A Guide to How Much of the Cost of Full-Mouth Implants Is Covered by Insurance

Would you like to get implants

instead of dentures,

but are worried about the cost?

Many people begin looking into implants with the thought, “I want to get my parents implants instead of dentures now,” after watching them struggle to eat the foods they used to enjoy.

The point where they get stuck is the cost.

You may have been even more confused because the information differs depending on where you search for the total cost of full-mouth implants and how much of it is covered by national health insurance.

If you read this article to the end, I will organize the information so that you can determine for yourself when insurance applies, when it does not, and why.

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Full-Arch Implant Insurance Coverage?

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Full-mouth implants—

what kind of treatment are they, exactly?

A daughter recently brought in her 68-year-old father.

He had almost no lower molars left and had been wearing dentures for a long time. He said they kept becoming loose, making it difficult for him to eat even a piece of kimchi comfortably.

“I heard implants can last a lifetime once you get them, but I’m worried because doing everything at once requires a large amount of money,” he asked cautiously. His expression reflected the concerns of many people.

So today, I would like to share exactly what I slowly explained to the two of them that day.

Before discussing the cost of full-mouth implants, it may help to first clarify what this treatment involves.

If we compare the inside of the mouth to a house, each tooth is a pillar.

If a few pillars collapse, only those areas need to be rebuilt. However, when most of the pillars on one side of the jaw have collapsed, this is called edentulism.

Full-mouth implants are a treatment that rebuilds the entire jaw in this situation.

When no teeth remain, it is called complete edentulism; when even a few teeth remain, it is called partial edentulism. This distinction is very important for the insurance information discussed later.

There is more than one method, so the cost also varies

There are three main ways to rebuild an entire jaw.

The first is to place one implant for each missing tooth and restore the entire area. The second is the full-arch method, in which only four to six implants are placed to support a prosthesis covering one entire jaw. The third is an implant-supported denture that can be put in and taken out, using several implants as supports.

The more implants there are, the better the chewing ability tends to be, but the cost also increases. A full arch aims to reduce the number of implants while maintaining fixation, so it generally offers a good balance.

Because the total cost of full-mouth implants varies depending on the method chosen, the first step is to examine the condition of the remaining jawbone.

So, how much is covered by national health insurance?

This is the part people are most curious about.

National health insurance covers up to two implants over a person’s lifetime, combined across the upper and lower jaws, for people aged 65 or older who have partial edentulism, meaning some teeth remain.

The patient’s share is approximately 30% of the covered medical expenses at a clinic-level facility.

However, this is where a situation like the father’s becomes relevant.

Complete edentulism, in which no teeth remain at all, is excluded from national health insurance coverage.

Therefore, treatment to rebuild an entire jaw is often performed as a non-covered service, meaning the amount deducted from the total cost of full-mouth implants by insurance may be less than expected.

However, in some cases, the treatment plan can be divided—for example, placing two implants in the molar area under insurance coverage first and completing the remaining treatment as a non-covered service.

Starting in 2026, the coverage for insured implants has expanded to include zirconia prostheses. It is also important to know that additional treatments such as bone grafting may be non-covered separately from insured implant treatment.

The clinic director answers directly

Q1. Is national health insurance coverage available even if I have no teeth at all?

A. Unfortunately, complete edentulism is excluded from covered treatment.

However, if even one tooth remains, you may be considered partially edentulous and may be eligible for coverage for up to two implants. The condition shown on panoramic imaging and CT must be checked first.

Q2. I have been told that I have very little jawbone. Can implants still be placed?

A. Even when bone is insufficient, there are methods using four to six implants by carefully planning their angles and positions.

Depending on the condition of the bone, treatment may also be possible using a No-Bone Arch approach without bone grafting.

Since individual differences are significant, diagnosis comes first.

Q3. Will the surgery be very painful? My father is afraid.

A. We try to reduce the burden by planning the implant positions in advance using 3D imaging, but pain and swelling vary from person to person.

​They are generally manageable with prescribed pain medication.

Q4. Is it okay to undergo treatment if I have diabetes or high blood pressure?

A. Treatment is often possible if the condition is well managed.

However, because your overall health must also be taken into account, it is important to inform us in advance about any medications you are taking.

Q5. Will implants last a lifetime once they are placed?

A. They can last for a long time depending on care and regular checkups, but it is difficult to guarantee that they will last “a lifetime.”

As with natural teeth, you should brush regularly and have examinations every six months.

That day, the father and daughter listened to the plan involving two covered implants and the remaining treatment, then left looking much more relieved.

If you feel overwhelmed by the cost of full-mouth implants, start by checking whether your condition is complete or partial edentulism and whether you meet the age requirement of 65 or older. This can help clear up some of the uncertainty.

There are individual differences in outcomes, and the possibility of side effects must always be explained as well. Please remember that an accurate decision can only be made based on a CT diagnosis.

I understand better than anyone how much you want to make mealtimes comfortable for your parents again.

🦷 Etoile Seoul Dental Clinic

📍 3rd Floor, Namhangang Building, 820 Seolleung-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

📞 02-546-0654

🕙 Office Hours

· Tuesday–Friday 10:00–19:00 (Lunch 13:00–14:00)

· Saturday 10:00–15:00

· Until 21:00 on the second Tuesday of each month

· Closed on Mondays

Treatment is provided together with Director Lee Jang-wook, a graduate of Seoul National University School of Dentistry.