Introduction

Short answer – what numbers are we talking about?

Have you ever asked yourself about the cost of dental implants in Canada?

If you have, you’ve probably encountered information that you can find implants ranging from $900 up to even $6,000, while some dentists even offer $20,000 for a single crown.

The cost of a dental implant solely depends on the dentist, the area you live in, and the exact procedure you want.

Sometimes the quality reflects the price, sometimes it does not, but the general medial price regardless of specific details is $3,000 for a single implant crown and the surgical procedure that follows, while a full mouth dental implants cost in Canada can very well go up to $100,000.

But… why are dental implants so expensive?

Dental implant costs vary in Canada, but this is not an unusual case. Dentistry is not only expensive in Canada – but also worldwide. You’d think that medical care for your oral cavity only would cost less than a full-body checkup, but the truth is that while you can treat a cold or flu at home, you can’t treat a tooth cavity with natural remedies or DIY tutorials.

In fact, the mouth is such a complex and sensitive area of your body that it can reflect on your overall health – your heart, your skull, your brain, your mouth, your immune system…

Having said that, teeth are not only important in terms of health – but also functionality and aesthetics.

We use our teeth when we talk, when we eat, when we smile – which makes us feel confident and good about ourselves.

Why do people avoid dental implants?

A rotten tooth is a rotten tooth – it poses a severe health risk and needs to be fixed or if it cannot be eliminated. Many people, however, are not familiar with dental implants and dental implant costs in Canada and choose to risk further infection for the sake of keeping their tooth in its place – as they cannot (or don’t know if they can) afford dental implants or they are scared of what the procedure includes.

Many people, on the other hand, have healthy teeth that are crooked, stained from coffee, candy, and cigarettes, and thus pose self-image issues.

The problem with dental implant costs lies in the fact that not many insurance plans cover the procedure.

If you’re fighting any of these battles with your own mouth, perhaps educating yourself more on Canadian dentistry and dental implants in Canada could help you see all of your options more clearly. Keep on reading this article and let us guide you through the formal and financial information regarding dental implants and how much does a dental implant cost based on where you live and what your needs are.

What are dental implants?

To talk about the cost of dental implants, we need to first discuss what dental implants are: dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are placed into your jaw and subsequently bond with your natural bone. Dental implants thus function as a new and sturdy base for artificial teeth crowns.

If your natural teeth are not strong and supportive as they should be, but dentures are not attractive to you, dental implants could be the closest thing that you can get to fixing your issues while at the same time feeling like you still have your own teeth.

Why dental implants are not covered by insurance?

The two main factors insurance companies list as their reason for not covering implants is that they’re still an experimental procedure and that they are most often listed under “cosmetic procedures“. While it may be true that dental implants are relatively new (being in practice for only about half a century), the positive results of tens of millions of patients around the globe prove them to be safe and effective.

In regards to aesthetic value, implants could be much more beneficial to people who have sensitive gums than regular dentures ever could. Dental procedures, unlike other cosmetic procedures, also regard functionality – they’re not there to just make you confident about your appearance, but to help you do basic day-to-day tasks such as eat and talk.

Regardless of this, the evaluation of dental implants still puts them in the same category such as teeth whitening – both of which are not covered by insurance as of this point in time.

Factors affecting dental implants cost

Before we tackle all the factors let us discuss first the step-by-step process.

Step-by-step process

Getting dental implants is not a one-time thing. The preparation for the actual procedure first starts with a consultation, then an examination. After you have been evaluated, you can get into the process of getting dental implants. Dental implants, however, are not artificial teeth crowns, but roots. You will subsequently need to go through a restorative process where they attach small connectors to your implants. Crown reconstruction is done on top of these connectors. Further checkups to make sure that you’ve healed properly and that your new artificial teeth are in good maintenance is also recommended.

The cost factors

One thing to take into consideration when getting a dental implant done is that more often than not the follow-up tests are not included in the price, either. This includes things like checkups post-surgery and scans during the evaluation period, which could all stack up onto the price of your actual dental implant.

Moving on to the cost of the actual procedure, the list of factors involving the price of dental implants varies on different factors and details:

TYPE OF PROCEDURE

There are two main types of insertion of a dental implant; the Endosteal dental implantation and the Subperiosteal dental implantation.

Endosteal implants are screwed into the actual jawbone. This is a more invasive procedure and involves looking into other factors like the size of your jaw and ridge, your bone health and strength, and your sinuses. Each of these factors can be altered and might put additional dollars to the overall price. For young and healthy individuals, this might be a better and more long-lasting option.

Subperiosteal implants are placed under the gum aligned and secured to the jawbone or directly above it, which is better for older patients and those who have a weaker jaw and skull and could be prone to inflammation even with the necessary precautions such as bone augmentation. Aside from these, there are other experimental options, such as multiple implant sets, mini implants, and even “same-day implants” that are temporary alternatives used for a testing period until you can make your final decision.

THE DENTIST

As expected, another factor would be the professional you go to. Some dentists are more affordable than others and offer price reductions. Choosing a private professional over one in your local medical facility or a referred doctor by your insurance plan might be more costly, which brings us to the next factor…

DENTAL INSURANCE PLAN

Not all people have insurance plans that cover dentistry, and not all insurance plans cover the cost of dental implants, and those who do – do not necessarily cover a full reconstruction, especially if the cause for the procedure is not a medical risk. You need to go through these details with your agent or insuring company to know exactly how much you can potentially get from them.

MATERIAL

There are two main types of dental implant materials; Titanium and Zirconia. Titanium is much more common and used much longer than Zirconia implants. Titanium has been proven to pose a very low risk to rejection, and the body seems to accept this foreign object as part of the bone – in which case the bone grows around Titanium symbiotically. This is why Titanium is used not only for dental implants but for many other bone reconstruction and replacement surgeries such as jaw, leg and hip reconstructive surgeries.

Zirconia is still very new but increasingly popular. It is not a hard, dark metal such as Titanium, so the tooth itself can be carved out of the very implant and no additional material is used to make the actual crown, which in some cases is less costly than Titanium while seemingly being equally as safe.

LOCATION

Finally, we have the factor of location. In Canada specifically, the price ranges from city to city.

Dental implants cost for specific location

Here, we will guide you through some examples…

Toronto

Dental implants in Toronto aren’t as expensive as one would have thought. The surgical placement of the implant plus an abutment and dental crown can be found at a decent quality for the minimal price of $900. The dental implant cost for one tooth usually ranges from $1,000 to $4,000 – with the higher end of the price lying in more complicated cases where necessary steps need to be taken before the actual implant is placed.

Calgary

Prices in Calgary seem to go up to the other end of the spectrum – prices seem to range from $3,000 to $6,000, with the most common price point landing somewhere at around $4,000.

Vancouver

Dental implants in Vancouver are a little bit pricier than in Toronto. The general price ranges up to $5,000, while the lower end of the spectrum falls at around $2,000. The most common price point seems to lie somewhere at around $4,000.

Winnipeg

Dental implants in Winnipeg cost around $3,500 when you count in both the implant and the crown, separately – the implant alone ranges at about $2,000.

Ottawa

Dental implant costs in Ottawa seem to fall somewhere between Toronto and Vancouver. The cost lies somewhere around $3,000 per tooth whereas the placement of the implant and the reconstruction of the crown don’t usually come in the same package and cost around $1,500 each separately.

This inconsistency in price point depends on the wealth of the province, on population, on the number of the competition, on popularity… This is exactly why Canadians sometimes take the extra step and travel to the other end of the country to get their dental implants done.

Some, however, even decide to get dental implants abroad. For example, Mexico and Costa Rica are popular travel destinations for Canadians, and the medial price for dental implants there is 800CAD including the crown reconstruction – which is exactly why many Canadians choose to get dental implants outside of Canada.

There is even a term used called “dental tourism” for those who don’t decide to get implants when on their vacation – but book vacation destinations such as South America, Hungary, Thailand or Poland specifically to have an excuse to get their dental implants done.

This can be both a smart and an extremely foolish move – as if you don’t research your doctor well enough beforehand and find a credible office, you could risk getting implants of an unknown material. This could potentially lead to serious consequences.

Other dentistry costs

Dental implants are not the only thing that is expensive and/or the only thing that varies in price. Here are some medial prices of other dental procedures in Canada:

Wisdom teeth removal

Wisdom teeth removal seems to costs even up to half of what an implant would cost. For example, wisdom teeth removal in Toronto costs somewhere around $500, but some doctors up the price to over $1,000. Wisdom teeth removal usually costs lower in a bulk, so removing all of your wisdom teeth in one sitting might cost less than getting different appointments.

Dentures

In Canada, dentures can range from as low as $1,000 to even $15,000. The average price lies somewhere between $2,000 and $5,000. If you’re asking yourself, in the example, how much dentures cost in Ontario – the answer is not that simple. Snap-on teeth dentures can range from $3,500 to $6,000 for one single jaw, while a traditional complete arch can cost from $1,000 to $3,000, and a partial denture can even exceed this price point – depending on the complexity.

Veneers

The mid-range price for one single composite tooth in Canada is around $450. Porcelain veneers, on the other hand, range from $1,300 to $2,000 in Toronto while in Calgary this can extend to over $3,000.

Tooth filling

Tooth fillings also depend on the type of filling you get – silver fillings are around $80, while white fillings are considerably higher going around $200. In Vancouver, the range is much larger – from $50 all the way to $300.

To conclude

Dental implants are a very popular, safe and effective way of replacing your natural teeth if you have exhausted other options. That being said, they can be very expensive, and most insurance companies refuse to cover any related costs due to the fact that they’re listed as a cosmetic procedure, and not a necessity.

If you’re thinking about dental implants, do not be discouraged by this information. Instead, opt to inform yourself about price differences in your country, as well as the price of any associated procedures and the quality of the service.

Your dental implants are a permanent procedure, so you will want to make this choice with a lot of preparation and knowledge about what you’re getting yourself into in order to avoid any unnecessary bumps down the road.