Full Mouth Dental Implants: Options and Costs
The short answer.
The cost depends on how complex the surgery is, including any bone grafting, how many implants you need, the materials chosen, and the clinic's location and experience. A full arch can sometimes be supported by just four implants.
Full mouth dental implants replace every tooth in one or both jaws with teeth fixed to, or clipped onto, implants. In Australia the cost depends most on how many implants you need, whether your jaw needs bone grafting first and what the new teeth are made of.
Full mouth implant options
| Option | How it works | Removable? |
|---|---|---|
| All-on-4 implants | A full arch of teeth fixed on four implants | No, fixed in place |
| More implants per arch | A full-arch bridge on more implants, often where there is more bone | No, fixed in place |
| Implant-retained denture | A denture that clips onto implants to stop it slipping | Yes, for cleaning |
Your dentist recommends an option after checking your bone and oral health. For the costs of the four-implant approach, see our guide to All-on-4 costs.
Full mouth dental implants cost
No published fee survey prices a full mouth case. CHOICE’s dental fee guide (updated March 2023, using the ADA’s 2022 fee survey) lists placing a single implant at $1,334 to $3,000. If each implant were priced like a single one, a full arch on four implants would come to about $5,300 to $12,000 for the implants alone (our arithmetic), before the abutments, the new teeth, scans and any surgery to prepare the jaw. Neither figure is our fee. Fees depend on the treatment you need, so we give you an accurate quote at your consultation, before anything starts.
What changes the price
- How complex the surgery is: if the jawbone lacks the density and strength to hold implants, bone grafting comes first and adds to the cost.
- How many implants you need: not every missing tooth needs its own implant. A full upper or lower arch can sometimes be supported by just four, which can cost less.
- Materials: titanium implants, and ceramic or zirconia bridges, are priced differently.
- Location and experience: fees vary from city to city and clinic to clinic. A lower price is only a saving if the dentist has the experience your case needs.
- Other treatments: a sinus lift or sedation adds to the total.
How treatment works
Consultation
The dentist checks any remaining teeth, your jawbone and your gums, and goes through all your options.
Scans
X-rays and a 3D CT scan show the jawbone, so the implants can be planned precisely.
Treatment plan
How many implants you need, whether you need bone grafting or a sinus lift, and which kind of teeth suit you.
Preparing the jaw
A bone graft adds bone where there isn’t enough, and a sinus lift makes room for upper-jaw implants.
Implant surgery
Titanium implants are placed in the jawbone as replacement roots, sometimes with sedation.
Healing
Over several months the implants fuse with the bone, a process called osseointegration.
Abutments
Connectors are fitted to the implants to hold the new teeth.
Making the teeth
Impressions are taken, and the crowns, bridge or denture are made to fit.
Fitting
The new teeth are attached and checked for fit and bite.
Recovery
Some swelling or discomfort after surgery is common. Follow your dentist’s instructions while you heal.
Benefits of full mouth implants
- Look and function: implants look and work like natural teeth and restore your biting force.
- Eating: once you’ve healed, most foods are back on the menu, though it’s wise to go easy on very hard or sticky foods.
- Bone: implants can help stop the jawbone deteriorating, which is common when several teeth are missing.
- Durability: with good care and regular dental visits, implants can last many years.
Do full mouth implants hurt?
Surgery in the mouth can be daunting, but discomfort can be managed with anaesthetic and, for some people, sedation. Read whether implant surgery hurts for what to expect.
Looking after your implants
Full mouth implants need daily care and regular checks, as natural teeth do (Implant Maintenance: A Clinical Update (another site), 2014):
- Reviews: follow-up visits after surgery check healing and adjust the bite; after that, check-ups about every six months, with X-rays to watch the bone around the implants.
- Cleaning at home: brush twice a day with a soft brush, and clean around the implants with interdental brushes or a water flosser.
- Professional cleans: your dentist cleans around the implants with tools made for them, to stop the plaque and tartar build-up that leads to gum disease.
- Warning signs: see your dentist about persistent discomfort, swelling, bleeding or an implant that feels loose.
- Habits: smoking and heavy drinking slow healing, and smoking lowers the chance of implants succeeding.
The teeth on the implants may need replacing after several years. More in how long dental implants last.
Paying for full mouth implants
- Payment plans: some clinics let you spread the cost over months or years, sometimes with a period at no interest. Ask for the total cost and the provider’s terms before you commit.
- Health insurance: not every policy covers implant surgery, and those that do may cover only part of it after a waiting period. Higher-tier policies are more likely to include implants or pay a bigger rebate.
- Concession cards: holders of cards such as the Pension Concession Card may get subsidised care at public dental clinics, though it doesn’t usually cover the whole of an implant procedure.
- Medical loans: some lenders offer loans for medical and dental treatment, sometimes at better rates than a personal loan.
- Savings: some patients save up before starting treatment.
Talk to us
We’ll check your teeth, bone and gums, explain which full mouth option suits you and give you a written quote. Read about dental implants at Dental Spot.
Sources
- Implant Maintenance: A Clinical Update (another site), International Scholarly Research Notices, 2014
This guide is general information, not advice about your own teeth. Your dentist can tell you what applies to you, including the risks of any treatment.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
