Dentistry-Online

Cost of a dental implant

At a Dental implant it is a metal pin inserted into the bony jaw that simulates the root of a "normal" tooth. On this artificial one Tooth root becomes a prosthetic one after a healing period dentures put on.

Since a dental implantation is a surgical procedure which requires the highest precision on the part of the dentist and very high quality materials, the costs of such a treatment are correspondingly high.

The materials used must be compatible with the body, usually titanium is used. Initially, dentists use materials such as:

ivory
Wood
Metals
iron

Experience has shown, however, that most patients tolerate titanium best, as it does not trigger any allergic reactions and can very much grow together with the bone.

The exact costs of a dental implant cannot be given a general description, because they depend primarily on the operation and treatment costs, the materials used and the subsequent dental prosthesis (e.g. with dental crowns, dental bridges, etc.).

Basically, with a dental implant, as with almost all dental treatments, the patient has the choice between different solutions that are more or less expensive.

The statutory health insurances usually do not cover the entire costs that arise in the course of a dental implant treatment. The portions that do not count as health insurance benefits must be borne by the patient himself or, ideally, by his or her supplementary dental insurance.

An approximate, but not all-inclusive, list of costs can be compiled using the existing dental accounting system.

The costs for diagnostics and planning the procedure are around 150-300 euros, while the actual implantation costs between 300-700 euros per implant in Germany. The later restoration and the implant structure make up the largest share, the dentist calculates here under certain circumstances several thousand euros can come to the patient.

What does statutory health insurance pay for an implant?

A dental implant is a purely private service that is not covered by health insurance. Every dentist can decide how expensive an implant is for their patient, depending on the difficulty of the situation. But the dental laboratory that produces the implant also has to be paid for.

In Germany, the following applies: The statutory health insurance only pays so-called standard care, which corresponds to a fixed subsidy.
In the case of a single tooth that is missing, for example, this means that the gap can be filled with a crown or an implant. Regardless of which option the patient chooses, the amount of the grant for closing the gap is always the same.
The restoration on the implant is subsidized very slightly and amounts to a maximum of 30% of the total price. This maximum rate is only given to those who have been to the dental check-up at least once a year for 10 years.

If the patient has only had the dental examination for five consecutive years, the health insurance company pays 20%, and if the number of years is less, the health insurance company does not cover anything. The health insurance does not pay anything if several implants are inserted, only the dental construction attached to them is subsidized.

The only case in which a statutory health insurance fund fully covers the cost of implants is when the individual illness is particularly severe. If the patient has lost part of the lower jaw or an eye due to a tumor, the removed part is replaced by grafts and implants and the patient bears no costs. If, for example, an epithesis, or a facial prosthesis, is required to replace an eye, it is attached to the eye socket using implants.

Such exceptional indications also include severe jaw diseases such as Jaw defects due to accidents, special allergies or cancerous tumors, and the genetic lack of several teeth. It is not possible to say in general in which case and from when the health insurance company will cover the costs in full. In doing so, each person concerned must personally obtain information from the respective health insurance company and clarify whether the costs will be covered.

Hardship patients who earn so little a month that they are fully reimbursed for the dentist's costs also receive full cost coverage. The patient himself has to take care of the submission of a hardship application with his health insurance company with the treatment and cost plan provided by the dentist.

How can I reduce the cost of a dental implant?

An implant is one of the most expensive treatments in the dental office. However, since the implant is only marginally subsidized by health insurance and is a purely private service, there are considerable price differences. Each dentist can decide for himself how much money he offers an implantation, which is why price ranges between one thousand and four thousand euros per implant arise within a single town, depending on the procedure, execution and effort of the implantation.

It can therefore make sense to compare the prices and, if necessary, to obtain cost estimates from several dentists, oral surgeons or oral and maxillofacial surgeons and to compare them. With this comparison alone, the patient can save a thousand euros or more. Furthermore, because the implant is a purely private service, there is a certain scope for negotiation. It can be worthwhile to speak to the dentist in advance and agree on a fixed price.

Cost of implants abroad

Many dentists abroad advertise cheap implants that are even combined with a vacation. But how useful are these offers?

In general, you have to weigh up whether you want to take the risk of having such an operation abroad, where the medical standard may not be as high as in Germany. There are also many different implant systems on which the appropriate dentures are created afterwards. A normal dentist usually has one or two systems on offer, which are discussed with the surgeon so that the dentures fit.

Patients often do not consider this aspect, as the implant has to heal for a good 3-6 months and only then can dentures be made again in Germany. It is essential to clarify in advance which implant system will be used. You should also consider who bears the guarantee if complications such as infections or failure to heal subsequently occur.

In addition, implants are planned together with the prosthodontist who creates the dental prosthesis in such a way that the dental construction fits perfectly. The implanter inserts the implants with a drill template so that they sit exactly. Such a collaboration with a foreign dentist is hardly possible.

It is therefore necessary to weigh up beforehand whether the risks outweigh the cost benefits or whether the effort seems too great.

Differences in cost between different teeth

The implant price does not primarily differ and does not depend on which tooth is replaced. Regardless of whether an anterior tooth or a molar tooth is missing, there is no price difference for the implant.
The only thing that can differ in terms of cost is the prices for the material and the system of the implant.

In addition, the prices for crowns on the implant vary, depending on the design and the materials used. If the implant crown is made of ceramic, it is usually more expensive than a veneered metal crown. The price for the implant itself is completely independent of the inserted region and the tooth to be replaced.

What does general anesthesia cost for a dental implant?

Since an anesthetist always has to be present in addition to a dentist for general anesthesia, additional costs arise that the patient has to pay as a private service. A lump sum of between 200-250 euros can be expected, with longer anesthesia being more expensive than shorter.

In the case of complicated dental surgical interventions which, due to their size, cannot be performed under local anesthesia, it may be possible that the costs for the general anesthesia are partially or completely covered by the health insurance company. However, this must be clarified in advance with the respective health insurance company.

Are multiple implants cheaper than a single one?

In general, an operation with implants can be cheaper if several implants are inserted than if only one implant is placed several times. The costs for diagnosis and planning per jaw are only created and drawn once.
Furthermore, it can be negotiated with the dentist whether the price can decrease slightly with several implants. A price comparison between different dentists can also be useful.

Are the cost of a dental implant tax deductible?

The costs for a dental implant are tax-deductible if a so-called reasonable amount is exceeded. For tax purposes, implants belong to the group of health expenses.
From when the costs exceed the reasonable amounts depends on the number of children and income. For example, a childless patient can deduct the dentist's bill from tax if it exceeds 5-7% of annual income.