Where does the money actually go in a full-arch case?

What people think they're paying for

Most people assume the fee goes to the implants and the surgery. That's part of it, but a small part.

We run this as a business; we hear often enough that a fee this size must be going somewhere fancy, so here's where it goes.

The lab you never see

Your zirconia teeth aren't made in a back room. They're made in our own lab, a separate building of a few thousand square feet. We own all of the staff, the equipment and the process; nothing is outsourced.

Ceramicists, a milling operator, a lab manager and an overnight shift keep cases moving around the clock, and a team checks the work first thing each morning. That night shift is what makes the week possible.

Printers we pay for every month

Each month, our printers cost about what it would cost to buy a new one outright.

We tried a lot of printers before we settled, and the one that worked was the expensive one. We run more than one, so a single breakdown never holds up a patient. Nobody advertises their printer, but it's one of our bigger running costs, and it's there to keep your results consistent.

We never pick parts on price

We've changed implant systems four times over the years, and never to save money.

Cheaper parts are out there. You can buy a disc of zirconia online for a fraction of what we pay, but it won't be FDA-approved and nobody will stand behind it.

We choose parts on how well they fit the way we work, and on the support we get when something goes wrong at nine at night.

Finding you

Most people who need this don't know it exists, don't know what it costs, and have spent years thinking nothing could be done. Reaching them costs a lot. Bringing one person in for a consultation costs us thousands of dollars, and marketing is a large share of what the practice takes in.

That's why your consultation is unhurried. We could hand a call center a script and rush through twenty calls. An automated receptionist is only utilized on a limited basis when our staff is on a phone with another patient.

People who call have usually researched for months and come with a list of questions. They deserve someone who can answer them, and several of our team have had this treatment themselves.

Everything else

Each office and the lab come with their own rent, utilities and liability cover. Malpractice insurance for this kind of surgery can be very expensive. Then there's payroll for the clinical teams, coordinators, the lab and marketing.

Stocking one new office with implants alone costs tens of thousands of dollars before the first patient walks in.

The most expensive isn't always the best

A high price doesn't guarantee good work, and a low one isn't always a bargain. What matters is whether the money goes into things that affect your result, like the parts, the lab, the people and the time you get.

So ask: what am I getting for this, and what happens if something goes wrong?

Why our fee has barely moved

Implants, zirconia, rent, insurance and payroll have all gone up. Our fee hasn't, or not by much.

This treatment is already a stretch for many people, and every increase puts it out of reach for someone. We can't hold it forever, but we've chosen to hold it as long as we can.