Worked Estimates and Checklists
Dental implant consultation checklist: questions to ask before you agree to treatment
A practical checklist for an implant consultation in Canada covering the provider, the treatment plan, the written estimate, coverage, payment, aftercare and a second opinion.
Before you agree to an implant, leave the consultation with five things: a clear explanation of why an implant is proposed and what the alternatives are, an itemised written estimate with procedure codes for every stage, the name and role of each provider who will bill you, a written answer from your insurer (a predetermination) if you have a plan, and a payment schedule you understand. Ask what happens to fees if the implant does not integrate or treatment changes. If any of these is missing, it is reasonable to wait, ask again or get a second opinion. The checklist below is organized so you can bring it to the appointment.
This guide is part of the guide to reading a dental treatment estimate. It is a cost and process checklist, not a guide to clinical choices; your dentist is the person to explain risks and suitability.
Before the appointment
- List your medical conditions and medications to share with the dentist.
- Bring your dental plan details (insurer, policy and certificate numbers) and your spouse's if you have two plans.
- If you are a CDCP member, bring your member information and note that implants are excluded.
- Check your remaining annual maximum and benefit year date with your insurer.
- Look up the dentist on your provincial regulator's public register.
About the provider
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Are you a general dentist or a specialist (periodontist, oral surgeon, prosthodontist)? | Affects fees and sometimes insurance reimbursement |
| Who places the implant and who makes the crown? | There may be two offices and two bills |
| Will sedation be used, and who provides it? | Sedation is billed separately and has its own requirements |
| Can I see the registration of each provider? | Regulators publish public registers |
Regulators' public registers include the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, the BC College of Oral Health Professionals, the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta and the Ordre des dentistes du Québec, among others.
About the treatment plan
- Why is an implant recommended for this tooth?
- What are the alternatives (bridge, removable denture, no replacement), and what would each cost?
- Do I need an extraction, graft or sinus lift, and why?
- How long will treatment take from start to final crown?
- What temporary tooth will I have, and is it included?
- What are the main risks you would discuss for my situation?
See implant vs bridge vs denture cost to prepare the cost side of the alternatives question.
About the estimate
- Itemised, with procedure codes, tooth numbers and lab fees
- Includes imaging, surgery, abutment, crown, follow-ups, temporaries
- States which items are estimates that may change after imaging
- States the payment schedule and any deposits
- States the policy if the implant fails to integrate or must be removed
About coverage
- Office will send a predetermination with all codes
- I know whether my plan covers implants, at what percentage and under which maximum
- I know whether an alternate benefit (bridge or denture) applies
- I know when my benefit year resets
- CDCP members: I know which related services (exam, X-rays, extraction) the CDCP may cover and that the implant stages are mine to pay
Use how to read a dental treatment estimate to decode the insurer's reply and the splitting across benefit years example to plan timing.
About paying
- Amount due at each stage
- Accepted payment methods and any fees
- If financing: APR, fees, deferred interest, early repayment
- Refund policy for prepaid amounts if treatment stops
- Receipts for the medical expense tax credit
Compare financing offers with the dental financing calculator.
About aftercare
- What follow-up visits are needed, and are they included?
- How should I clean around the implant, and what maintenance visits are recommended?
- Who do I call if something goes wrong after hours?
- What would repairs or crown replacement typically involve?
A second opinion
A second opinion is common for large treatment plans. To make it useful:
- Ask the first office for copies of your X-rays and scans; regulators generally expect dentists to provide patients with their records or copies, sometimes for a reasonable fee.
- Bring the first estimate so the second dentist can comment on the plan, not just the price.
- Compare plans stage by stage; a lower total may leave out a graft or temporary.
Interactive version
The implant quote and coverage checklist has the key items as tick boxes that stay saved in your browser.
FAQ
Is it rude to ask for a written estimate?
No. Regulators expect dentists to discuss fees as part of informed consent. A written estimate helps both sides.
Can I take time to decide?
For non-emergency treatment, yes. Ask whether delay has any clinical consequence.
What if the second opinion recommends something different?
That happens. Ask each dentist to explain their reasoning, and consider which plan you understand and trust.
Should I choose the cheapest quote?
Compare what is included and who is doing the work. The lowest total is not always the lowest cost for the same treatment.
Sources
- Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario — public register and patient information
- BC College of Oral Health Professionals — public register in British Columbia
- College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta — Alberta regulator
- Ordre des dentistes du Québec — Quebec regulator
- Canadian Dental Care Plan — CDCP exclusions
