert four carefully placed abutment screws in your jaw. These four screws are able to hold an entire arch of implant teeth permanently in place. It's more cost-effective than trying to place several screws and several implant crowns. The All on 4 runs about $30,000 and up.

All on 6 dental implants are similar to All on 4 implants, except that six abutment screws are used instead of four. The main benefit of using six instead of four is that you get a really secure hold on the implant arch. If you have diabetes, smoke, or have bad gum disease, All on 6 is recommended to maintain your smile. The All on 6 dental implants run about $40,000 to $60,000.

Post-Surgical Care

After the abutment screws have been inserted, your dentist or prosthodontist will monitor the healing process for infection. It is important to keep your mouth clean and follow your dentist's instructions. While your mouth heals, you may be prescribed pain medication and medicated mouth rinse. If infection does occur, you may also be prescribed antibiotics. Usually your health insurance will cover medication costs as needed.

During the healing process, your dentist or prosthodontist will be busy crafting your new crowns or full arches of teeth. This may be done in-house, or the order may be sent to a lab. There will be a lab fee involved for creating your crowns or arches. Your dentist will let you know what that fee is ahead of time. The cost for the crowns and arches will be supplied to you during your initial consultation and you will be billed once your crowns or arches are crafted.

Cost of Crowns or Arches Based on Materials and Supports

Most people don't realize that the crowns (the visible part of the dental implant) and arches are made from different materials. While you can find cheaper implants and crowns, there's a good chance that the low cost is based on a lesser material, such as a hard dental resin. The lower price tag on implants almost always involves materials that aren't as strong as higher-priced materials.

A bigger price tag on your dental implant crowns or full mouth dental implants via arches has to do with the material used to make them. There are porcelain crowns and arches, porcelain and resin composite crowns and arches, porcelain over titanium supports, and zirconium. Zirconium is often the most expensive option, but it also delivers the most dazzling white smile that never dulls or stains over time. Zirconium is your strongest and best option, but the price tag will lean closer to that $90,000 mentioned above. 

Placing the Arches or Crowns

Finally, the dentist or prosthodontist will schedule an appointment for you to return to have the crowns or arches placed. The cost is related to a standard office visit, but related services to inserting the crowns or arches are billed separately. Another follow-up visit may ensue two weeks to a month later to see how you are doing with your new implants. All follow-up visits are billed at the usual office visit rate.

The Final Word on the Full Mouth Dental Implants Cost

As you can see, the average price for full dental implants varies based on individual patient factors mentioned above. This dental implants cost break down just helps you get an idea of what your procedure might cost. The cost of full mouth dental implants in Los Angeles is also higher than if you have the same procedure done in, say, a Midwestern clinic or in a foreign country.

However, the highest quality implants with the best dentist in West Los Angeles guarantees you a perfect smile for the rest of your life. It's a worthwhile investment, even when your implants cost tens of thousands of dollars. The celebrities who have done it all agree; it's worth the cost!

Paying for your dental implant procedure involves a mix of what your dental insurance is willing to pay for and what you are left to pay out of pocket. Most clinics have financing plans or dental credit cards you can apply for if you need help paying for your procedure. You can discuss this with the billing department at the clinic's office. 

Why You Should Hire the Best Prosthodontist for Your Dental Implant Procedure

Full mouth dental implants are serious business. You want the best prosthodontist for the job, and you don't want any setbacks in the procedure. The right prosthodontist has the following qualifications:

• At least a decade of dental and prosthodontic experience
• Board Certified Prosthodontist, AKA a Diplomate in the American College of Prosthodontics
• Exceptional success rate of prosthodontic work
• Exceptional level of patient satisfaction
• Licensed as a DDS, or Doctor of Dental Surgery

Awards and accolades support the level of quality you receive from a good prosthodontist by showing how patients have enjoyed the results of the procedures they had completed. Look for these requirements before hiring a prosthodontist for your full mouth dental implants procedure.

Hiring Dr. Torbati, DDS in West Lost Angeles

Dr. Arman Torbati, DDS, is the best prosthodontist in his field in West Los Angeles. He is a licensed DDS, a Diplomate in the American College of Prosthodontics, and has 20 years experience providing the highest quality care in cosmetic oral procedures to patients. His office uses nothing but the best and latest dental technology to improve the outcome of implant procedures. He and his staff can make crowns, bridges, arches and dentures onsite to reduce the wait time associated with these procedures and restore your smile sooner.

If you live in or near the West Los Angeles area, contact Dr. Torbati at his office, Torbati DDS, to set up a consultation appointment. Find out today just how fantastic your smile can be with dental implants!