If You’re Checking the Cost of Bone Graft Implants in Gangnam

Chief Director Lee Jang-wook

With a warm heart,

we take care of your dental health.

This is Etoile Seoul Dental Clinic.

There may be those of you who, while considering implants, heard that a bone graft is necessary and now feel at a loss. Just hearing the word “bone graft” can make surgery feel frightening, and worries about how much it will cost and how long recovery will take can pile up like a mountain.

Today, for those of you carrying these concerns, I’d like to talk about the cost of bone graft implants, as well as ways to get implants even without a bone graft.

We take responsibility for your dental health.

"A common concern in your 60s, yet still a heavy one"

Let me tell you about a patient I recently met in the treatment room. The patient was in their mid-60s and had worn dentures for a long time, so a significant amount of jawbone had been lost. At another dental clinic, they were told that a bone graft was essential, and after hearing the price, they could only let out a deep sigh.

They said that having to undergo a bone graft at this age felt far too burdensome.

But continuing to live only with dentures was no longer a realistic option. Their voice was mixed with resignation and worry.

Why does the cost become so high?

The patient who had looked into the cost of bone graft implants was even more surprised to learn that the bone graft cost and the implant cost are charged separately for each tooth. Since they needed treatment for the entire mouth, the total cost would multiply several times over. On top of that, they were told they would have to wait for a recovery period of 3 to 6 months after the bone graft before the implants could be placed, which left them physically and emotionally exhausted.

This is a point many people wonder about. Bone graft implants involve increasing the amount of bone by grafting artificial bone or autologous bone when there is insufficient jawbone, and then placing the implants. Because this process requires the cost of grafting materials, surgical fees, and a long waiting period for the bone to integrate, the overall expense becomes quite high.

Then is there another way?

I carefully explained full-arch implants to the patient. I told them that there is a way to get implants without a bone graft.

I could sense their eyes changing. Full-arch implants are a method that restores the entire dentition using only 4 to 6 implants by precisely calculating the angle and position of the remaining bone. Using 3D CT, an oral scanner, and a 3D navigation system, we analyze the patient’s bone condition in three dimensions.

While carrying out a computer-based mock surgery, we identify the areas where the bone is strongest and create a plan so that the implants can be placed at an angled position and secured stably without a bone graft. The biggest advantage of this method is that a temporary prosthesis can be attached immediately on the day of surgery.

A realistic look at the cost

I explained the cost structure of full-arch implants to the patient, who had been concerned about the cost of bone graft implants.

Compared with placing 28 individual implants, restoring the entire arch with just 4 to 6 implants reduces material costs and shortens surgery time to about 2 to 3 hours. Most importantly, since there is no bone graft cost, the financial burden is greatly reduced.

Of course, because each patient’s jawbone condition is different, the exact cost can only be discussed after a CT scan and a detailed diagnosis.

Some patients may need a small, partial bone graft, while for others, it may be fully possible without one. The important thing is to find the treatment method that is best suited to the patient.

The changes after applying the method were beyond imagination

That patient ultimately chose full-arch implants. The moment the temporary prosthesis was placed on the day of surgery, I could feel their expression brighten.

They were surprised, asking whether teeth could really be restored right away like this. They said there was no worry about them falling out like dentures, and because they did not move around in the mouth, the feeling of chewing food was completely different. About 30 days later, when the final prosthesis was attached, they were even more satisfied. The gum line recreated with pink porcelain looked natural, and the zirconia teeth looked like their own teeth. They said they could now enjoy eating meat to their heart’s content, and their voice was full of energy.

Ongoing care and closing remarks

After getting implants, it is important to care for them as you would natural teeth.

Brush carefully every day, and clean around the implants thoroughly with dental floss or interdental brushes. If you receive scaling along with regular checkups every 6 months, it can help you use your implants for a long time. However, individual differences may apply.

At Etoile Seoul Dental Clinic, we provide free treatment within 3 years for full-arch implant patients.

Through thorough aftercare, we help patients maintain their implants with peace of mind.

During regular checkups, we examine the bone and gum condition around the implants and manage even small issues early if we find them. After performing implant surgeries for more than 20 years, what I have felt is that treatment has meaning beyond simply restoring teeth. Every time I see patients regain their smiles, enjoy the foods they love again, and recover confidence in social interactions, I feel the reward of this work.

If you are worrying about the cost of bone graft implants, I recommend first receiving an accurate diagnosis about whether a bone graft is truly necessary. In many cases, the problem can be solved without a bone graft, and there are economical yet effective options like full-arch implants. While dental treatment is delayed, bone can continue to be lost, and the situation may become more difficult.

Now may be the best time. We will be with you until the day you regain your healthy smile.

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