The evaluation procedure may include costly CT scans. This is particularly true if you have many missing teeth to replace or the teeth have been missing for a while or were lost due to disease. It may be that your jawbone, which starts to shrink when a tooth is extracted, is no longer strong enough to support the dental implant. This adds a fourth operation to the process: bone grafting. The materials used are expensive. The training involved is extensive, an additional three years, and that’s likely reflected in the dentist’s fees, as well. And in most cases, implants are not covered by insurance.

It is possible to find free dental implants, but be prepared for a catch.