EN
alea
alea
alea
alea
Home > Resources
alea
Reviewed by a licensed advisor

Dental Implant: Procedure, Cost & Insurance

Are dental implants worth the price?
Last update:
6th August 2024
alea
Reviewed by a licensed advisor
dentist choosing dental implant for permanent tooth replacement
dentist choosing dental implant for permanent tooth replacement
Are dental implants worth the price?
Last update: 6th August 2024
Contents

If you are distressed at a missing tooth, dental implants may be a suitable replacement to fill the gap in your smiles, putting you back on track with better oral health. Read our comprehensive guide below to learn more about its pros and cons, procedure and costs before you book a session.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are composed of three separate parts: implant, abutment and porcelain crown. The actual implant is an artificial tooth root consisting of a screw surgically fused with your jaw to act as a seamless anchor for the crown.

The replacement tooth will be similar to the look and feel of your natural teeth, fitting perfectly into your mouth.

Different parts of a dental implant: crown, abutment and implant

Source: Bowmanville Dental

Dental implants can be used to replace a single tooth, multiple teeth or a full upper and/or lower set of teeth. If you need to restore a full arch, a full mouth treatment is available as well. Surgeons will place four implants before attaching a full arch of teeth.

Are dental implants right for me?

Who should get an implant?

Choosing dental implants may be the right call if you experience tooth loss due to tooth decay, gum disease or injury. You may also consider dental implants for a healthy bite, or improved speaking and chewing ability.

For those who have used traditional dentures but find fixed dentures difficult to clean, or those who are not accustomed to the weak chewing of movable dentures, you may also discuss with your dentist to switch to dental implants.

Contrary to a common misconception, dental implants can work well even with the elderly. Consult your dentist to see if you are a suitable candidate for the surgery.

Who should not get an implant?

You are recommended to inform your dentist in advance for a thorough evaluation before opting for dental implants, especially if you have:

  • Defective coagulation function
  • Extremely poor liver and kidney function
  • Severe uncontrolled diabetes — Note that dental implants is safe to well-controlled diabetic patients
  • Chronic disease (e.g. severe cardiovascular condition) or have long-term drug use
  • Immune deficiency
  • History of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, head and neck cancer
  • Life habits that are likely to damage teeth (e.g. teeth grinding at night, biting hard food or chewing betel nuts, alcoholism, addiction to tobacco, etc.)

In general, dental implants are not recommended for those under 18 years old whose bones are still growing. Note that dental implants should not be your priority if there is a cure to your tooth problems. You should only consider this option if your natural teeth cannot function normally.

How Alea can help you save on insurance

Save time, money & worries on your insurance. Contact us!

First name*
Last name*
Phone*
Email*

Dental implant vs. denture and bridge

Dental implants are not your only option. However, when it comes to missing teeth, failing teeth or chronic dental problems, dental implants are a more effective solution in the long run compared to dentures and bridges, because they are safe, easy to maintain, and play a crucial role in preventing bone resorption (ongoing jaw bone loss).

For a detailed comparison, we have put together different factors below:

Dental implantsDenturesBridges
Last forA lifetime*5-7 years7-10 years
Preserve healthy adjacent teeth?YesYesNo
Transmit force to:Jaw boneAdjacent teeth/gumsAdjacent teeth
Prevent bone loss & preserve facial appearance?YesNoNo
Accelerate loss of adjacent teeth?NoYesYes
Require periodic adjustments?NoYesYes

* Note that the crow usually lasts about 10-15 years before it may need a replacement due to wear and tear)

Before you make your decision, discuss your options with a dentist for a thorough assessment of your oral condition.

What to expect from the first dental session

You can expect a 3D CT scan and professional dental evaluation on your first visit, for the dentist to understand your oral and physical condition before designing a personalized treatment plan with a clear quotation. Any diseases or factors that hinder the long-term stability of the implant should be controlled at this stage before the implant.

Healthy alveolar bone, in particular, is the key to a stable foundation of dental implants. Any deficiency in the alveolar bone calls for a prerequisite bone regeneration.

Dental implant surgery

To implant artificial tooth roots in your jaw bone (right below the gums), a minimally-invasive dental implant surgery lasting about 1-2 hours will be performed. Microscopic techniques can be used to complete the operation causing tiny wounds and minimal post-operative discomfort.

Crown fitting and aftercare

With the implanted metal root placed in your jaw bone, your alveolar bone will slowly heal in 3 months, after which a healing device will be put in place to grow the gums into an ideal shape.

Once the gums are fully healed, the final restoration process comes in. A temporary crown will be placed to form the shape of your new tooth, treatment will be complete after the permanent fixture of a porcelain crown.

Aftercare is important in the following 3-6 months, you are recommended to schedule regular checkup and cleaning appointment with your dentist. Don’t forget to maintain good oral hygiene habits, too.

Options and costs of dental implant in Hong Kong

Dental implant in the public sector

You can find the list of public dental clinics and health centers here. These public dental clinics offer emergency dental service only, limited to pain relief and extraction. Beware of waiting times which can be very long in the public sector.

Dental implant in the private sector

Apart from consultation costs, there are 2 levels to the cost of dental implants:

  1. Dental implant surgery: implant & bones
  2. Crown-making: temporary & permanent implant crown

Note that the cost of dental implants is subject to a variety of factors, such as the techniques, precision and accuracy of the procedure, quality of dental materials and equipment.

It is important that you do your research beforehand and be aware of additional charges during the treatment, such as CT scan charges and dental appliances.

We have summed up some private options in detail for your reference below:

Dental clinicAddressConsultation feeFee per single tooth implant fixture
Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital
2855 6666
dental@hksh-healthcare.com
Level 22, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway Hong KongHK$ 1,500 - HK$ 2,500Starting from HK$ 45,000
Union Hospital Dental Center
2608 3393
2/F Medical Centre, 18 Fu Kin Street, Tai Wai, Shatin, New TerritoriesHK$ 1,500 - HK$ 2,000Starting from HK$ 40,000
The Prince Philip Dental Hospital
2859 0238
enquiry@ppdh.org.hk
34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong KongHK$ 600 - HK$ 2,500HK$ 17,600 - HK$ 35,000
St. Paul’s Hospital
2830 3710 / 2830 3718
2/F, Block A, 2 Eastern Hospital Rd, Causeway Bay, Hong KongHK$ 500Starting from HK$ 40,000
GS DentoSpot
28902088/ 56825615 / 64667098 (WhatsApp)
GS.DentoSpot@gmail.com
Suite 801, 8/F, 700 Nathan Road, Mong Kok, KowloonHK$ 150HK$ 21,000
Healthy Smile
Mong Kok: 2780 8428 / 6251 5294 (WhatsApp)
Fo Tan: 2696 3968 / 6251 4579 (WhatsApp)
Tai Wai: 2688 6712 / 6251 5496 (WhatsApp)
Quarry Bay: 2590 9905 / 6251 5643 (WhatsApp)
Mong Kok: 18/F, Kelly Commercial Centre, 570-572 Nathan Road, Kowloon
Fo Tan: Room 403, 4/F, Jubilee Square, 2-18 Lok King Street, Fo Tan, New Territories
Tai Wai: Room 12B, G/F, Grandeur Garden Shopping Mall, Tai Wai, New Territories
Quarry Bay: Room 3, G/F, Block A, Bo Fung Gardens, 1090 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong
FreeStarting from HK$ 22,000
Nixon Dental
9305 6896
Room 1136-1137, 11th Floor, One Grand Tower, 639 Nathan Road. Mong Kok, KowloonSee fees.The cost of a single implant is HK$ 18,000
If two or more implants are performed, each will cost HK$ 15,000.
The price includes: consultation, tooth removal, computer tomography, minimally invasive dental implant surgery, materials, and artificial crowns.
Penn Pacific Dental Center
2869 0121 / 2869 0122
info@pennpacificdental.com
Room 601, 6/F, Prosperous Building, 48-52 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong KongHK$ 800Starting from HK$ 30,000
Diestel & Partners
2522 2099
general@diestelandpartners.com
Room 1914, Melbourne Plaza, 33 Queens Road, Central, Hong KongHK$ 550Starting from HK$ 30,000 - HK$ 40,000
PacifiCare
2366 1888/ 3952 8188
Pacificare Medical Centre, 12/F and 19/F, 26 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong$500-800 (including oral examination)HK$ 36,000
Dental Implant & Maxillofacial Center (Central)
2851 4888
info@disc-hk.com
Room 1901-05, 19/F, The Center, 99 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong KongStarting from HK$ 600Starting from HK$ 35,000

*All amounts are in HKD and were last updated in December 2021. No responsibility is accepted for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. It is always best to call ahead to make sure the information is still up-to-date.

Looking for dental insurance?

Do dental implants fail?

Manage your expectations well. While dental implants can yield a host of benefits, beware that they can only treat missing teeth and associated complications. The underlying oral health problem will not go away completely. By way of illustration, for patients with periodontal disease, the most pressing concern is to address their oral hygiene or other causes of the gum disease, otherwise the implant is still prone to failure due to periodontal disease.

You should also understand every surgery carries a risk. Complications can range from infections to gum recession and nerve damage.

Are dental implants covered by health insurance in Hong Kong?

Individual or company health insurance may cover dental care but beware of dental limits and co-pay, if any. It is also important to note that certain products divide dental coverage into two categories with different sub-limits: routine dental and major dental. Dental implants generally fall under major dental procedures. Some plans also have a dental waiting period of 3 to 6 months. If you have any medical insurance questions, contact Alea’s health insurance experts at hello@alea.care.

Save time, money & worries on your insurance. Contact us!

First name*
Last name*
Phone*
Email*

FAQs

How long does a dental implant procedure take?

Generally speaking, it takes about 4-6 months from the initial diagnosis to the completion of the dental implant, in 3 stages: initial diagnosis, implant roots surgery and the final restoration of the tooth replacement.

How much does a dental implant cost per one tooth?

The average cost of dental implant for a single tooth falls in the minimum range of HK$30,000-40,000 in the private sector.

Note that the cost of dental implants is subject to a variety of factors, such as the techniques, precision and accuracy of the procedure, quality of dental materials and equipment. Additional charges may apply during the treatment, such as X-ray charges and dental appliances.

Should I choose dental implants over bridges and dentures?

Dental implants are not your only option. However, when it comes to missing teeth, failing teeth or chronic dental problems, dental implants are a more effective solution in the long run compared to dentures and bridges, because they are safe, easy to maintain, and play a crucial role in preventing bone resorption (ongoing jaw bone loss).

Before you make your decision, you should discuss your options with a professional dentist which solution is more suitable for you.

Looking for life or health insurance for yourself, your family or your team?

Do you already have an insurance policy? You could find a better plan!

Alea brings you choice, unbiased advice and outstanding service, with access to 100+ options from 25+ insurance companies. If you already have an insurance policy, switching insurance policies with Alea doesn’t cost you a thing.

Get free quotes with us today.

An advisor will be in touch to answer all your questions!


This article was independently written by Alea and is not sponsored. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional advice and should never be relied upon for specific advice.