Dental implants - am I being overcharged?

Question

I had to have an implant done. I paid the DDS who put in the implant just over $2000 and insurance paid $900. That brings total cost to about $3000. My general DDS is now charging $400 for tissue conditioning, $800 for the post and $800 for the crown. This seems a little much. Total price is now $5000 for one tooth (out of pocket approx. $3200)! I guess my question is "if we suppose an implant should cost around $3500, is this price before or after insurance payments?"

Answer 1

part of the price depends on your zip code. bigger cities have bigger prices. i usually tell patients to expect about $3000 out of posket mainly because insurance rarely covers implants. i'd say you didn't get the best deal but you were'nt unfairly charged.

Answer 2

And Please don't forget that MANY distributors of dental products are now selling the actual Implants themselves of both the Mini and Regular types that are sometimes made of Grade 4

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151761049100?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

or even Grade 5

http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Dental-Implants-Titanium-Grade-5_114817260.html

TITANIUM at a FRACTION of the cost that MANY dentists charge for each one. (E.g Approx. $1,400.00+ on average for EACH INDIVIDUAL IMPLANT compared to These Prices per Impant).

Patients have been asking their dentists to use These types rather than the EXTREMELY MORE EXPENSIVE ones so that they the patients can actually AFFORD to have implants in the first place instead of paying these EXORBANT prices for the other ones which, as Anyone can Plainly See is, without dental insurance coverage GUARANTEED to be COMPLETELY OUT OF the price range of the Poor and, All Too Often Some Middle Class people.

I believe that more investigation is required to find out just how practical or impractical these implants Really Are that are being sold on eBay and elsewhere, but BEWARE folks!! If a Sneaky dentist can pawn these off to you as the $1,400.00+ mini implants, HOW WOULD YOU REALLY KNOW FOR SURE that they WEREN'T the $1,400.00 ones!? Ya' can't just take 'em out and Test them after you get home from the dentist. And as far as I know, the dentists themselves has No Way of COMPETENTLY proving to you that they are the higher Quality ones before they put them into you. And even if they do at some point show you a package with one or more implants in it that has info on it that 'states' that it's the more Expensive Better Quality, again like I said before, the Sneaky dentists could either show you the package, then make the switch with the cheaper implants while you're all Prepped, Readied and told to Stay Completely Still in their dentist chair during the procedure of putting each one into your jaw(s) and SCAM you that way. Also, if they have the ability and the will to, they could, (If Possible), Fabricate the "Authentic Packaging" and then present you with their Version of the "Genuine Implant" when it's B.S. and BOGUS with the packaging containing these CHEAPER eBay versions INSTEAD of the More Expensive ones and RIP YOU OFF that way too!!

Now I'm NOT saying that All dentists are doing or would do this sort of thing, Ok? But ya' GOTTA" know that the temptation IS GOING TO BE THERE if one or more dentists find out that this option IS available for them if they want to take the chance on using it and save perhaps MANY THOUSANDS of dollars by buying the CHEAP implants and then Charging YOU for them as if they were the More Expensive types. Think about it.......

There are ALL KINDS of ways to scam people, folks. PLEASE BE CAREFUL when dealing with dentists and Dental Implants!! Since these implants are now so Commonly Available for Easy Purchase at Low LOW PRICES at places like eBay and AliBaba's, do you Really Think that if SOME of these of these DESPERATE dentists can make it look like they're giving you, for example, the $1,400.00+ mini implants multiplied by how ever many of those implants that they are going to be putting into your upper and/or lower jaws, that they Somehow Won't do that to *YOU* AND, (When and where applicable IF they would cover ANY of the costs of the implant procedure, that is) the Dental Insurance companies that would be involved in the process as well!? THANK AGAIN, I say......... COMPLETELY TRUST NO ONE!! Just sayin'........ Thanks for your time, everyone. And DON'T GET SCAMMED AND RIPPED OFF!!

Peace.

Answer 3

I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE BEING OVERCHARGED BECAUSE THE PRICE FOR THE IMPLANT SHOULD NOT INCLUDE "TISSUE CONDITIONING"? I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS. THE COST FOR THE ATTACHMENT ("THE POST") YOU MENTIONED SHOULD BE INCLUDING THE PRICE OF THE OVERALL IMPLANT OR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PRICE FOR THE CROWN.

I WOULD CALL THE INSURANCE AND TELL THEM WHICH ITEMIZED CODES (FROM THE DENTAL CDT 2006) THE DENTIST IS SUBMITTING? YOU CAN FIND OUT IF IN FACT YOU ARE BEING WRONGFULLY OVERCHARGED.

YOU MAY HAVE GOTTEN A BRIDGE ASSUMING, YOUR DENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOW, FOR ANYWHERE FROM $1,500 T $2,500, FOR WHICH THE INSURANCE WOULD HAVE PAID 50%.

Answer 4

i have never heard of tissue conditioning either, sounds like a bogus charge to me. the post price seems like that may be the charge for the implant abutment, impession post,and laboratory implant fees, that are not covered in the price you paid for your implant , the crown price is fair, so the actual overall price is probably about right depending on where you live.

Answer 5

It is pretty expensive at that price. I was looking for best deal on offer overseas and made an internet search for best deal dental implants surgery in india. I was offered Nobel Biocare (Sweden) dental implant and Procera crown both for just $1200 by top grade dentist. It explains your question in many ways.

Answer 6

That price is before dental insurance pays. This seems like the usual fee for some dentists in CA.

Answer 7

That is on the expensive side and more than I charge but it doesn't mean that you were overcharged. I agree with the answer above that it also depends on what city you had it in and other factors regarding how the tissues around it are.

Answer 8

Implants are very expensive!!! it cost thousands for them and thats not including the price of the bridge or crowns that go over them!!!