The first phase (the surgical phase) is an entirely separate procedure that can take place at a different location and is usually separated by a pre-determined time factor from the second, or the restorative phase.
Once the patient understands that concept, there should be very little problems with the patients accepting another charge for the restorative part of the dental implant.
As a clinician one should always keep in mind that a "dental implant" represnts the fixture AND the prosthesis for most patients.
It is, again, imperative that the patient understands that the "implant crown" usually consists of TWO components: a customized abutment (Procera®, precision-milled, etc) and a regular crown.
The patient should also understand that the custom abutment is usually more expensive to manufacture than the actual crown for it.
Dental Implants - what to charge...
Dental practitioners are sometimes hesitant to recommend dental implants as a viable alternative for patients. The lack of profit is an often cited reason. If the patient is properly educated about the benefits of a dental implant and the entire procedural sequence, however, he or she will be more likely to accept a higher fee for a dental implant.
A few misconceptions need to be cleared up with the patient before the any implant procedure is begun:
1) Patients need to understand that he entire implant procedure consists of two phases: a surgical and a restorative phase. Each of these phases is usually charged out separately.
Most surgeons charge between $1,500.00 and $3,000.00 for the placement of one dental implant fixture.
2) As far as the prosthetics are concerned, it is again important to explain to the patient exactly what a single tooth implant crown is and what type of components are involved.
Therefore, it stands to reason that the "implant crown" carries a higher cost than a regular crown for a tooth. On the average, the laboratory fee for a custom abutment with a crown will cost between $400 and $700. Consequently, the going rate for the West Los Angeles area for an "Implant Crown" is between $1,500 and $3,000.
Many dental practioners like to multiply the cost by a factor of 5 or 6 to arrive at the approximate fee for a regular crown, however, this ratio is somewhat reduced for implant crowns, because impressions on dental implants are much faster and easier than on regular prepped teeth (when used with transfer copings).
So how much should I charge for a full arch restoration riding on 8 implants?
Well, for 8 implants we need 8 custom abutment/crown combinations, plus 6 pontics (for 14 teeth). Many dentists use this formula and then add in a little buffer for certain custom work that may be necessary in a full arch case.
What about Hader Bars and Overdentures?
Many prosthodontists charge approximately 75% of the total custom abutment/crown fee for each Hader Bar abutment. So, if one charges $2,000 for an implant crown with a custom abutment, a Hader Bar in a typical 2-implant setup would be charged out as $3,000. As for an Overdenture, many dentists, use their regular denture fee as a base and add anywhere between $300 and $600 per attachment unit in its base.
What about insurance coverage?
Don't even go there !!!
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