Dental Implant Cost in San Francisco, CA (2026)
Corrected October 2026: city-level implant prices and clinic counts were withdrawn from this page. See our data corrections.
Real Dental Costs does not publish a San Francisco-specific implant price. Our reference for a single dental implant (implant, abutment and crown) is the California editorial estimate (edition 2026.1), not collected prices: $5,733, against $4,507 for the US (editorial estimate, edition 2026.1, not collected prices). Your San Francisco quote depends on the clinic, the implant brand and whether a bone graft is needed. The UCSF and University of the Pacific dental schools, both in the city, run the main reduced-fee clinics.
Estimate your San Francisco implant cost
Implant pricing turns mainly on how many implants you need, the implant brand, and whether a bone graft is required. The calculator below starts from the California editorial estimate (edition 2026.1), not collected prices — use it to size a budget, then compare it with the itemized written quotes you collect in San Francisco.
San Francisco Dental Implant Cost Calculator
Based on the California editorial estimate (edition 2026.1), not collected prices — adjust count, brand and bone graft
paymentsEstimated Cost
* Estimates based on 2026 U.S. national averages. Actual costs vary by location and provider.
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California and US reference prices (2026)
Real Dental Costs does not publish city-level implant prices. The chart and table show the state and national references only.
Real Dental Costs editorial estimate (edition 2026.1), not collected prices; state and national averages only, no city-level figure.
| Procedure | California avg | US avg |
|---|---|---|
| Single dental implant (complete) — editorial estimate (edition 2026.1), not collected prices | $5,733 | $4,507 |
| Porcelain veneer, per tooth | $1,663 | $1,759 |
| Braces, full treatment | $6,087 | $6,352 |
Implant: California and US editorial estimate (edition 2026.1), not collected prices. Veneer & braces: averages from ASQ360° Market Research for CareCredit (2023–24); we do not estimate city-level figures. Source: CareCredit — How Much Do Dental Braces Cost? and CareCredit — How Much Do Veneers Cost?
How to pay less for an implant in San Francisco
1. Use San Francisco's two in-city dental schools
San Francisco is one of the few US cities with two dental schools inside the city. The UCSF School of Dentistry runs a Student Dental Implant Program at 707 Parnassus Ave, where students and residents place implants under faculty supervision, typically 40-60% below private-practice fees. It has clear rules: it accepts Denti-Cal, places implants only in premolars or molars, caps treatment at two implants per patient, does not restore front teeth, and requires a full screening exam with X-rays. The University of the Pacific (Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry) at 155 Fifth St is the nearby university alternative. Treatment at either takes longer because every step is checked.
2. Compare itemized written quotes
Collect three or four itemized written quotes, confirm each separates the implant, abutment, crown and any bone graft, then ask each clinic to match the lowest. Quotes from more than one part of the city — the Financial District, Union Square or Pacific Heights as well as the Mission District, Excelsior, the Sunset or San Bruno Avenue — give you a wider comparison than the nearest office alone.
3. Community health centers and sliding-scale care
San Francisco's federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) treat patients on an income-based sliding scale and accept Medi-Cal:
- Mission Neighborhood Health Center — dental clinics at 240 Shotwell St and 4836 Mission St (Excelsior).
- San Francisco Community Health Center — dental clinic at 1800 Market St, Suite 401.
These centers are aimed at preventive and restorative care; for implants specifically, the UCSF student program is usually the lowest-cost in-city route.
4. Financing, HSA/FSA and discount plans
- CareCredit and in-house payment plans spread the cost over 6-60 months; the longer the term, the more interest you pay.
- HSA/FSA dollars pay for medically necessary implant work with pre-tax money, cutting the real cost by your tax rate.
- Discount dental plans lower the cash price at participating San Francisco offices for an annual membership fee — often a better deal than a low-cap insurance policy for a single large case.
5. Medi-Cal Dental: broader than you think
Unlike many states, Medi-Cal Dental (formerly Denti-Cal) for adults in California is comparatively broad: it covers exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals and dentures. Implants, by contrast, are only covered in medically necessary cases, not routinely. If you rely on Medi-Cal, plan to pay cash for the implant itself and use the UCSF clinic (which accepts Denti-Cal) or a community health center.
[!WARNING] Before treatment, verify your provider is licensed by the Dental Board of California (dbc.ca.gov). The California Dental Association (CDA) is the state professional body. A quote that looks unusually low often excludes the abutment, crown or bone graft — always get it itemized in writing.
Compare procedures and nearby California cities
Dental Implant Cost (US)
National pricing, brands and what's included.
Braces Cost (US)
Metal, ceramic and Invisalign price ranges.
Veneers Cost (US)
Porcelain vs composite, per-tooth pricing.
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A dental savings plan is a membership (not insurance): show your card, pay the discounted rate. No claims, no denials, no annual cap. It pays off only if your dentist's usual fee minus the member price is more than the membership.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a single dental implant cost in San Francisco?
How can I get a cheaper dental implant in San Francisco?
Do the UCSF and Pacific dental schools offer low-cost implants in San Francisco?
Does Medi-Cal cover dental implants in San Francisco?
How much do veneers and braces cost in San Francisco?
Where do I find affordable, sliding-scale dental care in San Francisco?
Independent dental pricing research — every series carries a named source, and corrections are logged publicly. Not medical advice.