Joined Feb 2005
L999 - Grand Master
Forum Thread
Dental Implants - how to save thousands?
June 5, 2022 at
12:31 PM
Dental implants are a fairly common procedure that costs many thousands. For mine it is ending up about $15K for 3 implants and the related procedures between dentist and oral surgeon charges. I'll then need 3 crowns after that next year, not even yet estimated!
There must be a way to save significant money on these procedures, and it seems a heavy sell based on how much you see it on billboards, etc - so there must be a lot of profit on this for the dental industry that we could save on.
Any tips on saving money?
Any national place known to do this more affordably (travel costs could make up the savings)?
I've heard of Los Algodones in Mexico that has built up a dental tourism mecca, but that's a little too extreme for me - unless the savings is at least 50%!
There must be a way to save significant money on these procedures, and it seems a heavy sell based on how much you see it on billboards, etc - so there must be a lot of profit on this for the dental industry that we could save on.
Any tips on saving money?
Any national place known to do this more affordably (travel costs could make up the savings)?
I've heard of Los Algodones in Mexico that has built up a dental tourism mecca, but that's a little too extreme for me - unless the savings is at least 50%!
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if you think that's weird, it isn't. its no different than nursing or medical students doing procedures.
The problem is that things like fillings, especially with insurance, are almost like working for free for the dentist. I would also heavily discourage going to Mexico as you are doing yourself a BIG disservice. Within the dental field it is a running known joke how bad the work is that is done there. Obviously not everyone's experience will be the same, but when the work is super shoddy, they automatically know it was done in Mexico. Their dental work fails alot and sometimes leads to even worse complications.
The only real loophole in all this is going to a dental school to get your work done. I HIGHLY recommend this! You can get 50%+ off and the work itself is usually superb as they are monitored at many steps by the teacher and everything is actually "done by the book" as opposed to out in the real world. So the quality of work isn't compromised, but there is no free lunch...The primary drawback is it will usually take at least twice as long, and depending on your luck can take even longer than that. Which means you are in uncomfortable and possibly painful situation for hours longer than if you went somewhere else. Monitored students do good work but they are VERY slow!
The problem is that things like fillings, especially with insurance, are almost like working for free for the dentist. I would also heavily discourage going to Mexico as you are doing yourself a BIG disservice. Within the dental field it is a running known joke how bad the work is that is done there. Obviously not everyone's experience will be the same, but when the work is super shoddy, they automatically know it was done in Mexico. Their dental work fails alot and sometimes leads to even worse complications.
The only real loophole in all this is going to a dental school to get your work done. I HIGHLY recommend this! You can get 50%+ off and the work itself is usually superb as they are monitored at many steps by the teacher and everything is actually "done by the book" as opposed to out in the real world. So the quality of work isn't compromised, but there is no free lunch...The primary drawback is it will usually take at least twice as long, and depending on your luck can take even longer than that. Which means you are in uncomfortable and possibly painful situation for hours longer than if you went somewhere else. Monitored students do good work but they are VERY slow!
For example, the school has a dental fee page that shows list price, and claims to be part of Delta Dental:
D2392 - Resin-Based Composite - 2 Surface - Posterior $248.00
(this is $270 on my dentist's fee statement)
This D2392 procedure is allowed at $145 by Delta Dental (as shown on my dental estimate).
So, then would $145 be what is paid for that procedure? Or is there then a dental college type of discount applied on top of insured rates?
I'm just surprised that the price list itself doesn't show $125 or something like that. Is the 50% savings you and others mention compared to insured costs (the $145) or the "list price (the $270)? That would make a big difference as the insurance agreed fee is already almost half, in which case the dental school isn't really any better off.
If you know of a reputable dental school with real savings, could you recommend some?
For example, the school has a dental fee page that shows list price, and claims to be part of Delta Dental:
D2392 - Resin-Based Composite - 2 Surface - Posterior $248.00
(this is $270 on my dentist's fee statement)
This D2392 procedure is allowed at $145 by Delta Dental (as shown on my dental estimate).
So, then would $145 be what is paid for that procedure? Or is there then a dental college type of discount applied on top of insured rates?
I'm just surprised that the price list itself doesn't show $125 or something like that. Is the 50% savings you and others mention compared to insured costs (the $145) or the "list price (the $270)? That would make a big difference as the insurance agreed fee is already almost half, in which case the dental school isn't really any better off.
If you know of a reputable dental school with real savings, could you recommend some?