Why do dental implant quotes vary so much between practices?

Because an implant is not one procedure, it is a sequence of them, and quotes differ in how much of that sequence they include. A figure that covers only the implant fixture is not comparable with one that covers the fixture, the abutment and the crown. Preparatory work such as an extraction, a bone graft or a sinus lift may or may not be included. Ask what stages a quote covers before comparing it with another.

What are the separate stages of implant treatment?

Broadly: assessment and imaging; any preparatory work such as extraction or grafting; surgical placement of the implant fixture; a healing period while the bone integrates; then the restorative phase where an abutment and crown are fitted. Each stage carries its own cost, and not every patient needs every stage.

How long does the whole process take?

It depends on the healing required. The bone needs time to integrate with the implant before the final crown is fitted, and that period varies between patients and between sites in the mouth. If a graft is needed first, that adds its own healing time. Your dentist will give you a timeline for your specific case after assessment.

Do health funds cover dental implants?

Many extras policies contribute to parts of implant treatment, but the amount varies widely by fund, by policy level and by annual limits, and waiting periods commonly apply to major dental. Because implant treatment is staged, the benefit is often claimed across more than one item number and sometimes across more than one calendar year. Check your specific policy with your fund before treatment starts.

Does DVA fund dental implants?

In defined circumstances, yes, and prior approval from DVA is required. DVA funds two single tooth implants every two years where the tooth was lost within the past three years, or two implants to attach a partial upper denture, or three implants to attach a full lower denture. Mini implants, block bone grafting and zygomatic implants are not funded. Our DVA dentist page sets out the details.

Is an implant always the right option for a missing tooth?

No. A bridge or a denture may suit better depending on the health of the neighbouring teeth, the amount of bone present, your general health and your preferences. The comparison is worth having properly rather than assuming implants are automatically the answer.

How do I get a firm figure for my own case?

Book an assessment. We examine the site, take the imaging needed to see the bone, and set out in writing what stages your case requires and what each one costs before anything begins. Call (03) 9725 8040 or book online.

Why Dental Implant Quotes Vary So Much in Croydon

Q: Can a general dentist place an implant, or does it need a specialist?

Both are involved, at different stages. Under DVA policy the surgical placement must be performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, oral surgeon or periodontist. The restorative phase for a single tooth implant can be completed by a general dentist, which is the part we do here in Croydon. Outside DVA, arrangements vary by case and by practice.

Last updated: August 2026

If you have rung around a few practices about a dental implant, you will have noticed the figures do not line up. One quote sounds reasonable, another sounds like a different treatment entirely, and nothing obvious explains the gap.

Usually the gap is not the implant. It is what the quote includes.

An implant is not a single procedure. It is a staged sequence, and different practices quote different portions of that sequence. Once you can see the stages, the numbers start making sense and you can compare two quotes honestly.

An Implant Is Three Things, Not One

People tend to picture an implant as one object. Clinically it is three components, fitted at different times:

The fixture. The titanium post placed into the jawbone. This is the part that replaces the root.
The abutment. The connector that sits on top of the fixture once healing is complete.
The crown. The visible tooth, fitted to the abutment.

A quote covering only the fixture and a quote covering all three are not describing the same thing. Neither is dishonest, but they are not comparable, and this is where most of the confusion comes from.

The Stages, and Where Cost Enters

Assessment and imaging. Before anything is planned, the bone has to be seen properly. Two-dimensional X-rays do not show bone width. This is what a cone beam CT scan is for, and it is why we have one on site.
Preparatory work, if needed. The tooth may still need removing. There may not be enough bone to hold an implant, in which case grafting comes first. Not every case needs this, and this stage is the single biggest reason two quotes diverge.
Surgical placement. The fixture goes into the bone.
Healing and integration. The bone grows around the fixture. This takes time and cannot be rushed. There is no cost attached to waiting, but it does mean the total is spread across months rather than paid in one visit.
The restorative phase. The abutment and crown are made and fitted. This is the part that produces the tooth you can see.

Two people can be quoted for the same missing tooth and need completely different treatment. One has good bone and a clean socket. The other needs an extraction, six months of healing and a graft before an implant is even possible. The second case costs more because it is more.

Questions Worth Asking About Any Quote

Does this figure include the fixture, the abutment and the crown, or only some of them?
Does it include imaging, or is that separate?
Is extraction included, if the tooth is still there?
Does it assume no grafting is needed, and what happens to the figure if grafting turns out to be necessary?
Are review appointments included?
Is the figure staged, and when is each stage payable?

A practice that can answer those in writing is giving you something you can actually compare. We set the stages out before treatment begins rather than after, because a surprise partway through a six month process is a poor way to find out what you agreed to.

Where Health Funds Fit

Many extras policies contribute to implant treatment, but the detail matters more here than with routine work:

Implants usually fall under major dental, which commonly carries a waiting period
Because treatment is staged, benefits are often claimed across several item numbers, and sometimes across two calendar years
Annual limits can be the binding constraint rather than the percentage covered

That last point is worth planning around. If your treatment straddles a January, part of it may draw on a fresh annual limit. We are preferred providers for the major funds, and our private health insurance page lists which. Your fund is the authority on your own policy, so confirm the specifics with them before starting.

DVA Cardholders

DVA funds implants in defined circumstances with prior approval, and the rules are more specific than most people expect. DVA funds two single tooth implants every two years where the tooth was lost within the past three years, two implants to attach a partial upper denture, or three implants to attach a full lower denture. Mini implants, block bone grafting and zygomatic implants are not funded.

DVA also sets who may perform each phase. Surgical placement goes to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, oral surgeon or periodontist. The restorative phase for a single tooth implant may be completed by a general dentist, which is the part we complete here. Our DVA dentist in Croydon page covers this in full.

An Implant Is Not Always the Answer

It is worth saying plainly, because a page about implants is not the place to pretend otherwise. Depending on the health of the neighbouring teeth, the bone available and your general health, a bridge or a denture may suit your situation better. Our comparison of implants and dentures sets out the trade-offs, and the bridges page covers the alternative that uses the teeth either side.

The right answer comes from looking at the specific site, not from the general case.

Two Things That Make This Easier Locally

The imaging happens here. Implant planning needs a cone beam CT scan, because two-dimensional X-rays show height but not bone width, and width is what decides whether a fixture will hold. Ours is on site, so no external referral is needed and the scan happens during your appointment rather than as a separate trip to a radiology clinic. That also means the person planning the case is the person looking at the scan.

The restorative phase uses a digital scan, not putty. When it comes time to make the crown, an intraoral scanner captures the site with a small handheld wand. Anyone who has gagged their way through a tray of impression material will appreciate the difference, and it matters more here than usual because implant treatment involves several appointments over months rather than one.

That staging is worth planning around if you are travelling. Croydon station sits on the Lilydale line between Ringwood East and Mooroolbark, and we are a short walk from it, which suits patients coming in repeatedly over a treatment that runs across half a year. Around 6,516 Croydon residents are aged between 45 and 64, the band where a tooth lost some years ago starts forcing a decision, and a further one in ten residents is over 75.

Getting a Figure for Your Own Case

We cannot quote a tooth we have not seen, and any practice that gives you a firm number over the phone is guessing. What we can do is assess the site, take the imaging that shows the bone properly, and set out in writing which stages your case needs and what each one costs before anything starts.

Call (03) 9725 8040 or book online. Find us on Wicklow Ave, a short walk from Croydon station, with Saturday appointments available. Full detail on the treatment itself is on our dental implants page.

DVA implant funding rules described here are drawn from the Department of Veterans' Affairs and were last checked on 9 August 2026. Health fund benefits vary by policy and are set by your fund. This article is general information, not personal dental advice; your dentist will assess your individual clinical need.

Why Dental Implant Quotes Vary So Much, and What You Are Actually Paying For