The cost of full mouth dental implants depends on how many implants each arch needs, whether teeth have to come out and bone needs grafting, whether the final teeth are fixed or snap-in, what they're made of, the sedation used, and how much follow-up care is included. Quotes for the same mouth can vary widely because they often cover different work.
I've treated full arch and full mouth cases in Johnson County since 2004.
Two quotes for the same mouth often describe two different treatments, and the only way to see that is to line them up item by item.
What a full mouth implant quote should include
| Item | What it covers | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Records and 3D scan | The CT scan, X-rays, photos, and bite records used to plan the implants | Is the scan included, and are the teeth designed first? |
| Extractions | Removing failing teeth, often at the same visit as implant placement | How many teeth, and are they in the quoted price? |
| Bone grafting or sinus lift | Rebuilding bone where it's too thin to hold an implant | Does the quote assume grafting or leave it out? |
| Implants per arch | Usually four to six for fixed teeth | How many per arch, and why that number for my bone and bite? |
| Sedation | Local anesthesia, IV sedation or general anesthesia for surgery | Which type, and who gives it? |
| Temporary teeth | The set you wear while the implants heal | Do I leave with teeth on the day of surgery? |
| Final teeth | The permanent bridge made after healing | Is the final set included, and what is it made of? |
| Follow-up care | Bite checks, cleanings, and X-rays after the teeth go in | Which visits are included, and for how long? |
| Repairs | Loose screws and chipped or broken teeth | What happens if something breaks? |
What drives the cost of full mouth dental implants?
Six things drive most of the cost of full mouth dental implants: the number of implants, one arch or both, extractions and grafting, fixed or snap-in teeth, the material of the final teeth, and sedation and follow-up.
Number of implants per arch
Fixed teeth usually sit on four to six implants per arch, and each implant adds to the cost.
A meta-analysis of fixed upper arches on four or six implants in Heliyon found similar implant survival in both groups: 98.5% with four and 97.0% with six. The six-implant group showed less bone loss around the implants.
I plan the number of implants around the bite the new teeth have to carry. People who grind or clench often do better with more support than the minimum.
One arch or both
Full mouth means both the upper and lower jaws, and plenty of people only need one.
Full arch dental implants can replace the teeth in one jaw while the other jaw keeps its natural teeth, and treatment can be phased one arch at a time.
Extractions and bone grafting
Failing teeth usually come out at the same visit the implants go in. Where the jawbone is too thin, a bone graft or sinus lift rebuilds it, which adds to the cost and the healing time.
Gum disease has to be under control first, so some patients start with gum disease treatment.
Fixed teeth or snap-in teeth
Fixed teeth stay in, and only your dentist removes them. Implant dentures snap onto fewer implants and come out for cleaning, so they cost less up front.
Make sure both quotes you're comparing are for the same type of teeth.
What the final teeth are made of
Final teeth range from acrylic teeth on a metal frame to zirconia and layered ceramic. The material changes the price, how the teeth look, and how they wear and repair over the years.
In my office, you wear and test your new teeth as temporaries, and the lab makes the final teeth to match what you approved.
Sedation and who does the surgery
The type of sedation and who provides it both affect the price. For complex cases, I plan the surgery together with an oral surgeon.
Ask every office who places the implants, who designs and fits the teeth, and who you'll see at follow-up visits.
Follow-up care
Implants need the same daily cleaning and regular checks as natural teeth. A consensus report on peri-implant disease from the 2017 World Workshop found strong evidence that plaque causes inflammation around implants, and it recommends baseline X-rays and gum measurements once the final teeth are in.
Here, your hygienist checks the implants and cleans under the bridge at every one-hour hygiene visit.
Why do two full mouth implant quotes differ so much?
Two quotes usually differ because they cover different work. These are the common gaps between two quotes:
- One quote includes extractions and grafting, and the other doesn't
- One covers the final teeth, and the other covers the temporary set
- One plans four implants per arch, and the other plans six
- One includes follow-up visits and repairs, and the other doesn't mention them
- One quotes both arches, and the other quotes one
The other difference is harder to see on paper. I design the new teeth first, around your bite, your lips, and your smile line, and then plan the implants where those teeth need support.
That's why the new patient exam here looks at the whole system: the teeth, how the jaws meet, the jaw joints, and the muscles that move them.
Full Arch Dental Implants
Restore your smile with fixed full arch dental implants in Overland Park, KS. Custom-designed for your bite and face by Dr. Patrick Lillis. Schedule today!
Learn moreHow to compare two full mouth implant quotes
Compare full mouth implant quotes by lining up the same items in each one, then asking about anything one quote leaves out.
- Ask each office for an itemized plan in writing.
- Go through the line items in the quote table and mark anything a quote leaves out.
- Compare the number of implants per arch, and ask each office why it chose that number for your mouth.
- Check whether the price includes the final teeth, and what they're made of.
- Ask who places the implants, who designs and fits the teeth, and who you'll see at follow-up visits.
- Ask what happens if a screw loosens or a tooth breaks.
- Compare the follow-up schedule and what it costs after the first year.
Step six matters more than people expect. In the Heliyon review, technical problems such as loose screws and broken acrylic teeth came up in roughly 18 to 21 of every 100 fixed arches, depending on the number of implants.
These questions apply whether a quote came from a private practice or a large implant center. Once both quotes cover the same work, the comparison gets simple.
Does dental insurance cover full mouth dental implants?
Dental insurance rarely covers the full cost of full-mouth implants.
Some plans cover parts of the treatment, such as extractions, up to the plan's annual maximum. Call your plan and ask what it covers for implants and how much of your annual maximum is left.
How do people afford full mouth dental implants?
Phasing treatment, comparing fixed and snap-in options, and spreading payments are the usual ways to make full mouth implants fit a budget.
- Treat one arch now and the other later
- Compare fixed teeth with a snap-in implant denture, which uses fewer implants
- Ask each office about payment plans and outside financing
When most of your teeth can still be saved, full mouth rehabilitation rebuilds them with crowns, onlays and veneers, and that changes the plan and the cost entirely.
Are full mouth dental implants worth it?
For people who have lost most of their teeth, or whose remaining teeth keep failing, fixed implant teeth hold up well over the long term.
In the same Heliyon meta-analysis, the fixed teeth themselves survived in 99.8% of arches on four implants and 99.6% on six.
I tell patients they have better things to do than live their life in a dental office. A well-planned full arch gets you out of the cycle of fixing one tooth after another.
If you already have a quote and the plan doesn't add up, a dental second opinion starts with new records and a fresh diagnosis.
Full Arch Dental Implants
Restore your smile with fixed full arch dental implants in Overland Park, KS. Custom-designed for your bite and face by Dr. Patrick Lillis. Schedule today!
Learn moreFull mouth dental implant questions
Can I have all my teeth removed and replaced with implants on the same day?
Often, yes. When the bone allows, failing teeth come out and the implants go in at the same appointment, and temporary teeth attach soon after, which people call teeth in a day. The final teeth follow once the implants have healed.
How many implants do you need for a full mouth?
Fixed full arch teeth usually sit on four to six implants per arch, so eight to twelve for both jaws. Snap-in implant dentures use fewer.
Is one arch cheaper than full mouth implants?
Yes. Treating one jaw costs less than treating both, and many people need only one. Treatment can also be phased, one arch at a time.
How long do full mouth dental implants last?
The implants can last many years with healthy gums, daily cleaning, and regular checks. The teeth on top wear over time and may need repair or replacement after many years.
What if I can't wear a denture anymore?
Implants can hold a denture in place or replace it with fixed teeth. If you'd rather start with a new traditional denture, dentures cost the least up front.
Getting a full mouth implant quote in Overland Park, KS
After your consultation, you get a written plan with the cost of each stage, so you can compare it line by line with any other quote.
Overland Park Dental Design, Patrick B. Lillis, DDS4601 West 109th Street, Suite 318, Overland Park, KS 66211
(913) 451-7330
