Why Do Dental Implant Costs Vary?

5 minute read

It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed when you look at dental implant costs and see how much they vary. While some treatments may differ by a few hundred dollars, dental implant treatment can easily change by thousands. There are several reasons why dental implant costs can vary so much, and while they may seem random, it comes down to each service and product component provided.

Learning more about these components will help you understand the reason behind cost variability when it comes to dental implants, and can help you make an informed decision about treatment according to your individual needs and budget.

Fixed Expenses

Dental implant treatment is considered a safe, predictable treatment with a high rate of success in clients. Like any surgical procedure that involves a prosthesis, there are fixed expenses that indicate a base price and variable expenses that apply. These variable expenses affect the overall treatment cost. Built into every treatment plan is the price for:

Consultation

A consultation is a fixed cost that doesn't change between clients. This of a consultation is typically $85.

Perth Dental Implant Centre is currently offering a complimentary consultation. This offer is valued up to $609) and includes:

• Consultation (#014)
• Diagnostic 3D model #071×2
• Intraoral photographs #072
• Extraoral photographs #073
• 3D (CBCT) bone scan^ and written report #026; #089 (if required)

*This offer is valid for NEW clients only. ^An OPG x-ray and CBCT scan will only be taken if clinically required. If you have a current OPG / CBCT (taken within the past six months) from another dental provider, we may use this at no additional charge. Total cost of treatment varies depending on your treatment plan inclusions, sedation and hospital fees (if applicable). View full terms and conditions of this offer and treatment considerations and risks here.

Diagnostic imaging

At Perth Dental Implant Centre, we take diagnostic x-rays and a 3D (CBCT) scan to assess remaining teeth and jawbone. These images provide crucial information needed to determine whether there is sufficient jawbone to support dental implants. A 3D CBCT scan is typically cost $226.

Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implant surgery requires advanced training and a specialised surgical skill set to ensure implants are placed accurately and safely.

While dentists learn a wide range of general dental treatments at university, implant dentistry and surgical procedures usually require additional postgraduate training and hands-on clinical experience.

Dentists who provide dental implants undertake further study to develop the knowledge, precision, and practical skills needed to carefully plan and perform implant treatment.

Our dentists have dedicated most of their careers to implant dentistry, having completed numerous advanced implant dentistry courses and mentoring new and emerging dentists, their experience spans over decades of cases.

Variable Expenses

Variable implant costs are broken down into fees for each component item and vary between clients. These factors include:

An implant

Dental implants are made of titanium* that integrate seamlessly with the jawbone. Implants act as tooth roots for missing teeth, helping to preserve the jawbone from early deterioration. The cost of an implant depends on the implant system you choose and the number of dental implants that are required.

Metal-free dental implant alternatives such as zirconia are also now available as an option for clients.

An abutment

Each dental implant has a connecting abutment (attachment) that secures a crown, bridge of fixed teeth or a removable denture. The cost for abutments depends on how many implants are placed and whether you choose to have standard abutments or custom abutments made to suit your smile.

Prosthetic teeth

Dental implants serve as supporting bases for crowns, fixed bridges and dentures to replace one, several or all missing teeth. Prosthetic teeth can be made up of a number of materials depending on the type of teeth.

Small fixed bridges and Long-term All-on-4® teeth

Single crowns, small fixed implant bridges and long-term full mouth dental implant bridges (including All-on-4®) are made from monolithic zirconia — a strong, highly durable material crafted from a single block of zirconia.

These bridges are digitally designed using advanced CAD/CAM technology and then custom-milled with precision in a milling machine. The zirconia bridge shown in the image above is in its “raw” milled form, before undergoing a high-temperature sintering process in a furnace at approximately 1650°C.

This final sintering stage strengthens and densifies the zirconia, transforming it into a durable, natural-looking full-arch or implant bridge restoration.

All-on-4® temporary teeth

The first teeth after full mouth dental implant (All-on-4) surgery are designed to be worn temporarily while the mouth heals and are made from high-quality custom-milled PMMA (acrylic).

Clients typically wear an custom-milled PMMA (acrylic) full mouth bridge for 3 to 4 months before upgrading to a long-term zirconia bridge.

The cost of full mouth dental implants (including All-on-4) starts from $17,250 per arch.

Revive Basic from $17,250

What’s included

• Four titanium dental implants
• Next-day custom-milled PMMA (acrylic) bridge

Designed for

• Patients seeking a more cost-effective solution
• Suitable for cases without significant bone loss or heavy grinding

Ongoing care & upgrades

• Custom-milled PMMA (acrylic) teeth are designed to be replaced periodically
• Option to upgrade to a zirconia bridge from 3 months post-surgery

Warranty

• 12-month warranty on custom-milled PMMA (acrylic) teeth
• 5-year warranty on dental implants

Additional costs may include

• Extractions
• Bone grafting (if required)
• IV sedation or general anaesthetic
• Night guard or jaw muscle therapy (if required)
• Hygiene maintenance visits (recommended every 6 months)
• Oral hygiene kit

Optional upgrade pricing

• Zirconia bridge: $10,500 per arch or $20,000 both arches
• Custom-milled PMMA (acrylic) re-mill: $2,000 per arch or $3,500 both arches

Bone grafting

A bone graft may be required if there isn’t enough jaw bone to support dental implants. Bone grafting helps to restore the missing bone and can be performed months before implant surgery or at the same time, depending on treatment needs. The cost of a bone graft varies slightly according to the type and amount of grafting material used.

Pterygoid or zygomatic implants

For patients with significant bone loss in the upper jaw, specialised longer implants — known as pterygoid and zygomatic implants — may be used to support an All-on-4 or full-arch implant bridge.

These advanced implants anchor into stronger areas of bone and can often help avoid the need for extensive bone grafting.

Because they are longer, more complex to place, and require advanced surgical expertise, pterygoid and zygomatic implants typically involve an additional cost compared to conventional dental implants.

Extractions

If there are unwanted or damaged teeth, these need removing before implants can be placed. For single implants and small fixed bridges, this is done months before surgery. For immediate implant placement (same-day) single implants or for full mouth dental implant bridges, extractions are done at the same time, and involve an additional cost per tooth.

Sedation and anaesthetist fees

Surgery is usually performed under local anaesthetic in the dentist chair. For complex treatment or for particularly anxious patients, it may be possible to have the procedure while asleep.

Sleep dentistry is a safe and common form of sedation that puts you into a relaxed, semiconscious state. Intravenous (IV) sedation is administered by an anaesthetist who monitors your vitals throughout treatment. Cost of sedation varies according to the anaesthetist fee and the length of sedation time.

Hospital fees

If you are having treatment under general anaesthetic in hospital, there are hospital fees to be paid. For patients with private health insurance and hospital cover, this hospital fee is covered by insurance with only an excess to pay (if any). For clients without insurance, it is more affordable to be treated in the chair.

Gum treatment

Dental implants required healthy gums and jawbone to be adequately supported in the mouth. If a client has gum problems, they will need to be brought back to health before implants can be placed.

Pre-surgery treatments like periodontal treatment are provided by clinicians at our co-located sister clinic Revive Dental, and are scheduled several months prior to implant surgery. These treatments are an additional expense.

Finance

Clients may choose to pay treatment upfront or engage with a third party finance provider to break down the cost of treatment:

• Zip money
• Humm payments
• Pretty penny finance

Every smile is different, bone structure, and treatment needs are unique, which is why choosing a dentist with experience in dental implants is so important.

If you’d like a personalised assessment and accurate quote for dental implants, book a consultation with one of our experienced dentists by calling 1300 108 133.