Two full-arch implant quotes can look almost identical and differ by thousands of dollars once you read what each one actually covers. This is not a pricing article — we do not publish prices, and neither should any office without seeing your scan. It is a list of the parts, so you can hold two plans side by side and see what is really being compared.
I am a general dentist in Keene, Texas, and comparing quotes is something we do with patients almost every week. The differences are rarely in the implants themselves. They are in what surrounds them.
The consultation and 3D scan
Most offices include the consultation. Ask whether the 3D scan (CBCT) is included or separate, and whether you get a copy — you should. Your scan is yours, and it is what any second opinion needs.
Extractions
If teeth are coming out, are the extractions in the quote? Usually yes, but confirm the number. A plan that removes eight teeth and one that removes fourteen are not the same procedure.
Bone grafting — the one most often left out
If your jaw has lost bone from years of missing teeth or denture wear, the implants may need grafting to have something to hold onto. Some quotes include it, some list it as a possible add-on, and some do not mention it until the day of surgery. Ask directly: "Does my scan show I need grafting, and is it in this number?"
The implants and the connectors
The implants are the posts placed in the bone. The connectors (abutments) join the implants to the teeth. Ask how many implants per arch — four is common, sometimes five or six — and whether that number is fixed or might change during surgery.
Sedation
Is sedation included, and what kind? Options range from oral medication to IV sedation with a dental anesthesiologist. This is a comfort decision and a cost line, and it should be a clear choice, not a surprise.
The temporary teeth
You will wear a temporary set while the implants heal — typically three to six months. Ask what the temporary is made of, whether it is fixed or removable, and what happens if it breaks during healing. A temporary that cracks at week six and takes ten days to replace is a real cost that rarely shows up in a quote.
The final teeth
This is the part you live with. Material matters: standard acrylic on a frame, or milled zirconia, are the common choices, with different durability and different price. Ask which one the quote assumes, and whether the lab that makes them is in the building — here is why that matters.
The first year — maintenance and repairs
Ask what the first twelve months include. Adjustments, a cleaning visit, a replacement if something fails? The answer belongs in writing. A quote that is silent here is a quote that expects you to pay for everything after the last appointment.
What this means for you
Take both quotes and go line by line through the eight parts above. You will usually find the difference in one of three places: grafting, the material of the final teeth, or the first-year coverage. If either quote does not spell those out, ask. And if you want a third set of eyes on the comparison, that is exactly what our free second opinion is for. Our own fixed full-arch page explains how we handle each part here in Keene.
Educational content, not a substitute for an examination or a written quote from any office.
Comparing two plans? Bring both. Free second opinion in Keene · (817) 476-4537.