These statements about comparing dental implant services, specifically full mouth implant treatment to automobiles have been used for years in the dental implant industry.
Consultants, marketers, and implant providers alike all use this analogy in an effort to create a sense of relatability to patients by comparing cost and maintenance of dental implants to a familiar day to day purchase that most of us make in our lifetimes.
Early in my career, I used to dislike the comparison of full mouth implants to automobiles. After eight years of advanced education in healthcare, I did not want my patients to think that being treated in a professional healthcare setting could ever be compared to making an ordinary consumer purchase, such as a vehicle. I wanted to emphasize that dental implant treatment is a highly specialized surgical healthcare treatment, rather than a simple consumer good purchase that can be done anywhere.
But as I continue to advance in my career, my attitude has certainly evolved. Having treated hundreds of full mouth implant patients, listening to their needs, their problems, and their preferred solutions, I now significantly prioritize relatability and compassion to my patient’s understanding of their condition, and always aim to simplify their education process about their available treatment options. Today, I highly prioritize empathy and understanding for my patients, as I now fully embrace the vehicle analogy to dental implant treatment.
The dental implant to vehicle analogy may help patients understand the cost of full mouth implant treatment, or “All On X,” but if the analogy is to be continually used and accepted throughout the industry, it should also be known that not all vehicle owners are alike.
Millions of Americans regularly take their car for routine maintenance. Oil change, brake checks, tire rotation etc. This category of automobile owners experience less major mechanical car problems, and minimal to breakdowns or major repairs. On the other hand, there are also millions of Americans who postpone regular vehicle maintenance, and are inconsistent with their vehicle upkeep. These vehicle owners experience more surprise repairs, and more roadside breakdowns.
An analysis by the American Automobile Association revealed that 35% of Americans skip or delay repairs recommended by their mechanic. These omitted vehicle repairs, had they actually been repaired, may have prevented millions of roadside breakdowns1.
This dichotomy of US vehicle owner behavior has significant implications to auto mechanics, road-side responders, and car dealers alike. What’s interesting, is that a similar dichotomy exists when it comes to attitudes towards dental care.
Dentistry as perceived by the masses, is mostly thought of as routine, preventative care. We are taught as children to brush our teeth twice per day, floss, and go to the dentist twice per year. Informed patients actively seek out scheduling their bi-annual dental visits for their cleanings and x-rays. This preventative model is the mainstay dentistry model that exists in the US.
Patients are seen by the dentist for preventative care, then when treatment is needed, small procedures are performed incrementally, over time. This cycle continues for a lifetime, which helps prevent major dental problems such as infections, cracked teeth, or emergency dental pain, which may require major treatment to correct.
However, not all patients subscribe to this model of dentistry. Similar to those who do not service their vehicles regularly, many patients do not visit the dentist routinely. They simply do not “subscribe” to the preventative dentistry model. In my practice, many of the patients I have seen for emergencies have admittedly told me they do not see a dentist regularly. They state that whenever they have a toothache or a problem, they have it addressed on an “as needed” basis.
The idea of having flawless white teeth has been emphasized in American society as early as 1918, originally as an effort to link shiny white teeth to glory in war times. The sentiment of straight, white teeth, and the expectation for Americans to possess this trait, has been perpetuated in mass media for decades. Straight white teeth in American advertising is sociologically linked to social acceptance into high society and affiliated with career success2. This mass media portrayal of oral health perfection perpetuates the perception that actually needing restorative dental work is rare.
Nearly 90% of adults have had decay in their teeth3. Many people may feel guilt or embarrassment that they need dental restorations such as fillings, crowns, root canals, or even extractions and implants. This feeling of resentment and social stigma towards needing restorative dental care may even perpetuate the aversion to going to the dentist as well, as patients may feel bad about themselves for doing something wrong or not fitting in to societal norms.
When it comes to car repairs, 64% percent of people avoid going to the car mechanic due to being afraid of what it will cost4. Similarly to the dentist, cost is cited as the most common reason patients do not see a dentist5. Considering that the general consensus is that we are expected to have perfect teeth, needing dental restorative work is rare, and have little to no transparency when it comes to dental work costs, these factors all contribute to the “Non-Subscriber’s” point of view. They simply do not subscribe to, and choose not to participate in the preventative dentistry model as it exists today.
According to the American Dental Association6, the average annual per patient dental expenditure is $902.80 (in 2023 dollars). The American Automobile Association reports that the average annual cost of driving a car is $11,254.80 per year when corrected for 2023 dollars7.
Perhaps we prioritize vehicles more than our own mouths due to a lack of urgency with dental care.
If consumers experience a car breakdown, and are unable to drop off their kids at school, get to work on time, or become stranded on the side of the road, it’s universally considered an urgent problem. For many people, dental care is simply “out of sight, out of mind.” Unless an urgent dental problem exists, it’s just easier to ignore it.
As an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, I’ve treated patients who have developed sudden infections that spurred up symptoms within 24 hours. I can’t tell you how many times female patients have told me their dental pain was worse than childbirth. When the problem becomes that severe, it becomes urgent, and no longer out of mind.
As far as patients who actually subscribe to the US dental model, a 2017 study found that only 40% of US patients actually visited a dentist in the past year8.
If the “Subscribers” only represent 40% of the US population, what can the dental industry do about the other 60%? If we assume that 60% of the population are “Non-Subscribers”, that’s 60% of Americans who do not routinely go to the dentist. These non-subscribers do not opt-in to the preventative care model of dentistry. Assuming non-subscribers represent patients who didn’t visit the dentist in that study, this group consists of 200 million Americans.
Thanks to public health research, we can accurately attribute the implications of not proactively addressing dental issues. There are about 2 million emergency room visits per year in the US due to nontraumatic dental problems, costing $1.6 billion dollars annually9,10. The vast majority of these issues could have been prevented with preventative dental care.
From a public health perspective, it’s tough to say where the system is broken. We can blame a lack of preventative dental education available to the public, a lack of adequate insurance coverage, or a lack of our political leaders’ prioritization of oral health, pick your preferred scapegoat. Instead of choosing who to blame, why not create a better system for this population of 200 million Americans?
Out of this subgroup, what resources do we have for these patients who need all of their remaining teeth taken out, or the ones who already have no teeth and are fed up with their dentures?
The reality is that this population of patients, the Non-Subscribers, have vastly different views of dentistry in general compared to Subscribers. Not only do they not prioritize preventative dental care, they prefer minimal interactions with dentists in general, due to anxiety, social stigma, or fear of cost5.
These dental Non-Subscribers are already unfamiliar with typical dentistry practices. After many years, many of them begin to seek full mouth implant treatment in order to rehabilitate their entire mouths. Now these patients who are unfamiliar with traditional preventative dentistry, begin to seek out a highly specialized, complex procedure to restore their mouths after many years of failed upkeep, typically requiring multiple procedures and a long duration of treatment time.
Non-Subscribers who require full mouth rehabilitation want a convenient, straightforward, and low-commitment treatment option for when they have a need for full mouth implant treatment. This where the option full arch implant rehabilitation as a treatment option certainly fits the bill, matching their expectations with a streamlined, permanent solution.
When it comes to missing or failing teeth, there is a need for patients to be able to easily learn about their treatment options within the realm of dental implants, finding qualified providers in their area, and viewing the true costs of these services with transparency. This is the problem Toothsome Implant Concierge solves. Toothsome is an online directory that streamlines the discovery process of finding a qualified implant dentist, by seamlessly connecting patients with highly trained implant providers.
“Everything we are taught in dental school serves the 40% of Americans who go to the dentist, we are building for the other 60%” - Dr. Samy, Toothsome Founder & CEO, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
According to a study published by Health Services Research, Americans spend an average of $55,717.55 on dental treatment over an entire lifetime (corrected for 2023 dollars)11. This data was sourced from insurance plan members, meaning patients who fall in the “Subscribers” camp of the Two Patient Model.
But what about Non-Subscribers? How much do patients who require full mouth implant rehabilitation pay?
A 2021 survey in Texas revealed that the average cost for full mouth dental implant treatment is $53,272.08 (Corrected for 2023 dollars)12. This statistic provides interesting insights into the non-subscriber population, which includes many patients who may require complete oral rehabilitation or full arch dental implants.
Oftentimes, full mouth implant patient candidates are often shocked when they learn the price of full mouth implant rehabilitation with dental implants, otherwise known as “full arch implants” or “all on x” treatments. However, our analysis reveals that this price is actually similar to what lifelong “subscribers” end up paying over the course of their entire lifetime to take care of their teeth.
At Toothsome, we believe everyone deserves a confident smile. Whether you're a lifelong subscriber to dental care or seeking a transformative solution after years, we're here to connect you with the best care available. Begin your journey with us today. Explore, connect, and rediscover the joy of a healthy smile.
Shouvik Ponnusamy “Dr. Samy” is the Founder of Toothsome, a tech enabled dental implant concierge platform, connecting patients with expert dental implant providers. He is also a practicing oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and full arch implant rehabilitation expert and educator.
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