Zirconia Implant Cost
Zirconia Implant Cost can vary, but ceramic dental implants are a durable and biocompatible alternative to traditional titanium implants, with prices typically ranging from $3,500 to $5,000 depending on your location and the dentist’s expertise.
How Much Do Ceramic Implants Cost?
Ceramic dental implants cost anywhere from $3,500 to $5,000 for a single implant, which may or may not include the abutment. With a zirconia implant abutment, ceramic implant costs typically range anywhere from $4,000 to $5,500.
Typically, the ceramic implant will be placed by a biological dentist, a periodontist or an oral surgeon, along with the implant abutment, and the final crown will be placed by the restoring dentist, which may or may not be the same biological dentist who surgically placed the implant.
Often, dentists who specialize in the placement and restoration of zirconia dental implants will also place the crown and will charge a total fee that includes the ceramic implant body, the ceramic abutment, and the final porcelain/ceramic crown for anywhere from $5,000 to $8,000.
Ceramic implant costs will depend on various factors, such as the ones below:
- Geographic Location (areas like NYC and California will cost more, and areas like Kentucky will cost less)
- Experience of a biological dentist with expertise in placing zirconia implants (the most important factor determining clinical success!)
- The clinical difficulty of the surgery or case (Examples: patients that are immunocompromised, are slow to heal, have had implant failures in the past, have been on bisphosphonates, require additional grafting due to bone loss, or esthetic (cosmetic) cases that need near-perfect results)
Generally speaking, dentists with less experience tend to charge less, and dentists with more experience tend to charge more.
Mechanical Properties & Durability
Biological dentists who have experience with all brands of zirconia implants (Ceraroot, SDS, Zeramex, Z-Systems, Straumann Pure, Nobel Pearl) and that have surgically placed AND restored hundreds of zirconia dental implants tend to have higher costs as they have more expertise to deliver the most optimal results for patients. Generally, patients tend to want the best clinicians when investing in ceramic dental implants and want to select the clinician who can most deliver successful implant results. It’s very important that the dentist of choice have experience specific to zirconia dental implant surgeries and restoring ceramic implants, not just placing zirconia implants and not just restoring zirconia implants.
Typically, choosing periodontists and oral surgeons to perform zirconia implants will be a less optimal experience for the patient as they have to work and coordinate with two clinicians, and the cost will be more expensive, paying two different dentists. Patients who can find a biological dentist like Dr. May, who can both perform the ceramic implant placement surgery and restore the ceramic implant, will typically have a better experience dealing with one clinician who is responsible for the success of the implant process from start to finish and will only be paying a single provider instead of two.
If a patient sees an oral surgeon or periodontist who focuses primarily on titanium implants and has enough knowledge to place the one-off zirconia dental implant, they are getting a surgically experienced dentist but one who may not be as experienced with zirconia implants specifically, as opposed to a biological dentist who focuses 100% on surgically placing and restoring zirconia implants.
At the end of the day, paying an extra $1000 for an expert in ceramic dental implants is entirely worth it to patients if they know they are getting the highest level of expertise and experience from a dedicated ceramic implant dentist.
Questions that patients can ask to determine whether a clinician has sufficient experience for them to feel comfortable include;
- Has Dr. Ceramic Implant Dentist placed at least 10 zirconia implants in their career? At least 50 zirconia implants in their career? Has the dentist placed 500 zirconia implants in their career? (the more implants, the more experience with zirconia implants)
- Has the dentist used Ceraroot, SDS, Z-Systems, Zeramax, Straumann Pure, Nobel Pearl, and Tav? (the more systems, the more experience with zirconia implants)
- Has the dentist restored the zirconia implants they placed? How many zirconia implants has the dentist restored?
- Is the dentist placing zirconia implants also placing titanium implants? What percentage of all the implants that the dentist places are zirconia? (The higher the percentage, the more likely they are experienced with zirconia implants)
Why are highly trained ceramic implant dentists hard to find?
There are FAR fewer dentists who have trained and placed zirconia implants relative to dentists that place titanium implants. Zirconia dental implants represent less than 5% of the current dental implant market in the USA by number of implants placed annually, based on estimates from one of the top ceramic implant brands.
Less than 0.25% of dentists who place titanium implants have placed zirconia implants. This does not mean expertise; this means some experience placing ceramic implants and potentially restoring them.
- Out of 1,000 implant-placing dentists (most of whom place metal implants), proportionally, only 1% of dentists have some experience or some training with zirconia implants.
- Per 10,000 implant-placing dentists, the likelihood is potentially 2-3 dentists in the country would be considered “zirconia dental implant experts” that would possess both the surgical and restorative mastery specific to ceramic implants
- There are likely fewer than five dental implant specialists like Dr. May in the country that specialize only in zirconia dental implants, full mouth zirconia dental implants, complex cases and highly esthetic and cosmetic results such as front tooth implants, and full mouth reconstruction.
How does location affect zirconia implant costs?
Metro cities like New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles tend to have a lot more competition for zirconia implants due to higher demand than more rural and less metropolitan areas of the US. Generally, higher competition drives ceramic implant costs down. However, due to the higher cost of living and higher costs of practicing dentistry and medicine, costs in metropolitan areas tend to be higher as well. For instance, in New York City, a dentist may easily charge upwards of $8,500 for a zirconia implant, abutment, and crown. In South Dakota, a dentist may only charge $5,500 for a ceramic dental implant, abutment and crown.
Location is just one component of determining cost, but that does not directly affect the patient’s clinical outcome, unlike clinical ceramic implant experience and expertise which does directly affect patient outcomes.
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Zirconia Implant Costs vs Titanium Implants
Zirconia dental implants are typically only 10%-20% more expensive than titanium implants.
A few factors cause the zirconia implant cost premium effect:
- The raw material cost, or purchase price, of zirconia implants is typically at least double (2x) to 1000% (10x) more than a titanium dental implant for a dentist to purchase, including the abutment cost
- Restoratively the zirconia implant can be restored by a specialist who has restored hundreds of zirconia implant cases. Otherwise, the patient is at increased risk of compromised clinical results (failure or breakage).
All implant cost comparisons consist of the three dental implant and restorative components:
The implant itself (the portion that goes into the jaw bone)
The implant abutment (the portion that connects the implant in the jaw bone to the crown and sticks out of the gum tissue)
The implant-supported final crown goes on top of the abutment and looks like a tooth.
Titanium Dental Implant Costs
A titanium implant from a dentist who does NOT restore the implant like a periodontist or an oral surgeon ($2,500-$3,500)
The restorative dentist, usually the general dentist, charges for an abutment. The abutment could be a stock abutment ($250-$350) or a custom abutment ($750-$1,200)
The restorative dentist will also need to charge the patient for the final crown that goes on top of the implant and abutment ($1,000-$2,500)
Total Titanium Implant Cost Range
= $3,750 – $7,200*
Zirconia Dental Implant Costs
A zirconia implant from a dentist who does NOT restore the implant like a periodontist or an oral surgeon ($3,000-$4,500)
The biological dentist specializing in zirconia implants charges for an abutment. The abutment is always customized and prepped by the dentist ($500-$1500)
The biological restorative dentist (or same zirconia implant expert who placed the implant) will also need to charge the patient for the final crown that goes on top of the implant and abutment ($1,500-$2,500)
Total Zirconia Implant Cost Range
= $5,000 – $8,500*
*The cost ranges will depend on the experience and expertise of the chosen dentist. If you’re choosing to have the zirconia dental implant surgery and restoration completed by one of the top zirconia dental experts in the country, you can expect to pay towards the higher cost of the range. If you choose to take your chances on someone who hasn’t had much experience with zirconia dental implants and potentially using patients as guinea pigs to gain experience (the dentist will not disclose unless they are very ethical, and in that case the lower range price maybe a fair proposition for higher risk with the practitioner) then you will pay towards the lower cost of the range. The same applies to whether you are seeing a dentist on Park Avenue in NYC or Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills in LA in California rather than another location. However, whether you travel to Albuquerque or Montana, the lower cost of the ranges is typically the lowest possible cost unless you travel to Mexico and take your chances with unregulated medical tourism outside the country.
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Zirconia Implant Cost FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the zirconia implant cost.
What is the typical zirconia implant cost for a single tooth?
The zirconia implant cost for a single tooth typically ranges from $1,500 to $7,000. This price can vary based on the complexity of the case and the dental clinic’s location.
How does the zirconia implant cost compare to titanium implants?
Generally, the zirconia implant cost is higher than titanium implants. While zirconia implants range from $1,500 to $7,000, titanium implants usually cost between $975 and $5,000. The higher zirconia implant cost is due to the complex manufacturing process involved.
Are zirconia implants more expensive in certain regions?
Yes, the zirconia implant cost can vary significantly by region. For example, in the US, the cost ranges from $1,500 to $7,000, whereas in countries like Mexico and Thailand, the cost might be lower due to different healthcare pricing structures.
What factors influence the zirconia implant cost?
Several factors can influence the zirconia implant cost, including the dentist’s experience, the geographic location of the clinic, the number of implants needed, and any additional procedures like bone grafting or sinus lifts.
Does dental insurance cover zirconia implant cost?
Dental insurance may cover part of the zirconia implant cost, but coverage varies widely. Some insurance plans consider implants as cosmetic procedures and may only cover a portion of the cost, typically for the initial extraction and the permanent crown.
Is the zirconia implant cost justified by its benefits?
Many patients find the higher zirconia implant cost justified due to its aesthetic appeal, hypoallergenic properties, and resistance to corrosion. Zirconia implants also offer a natural tooth color, making them a preferred choice for visible teeth.
How can patients reduce zirconia implant cost?
Patients can reduce zirconia implant cost by shopping around for competitive pricing, seeking treatment in regions with lower dental costs, or opting for dental tourism. Additionally, some clinics offer payment plans or financing options to make the zirconia implant cost more manageable.
What is the zirconia implant cost for full mouth restoration?
The zirconia implant cost for a full mouth restoration can be quite high, often ranging from $20,000 to $40,000 per arch. This cost includes multiple implants and the fabrication of custom prosthetics.
Are there any hidden costs associated with zirconia implants?
Beyond the initial zirconia implant cost, patients should consider additional expenses such as consultation fees, imaging, anesthesia, and post-surgery care. It’s crucial to get a comprehensive cost breakdown from the dentist.
Does the zirconia implant cost include the abutment and crown?
The zirconia implant cost often does not include the abutment and crown, which are necessary components for the complete restoration. These additional parts can add several hundred to a few thousand dollars to the overall cost.
About Dr. Yuriy May
Widely sought after for his precision and leadership in biological oral surgery and zirconia implantology, Dr. Yuriy May is recognized as an accomplished leader in metal-free, biologically driven dentistry. With over 12 years of clinical experience, his work is defined by uncompromising standards, refined surgical execution, and outcomes that support both oral and systemic health.
Dr. May holds advanced certifications and training in zirconia implantology from programs ranging from IAOCI and Tufts University, is Board Certified as a Naturopathic Dentist by the ANMCB, and is a distinguished Ceramic Implant Ambassador for SDS—an honor reserved for clinicians shaping the future of ceramic implant science.
A respected educator and international lecturer, Dr. May has presented extraordinary ceramic implant cases to dentists worldwide, including the JCCI in Switzerland, and has served as an instructor in the Ceramic Implant Program at ACIMD. He lectures nationally, publishes complex metal-free surgical cases, and serves as a Board Member of the IAOCI (International Academy of Oral Ceramic Implantology). Dr. May has recently become an Associate Fellow of the AAID (American Academy of Implant Dentistry), one of the few focusing solely on zirconia dental implants, and has been and an Accredited S.M.A.R.T. Certified member of the IAOMT for many years. He is also a Certified Biological Dentist with the IABDM, reflecting his commitment to removing root canal infections and to mercury-safe, evidence-based biological protocols.
Dr. May’s reputation, results, and excellence in ceramic implant dentistry have made him a destination provider for patients and referring clinicians seeking the highest level of ceramic implant surgery and biological dental care.
DMD, IBDM, AIAOMT, CIABDM
Associate Fellow, American Academy of Implant Dentistry
ANMCB Board Certified Naturopathic Dentist