Skip to navigationSkip to main contentSkip to right columnADVERTISEMENTGerelyn TerzoSat, August 1, 2026 at 9:02 PM GMT+2 5 min readQuick ReadMedicare has excluded routine dental since 1965, and a single implant now costs $4,500, which is enough to wipe out an entire year's Social Security COLA increase.Medicare Advantage dental riders and standalone plans both cap annual benefits somewhere between $1,000 and $2,000, leaving $3,000 or more uncovered on a single implant.Dental schools perform implants at prices 30 to 50 percent below what private practices charge, making them the highest-leverage option for a procedure Medicare will never cover.Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset's free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don't waste another minute; learn more here.A 68-year-old on Original Medicare walks out of her dentist's office with a treatment plan for a single implant. The estimate: $4,500. She calls 1-800-MEDICARE to confirm coverage and receives the answer she hoped was wrong. Original Medicare will pay zero. The estimate is not her coinsurance. It is her bill.Highwaystarz-Photography / Getty ImagesMillions of Medicare beneficiaries have no dental coverage, and Original Medicare has excluded routine dental care since the program began. The law has been reconsidered repeatedly, but the central exclusion remains.Medicare Part B, at its 2026 standard premium of $202.90 per month, buys medical coverage. It does not ordinarily buy cleanings, fillings, crowns, dentures, or implants. Medicare can cover limited dental services when they are directly tied to the clinical success of another covered treatment, such as an organ transplant, cancer therapy, or heart-valve procedure. An ordinary implant replacing a lost tooth does not clear that bar.What the Uncovered Bill Actually Looks LikeDental implant prices have climbed along with the rest of healthcare. A single-tooth implant, including the post, abutment, and crown, generally runs about $2,800 to $5,600 without dental coverage. Bone grafting, extractions, or other preparatory work can push the final number higher. Full-arch replacement moves quickly into five figures._________________________________What's Your Number...?Here's a question most people 5y from retirement can't answer: at your current savings rate, how much do you need, and how long will it actually last? A good advisor can put a date on that in a single meeting. SmartAsset's free quiz matches you with up to three fiduciary advisors serving your area, so you can get YOUR retirement number now (sponsor)Terms and Privacy PolicyEU DSA contactPrivacy & Cookie SettingsMore Info