Re: Custom Abutments?

JimSocal wrote:
Hi,
I just was looking over my bill and it shows that I was charged $650
each (x4) for custom abutments for each of my implant crowns:
18,19,20 and 29. (18, 19 and 20 is a 3-tooth implant crown bridge).

First of all, these were not included in my Treatment Plan and I was
never told they were going to need to do this or that they were doing
it.

Secondly, someone else told me implants don't need "custom abutments",
but I have no way of knowing since I don't even know exactly what they
are!

I'm wondering if this could be a mistake, so can you tell me what they
are and if they are indeed used for implant crowns? (I am thinking
MAYBE this was a clerical error and I was not even given "custom
abutments", only billed for them.)

And secondly, if they did truly put them in and I did truly need them,
shouldn't I have been told first, about something that was going to
run me $2600 above what my Treatment Plan called for?

And thirdly, if the answer to that last question is "yes", should they
at least give me a price adjustment on these?


Ideally the need for custom abutments is predictable, but often since we only see x-rays of the implant fixtures in 2 dimensions it is sometimes not apparent until you start the prosthetics.
$650 is a normal fee for a custom abutment. If the implants are just where you want them you can use a stock out-of-the-box abutment. They can be as much as $300 each.
It's not likely that anyone but the surgeon or restorative dentist will have an inkling if you need a custom abutment.

Steve
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: What exactly is a "custom abutment" for an implant crown...
    ... This looks like an interesting technology, but most custom abutments are not milled by a CAD-CAM technology--they are custom cast, usually in gold alloy (there is a titanium understructure that screws into the implant fixture. ... They are generally used when the placement of the implant fixture is such that it is not possible to place a functional, esthetic crown using a stock abutment. ... I'm not sure why your original treatment plan did not include the ...
    (sci.med.dentistry)
  • Re: What exactly is a "custom abutment" for an implant crown...
    ... which fits into the implant and a crown is made over it. ... This looks like an interesting technology, but most custom abutments ... I'm not sure why your original treatment plan did not include the ...
    (sci.med.dentistry)
  • Re: Custom Abutments?
    ... I just was looking over my bill and it shows that I was charged $650 ... each for custom abutments for each of my implant crowns: ... these were not included in my Treatment Plan and I was ... Ideally the need for custom abutments is predictable, ...
    (sci.med.dentistry)
  • Re: What exactly is a "custom abutment" for an implant crown...
    ... "I've done custom abutments where the lab fee is over $600. ... never signed anything but this treatment plan after that. ... I just finished my last 2 crowns with the same ...
    (sci.med.dentistry)