Living with missing teeth can feel like a lose-lose situation. You’d love a new full set of teeth to smile with again, but dental work has a reputation for being notoriously expensive. In the current cost of living crisis, many people are cutting back on essentials, and it can be hard to imagine fitting a restorative dental procedure into your budget. Recent research has revealed that many Australians avoid the dentist because of financial concerns. Over the past year, almost four in ten Australians aged 55 and over have avoided the dentist due to cost.
Finding the best treatment for your situation can feel like an overwhelming task as well. Should you choose dentures, dental implants or fixed bridges? What kind of dental procedure will provide you with the best results for your situation without putting you deeply into debt?
The All-on-4® treatment is an advanced restorative dental procedure pioneered by Dr Paulo Malo in 1998. What makes it different from more conventional dental treatments is that it involves supporting an entire arch of new teeth on just four dental implants: two in front and two at the back in either the upper or lower jawbone. The fast, efficient nature of this procedure means it can provide you with brand-new, authentic-looking teeth in just 24 hours.
Next Smile Australia is Australia’s leading provider of All-on-4® treatment. We use ‘the Malo Protocol’, Dr Malo’s two-stage treatment process, and many of our dental surgeons have been trained by Dr Malo himself. This is our guide to the cost of All-on-4® dental implants and the factors that can influence it.
How Much Does All-on-4® Cost?
Financial pressure is the main reason many Australians dive into the risky world of dental tourism. Yet an All-on-4® dental implant’s overseas cost still amounts to anywhere between $15,000 and $30,000 dollars. The price tends to be higher in Australia largely due to better regulatory conditions, so there’s still a price to pay when you seek the cheaper option.
Next Smile Australia takes the guesswork out of treatment costs. We provide All-on-4® for a single arch at a rate of $27,000; however, anaesthetic costs are additional. This “no surprises” pricing scheme includes treatment with state-of-the-art equipment at one of our industry-leading Super Clinics, a natural-looking set of provisional teeth within 24 hours, and a final set of teeth custom-made to suit the look, feel, and shape of your mouth.
You can access a payment plan that enables you to get your treatment today and pay over a period of time that suits you. We can also help you access your superannuation for the treatment.
Factors That Impact the Cost of All-on-4®
There are so many factors beyond an All-on-4® dental implant’s cost in Australia that determine how successful the treatment turns out to be. Some of the most significant contributors include:
Quality of the dental implants and bridges
The material your All-on-4® dental implants are made from makes a major difference. Cheaper material may save you money at the time, but it can cause problems and cost a lot more to repair in the long run. Next Smile Australia uses Nobel Biocare, a world leader in dental implantology with a track record for stable dental implants.
One bridge vs. two bridge treatments
The All-on-4® treatment has two main processes: one bridge and two bridge treatment processes. This doesn’t refer to getting your upper, lower, or both jaws restored. Instead, it is the difference between getting a provisional bridge and not.
The one-bridge system is as it sounds: you only get one bridge. This is fitted one to three days after your dental implants are placed. While this may sound convenient, with fewer appointments and a faster outcome, it doesn’t allow your jawbone and gums to mould and adjust.
In the two-bridge treatment process, you receive a provisional bridge for the healing phase while your jawbone adjusts to your new smile. The major benefit of receiving the provisional bridge is it gives your mouth time to adapt to the new teeth and dental implant. Often, when getting All-on-4®, it can take time for you to get used to speaking with a full mouth of teeth and eating a wider range of foods again. Not only does the first bridge allow time for you to adjust, but it also ensures your final bridge of teeth has the right aesthetics, colour, shape and arrangement before being fitted.
Most dentists only do the one-bridge treatment process because they lack an understanding of the fundamental process of All-on-4® and don’t care about getting the best result possible. Often, the one-bridge treatment process is charged at a similar rate to the two-bridge process, while some other dentists may charge a hefty additional fee for the first provisional bridge. However, at Next Smile Australia, our ‘Malo’ two-bridge treatment process is included in the original quoted cost.
The standard of technology
The standard of technology and facilities used in your All-on-4® treatment is another example of a higher price being worth it in terms of results. The more advanced the equipment, the better your dental implants are likely to be and the more successful and comfortable your treatment process will be.
Your dentist’s training and experience
Dental surgeons that are very cheap often lack experience. If you want your All-on-4® treatment performed by an experienced, credible dental surgeon who is a leader and authority in their field, you’re looking at paying a higher price. You’re not just paying for All-on-4® treatment; you’re paying for expertise.
Your oral and overall health
Dental treatments like All-on-4® are more likely to be successful if you have good jawbone density and healthy gums. This doesn’t mean that you can’t get All-on-4® if you have gum disease or a weakened jawbone. It just means that depending on your surgeon and your clinic, some preparatory procedures like tooth extraction or gum disease treatment may be necessary before your All-on-4® treatment, raising the overall cost. Similarly, your medical history can determine the kind of anaesthesia you need, affecting the price of the treatment overall.
However, at Next Smile Australia, we understand you may need extra treatment while receiving your new All-on-4® smile. That’s why tooth extractions do not incur an extra fee or require additional appointments at all of our clinics. We will perform any tooth extractions required during your All-on-4® surgery.
Location
The area your clinic is based in can impact the cost of the treatment you receive. Cities and areas with higher costs of living generally charge higher prices.
Why The Cheapest Option May Not Be The Best Option?
Cheaper isn’t always better, especially when it comes to dental and surgical procedures. Heading overseas for All-on-4® dental implant costs comes with a lot of risks and potential hazards: lack of standards and regulations, lack of help from your travel insurer and insufficient time on a short overseas trip for follow-up if anything goes wrong. Cheap overseas treatment can leave you with a lot of expensive problems to fix when you get back to Australia.
If a price seems too good to be true, it’s likely the dental implants are made from inferior materials, or the clinic is hiding further costs down the line. All-on-4® has a 98% success rate, yet the quality of your surgeon makes a significant difference. If you prioritise affordability over all else, you may end up with dental implants that need to be redone, a prosthesis that doesn’t look real or wears down easily, or post-surgery complications.
Book a No Obligation Consultation at Next Smile Australia
If you’re missing all or most of your teeth and believe All-on-4® may be the right treatment for you, your first step is to book a personal consultation with Next Smile Australia. One of our All-on-4®-certified dental surgeons will assess your dental and medical history and recommend a tailor-made treatment solution that meets your needs.
We’ll carry out your treatment at one of our industry-leading Super Clinics using dental implants custom-made from the very best Nobel Biocare materials. Built to surgery-grade standards, our Super Clinics are designed to provide the highest quality of care to our patients. Most of our clinics house state-of-the-art surgical rooms, in-house labs, and X-ray facilities.
Next Smile Australia wants everyone to be able to access the quality dental treatments they need, which is why we offer a range of dental payment plans. Depending on our third-party funding partners, you can pay off your treatment for as little as $130 a fortnight.
Next Smile Australia offers you an experienced team of professionals to carry out your All-on-4® treatment. Clinic founder Dr Larry Benge is Australia’s most experienced All-on-4® surgeon, with over 40 years in the industry. All of our dental surgeons are experienced and accomplished, and many have taught and presented overseas.
If you’d like to learn more about the treatment process and cost of All-on-4® dental implants, attend an information session or arrange a personal consultation, get in touch with the Next Smile Australia team.