Implant Cost Structure: Quote Items, Extra Charges and Comparing Prices Between Clinics

The cost of an implant is divided into diagnosis and tests, the artificial tooth root (fixture), the connecting post (abutment), the prosthesis, and, when needed, additional surgery such as a bone graft. In Korea, if you are not eligible for health insurance, an implant is non-covered, so the amount differs with the clinic, the materials and the condition of the jawbone. People aged 65 or older with partial edentulism pay only 30% of the total treatment cost for up to 2 implants in their lifetime, but additional surgery and some materials are still non-covered even then.

Published 2026-11-08 · Updated 2026-11-08 · DentalStatics editorial team

Key facts

Implants under age 65	Non-covered (dental prostheses and implant additional surgery are non-covered items) (source: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS, 국민건강보험공단) (Rules on Medical Care Benefit Criteria, Appendix 2))
Copay for insured implants	30% of the total treatment cost (procedure fee + placed material) (source: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS))
Example of total cost per insured implant	About 1.14 million to 1.28 million won at a dental clinic in 2018 (fees are adjusted every year) (source: National Health Insurance Service dental implant Q&A)
Items non-covered even under insurance	Additional surgery such as bone grafting, and custom abutments (source: National Health Insurance Service; Ministry of Health and Welfare notice)
Extraction cost	Not included in the implant fee, so calculated separately (source: National Health Insurance Service dental implant Q&A)

What is included in the cost of an implant?

A quote is usually divided into diagnosis and imaging tests, fixture placement surgery, the abutment, and making the prosthesis. Depending on the clinic, these are presented either bundled into one amount per implant or itemized.

Even for a single implant, the amount changes if the fixture product, the abutment shape or the crown material differs. If bone is lacking and a bone graft or sinus lift is needed, that cost is added separately, so you need to check what is included in and left out of a bundled price.

If you are under 65 or have already used the 2 insured implants, you pay for the entire implant treatment yourself. In that case, also ask whether the CT fee on the day of the consultation is charged separately and whether the diagnosis fee is included in the total.

Diagnosis: dental CT, panoramic image, impressions or intraoral scan
Surgery: fixture (artificial tooth root) placement
Connection: stock abutment or custom abutment
Prosthesis: crown material and method of fixation
Extras: bone graft, sinus lift, extraction

How is the cost of an insured implant calculated in Korea?

The total treatment cost of an insured implant is the sum of the procedure fee set for each stage and the cost of the placed materials such as the fixture and abutment, and regular members pay 30% of this total. The consultation fee and the drugs and materials used during the procedure are included in the fee and are not charged separately.

A National Health Insurance Service Q&A document gave the total cost per implant at a dental clinic as about 1.14 million to 1.28 million won in 2018. Fees are adjusted every year, so check the current copay at the clinic where you will be treated.

The out-of-pocket cap system does not apply to the implant copay. The treatment fee is paid in installments at the end of each stage.

When do extra charges arise with an implant?

Bone grafting and sinus lift are additional surgery for implants and are non-covered even for people eligible for health insurance. However, even with additional surgery, the implant procedure itself remains covered.

If a custom abutment is used, only the cost of that abutment becomes non-covered. The cost of extracting a tooth at the implant site is not included in the implant fee and is calculated separately. If a 3-unit bridge is made on 2 insured implants, the cost of the middle artificial tooth (pontic) is non-covered.

If a one-piece fixture is used, or the prosthesis is made of a material other than PFM or zirconia, such as gold, the entire implant procedure becomes non-covered even at age 65 or older, and the cost difference becomes large. Before choosing a material, first check whether insurance applies.

How do I compare implant prices between clinics?

In the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA, 건강보험심사평가원) non-covered medical fee information, you can look up the non-covered implant prices reported by institutions, by region and by institution. What items are included in a reported amount may differ from one institution to another.

When comparing quotes, first match the item composition rather than the total. Differences become visible only when you compare under the same conditions: whether a bone graft is included, the abutment and crown materials, the follow-up period after the prosthesis and its cost, and how a reoperation would be handled.

If you get the quote with the date and the tooth number to be treated written on it, it is easier to check which items were added or dropped if the plan changes after the tests.

What else should I weigh besides cost?

For insured implants, for 3 months after the prosthesis is placed you pay only the consultation fee for follow-up checks at the same clinic, and in this period no treatment fee is charged even if the prosthesis breaks and is remade. After 3 months, prosthesis-related care is non-covered.

For non-covered implants the follow-up conditions differ from clinic to clinic, so it is good to get them in writing before contracting. The number of visits, the total duration, and whether a temporary tooth is provided are also cost factors that affect daily life.

Common myths and facts

Myth: If the total is the same, it is the same implant treatment.

If the fixture product, abutment shape, crown material or inclusion of a bone graft differ, the treatment differs even at the same amount. Compare with the items matched one by one.

Myth: An insured implant leaves almost nothing to pay yourself.

Regular members pay 30% of the total treatment cost, and additional surgery such as bone grafting and custom abutments are paid separately as non-covered items.

Frequently asked questions

How much does one implant usually cost?

A non-covered implant varies with the clinic, the materials and the bone condition, so it is hard to give a single figure. First check the reported prices in your area in the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service non-covered medical fee information, then get an itemized quote at the consultation and compare. Similar reported prices do not mean the included materials and additional surgery are the same, so look at the composition as well.

Is the bone graft cost included in the quote?

It depends on the clinic. Whether a graft is needed is often decided after viewing the CT, so it may be missing from the first quote; ask in advance for the cost range if it turns out to be needed. People eligible for insured implants also pay the full cost of additional surgery themselves.

When do I pay the copay for an insured implant?

You pay the cost of each stage as it ends: diagnosis and treatment planning, fixture placement, and prosthesis restoration. If treatment is stopped midway, only the stages already carried out are billed.

Should I postpone an implant if I am just before my 65th birthday?

The National Health Insurance Service recognizes coverage when a person aged 65 or older is pre-registered as an eligible patient and treatment is begun afterwards. If your birthday is near, discuss the start date of treatment with the clinic and check the cost difference.

Is there a discount structure when I get several implants?

Non-covered prices are set by the clinic, so pricing policy by number of implants also differs between clinics. The bone condition at each site and whether additional surgery is needed affect the total cost more than the number. For insured implants, the same standard is applied and calculated per tooth, regardless of the number.

References

Korean version →