In this answer
Why we don't push
This is a big decision. We'll explain our recommendation and price, then give you time to think.
What that looks like
You'll get one price. It isn't a range, and it doesn't change based on how keen you seem.
If you say you need time, that's the end of it. If you'd like us not to contact you until a certain date, we won't.
Some people decide on the spot. Others come back a year or more later. Both are normal.
Look closely at what the price covers
A friendly consultation is nice, but what matters more is what the price includes. Some quotes cover the surgery and implants but not the final teeth, and the gap shows up after you've committed.
So at any practice, including ours, ask:
- Does this include the final teeth, or only the surgery and implants?
- What isn't included?
- What would make this price change?
- Can I have it in writing before I decide?
A practice that answers those plainly, in writing, is telling you a lot about itself.
Not being pushed to do something that might not be a good fit!
Where we got it wrong
Early on, the pressure crept in anyway. Going from treatments costing a few hundred dollars to cases costing tens of thousands creates a pull toward selling. Patients felt it, and it turned people away.
There was a quieter mistake too. Sometimes we planned a cheaper, removable option because we'd guessed what a patient could afford, without ever asking them.
Now we tell you plainly what we recommend and what it costs, say so if we're not the right fit, and leave the decision with you.
What you should leave with
- A clear recommendation, and the reason for it
- Your own scan, and an explanation of what it shows
- A written price, with what it does and doesn't include
- No obligation
If you leave without those, ask for them.
Quick answers
Is the price only good for today?
No. No reason to decide in the room. Prices can change as costs change, and we'll tell you the current figure.
What if I want to stop hearing from you?
Just say so. If you tell us not to contact you until the new year, we won't contact you until the new year.
How long do people usually take to decide?
It varies a lot. Some people decide in the room. Others take months, and some take years. One patient consulted three years before going ahead. Any pace is fine.
Is a deposit required?
Only when you're ready to book. A deposit of $250 per case reserves your surgery date. It's refundable.
Hear it on the podcast
Read next
What actually happens at a full-arch consultation?
Ask your questions and talk through your options, in person or over video. It lasts as long as it needs to. Bring an X-ray if you have one. You do not need your finances arranged first.
Answered by Dr. Daniel R. Noorthoek
Read the full answerHow do people pay for full-arch dental implants?
We work with several lenders, or you can pay outright. This year most of our patients are financing, though a couple of years ago it was closer to the other way around. Applying is a soft credit pull that does not hurt your credit score, and most of our lenders don't charge a prepayment penalty. You don't need your finances sorted before your consultation. And if a lender says no, that's not the end of the road.
Answered by Dr. Daniel R. Noorthoek
Read the full answerWhy do full-arch implant prices vary so much, and why won't some practices tell you the price?
Mostly because of how practices are set up. For years this treatment was split between two offices, a surgeon and a dentist who made the teeth. Practices aren't allowed to split fees, so each one billed you for its own part and nobody could give you one number. Quotes built line by line also tend to grow. When everything happens under one roof, as it does here, you get one price for your whole treatment plan. Travel is priced separately.
Answered by Dr. Daniel R. Noorthoek
Read the full answer