The Full-Arch Dental Quote Checklist
Twelve questions to ask before you commit — at any clinic, in any country. A full-arch quote is often the largest single invoice a person ever faces for their own health, and most quotes make comparison hard: one big number, a brand name, a signature line. These questions don't care where the clinic is. Ask them in Sydney, Bangkok, Istanbul, or Beijing — the questions are the same, and so are the evasions.
How to use this checklist
- Ask all twelve at every clinic you are considering. The differences between the answers are the real comparison.
- Get the answers in writing. Verbal reassurance does not survive a dispute.
- A good clinic will welcome these questions. Evasion is information.
A. What the quote actually covers
1. Is this quote itemised — or one total number?
A single figure gives you nothing to compare. Ask for the implant surgery, prosthesis, imaging, and aftercare as separate lines.
2. Exactly how many implants — and which brand and system?
"All-on-4" and "full-arch" are labels, not specifications. The same label can cover different fixture brands, materials, and prosthetic designs.
3. Are both sets of teeth included — the temporary and the final?
Full-arch treatment usually involves a provisional prosthesis now and a final prosthesis later. Sometimes they are separate line items — and sometimes separate trips.
4. What imaging is included, and was this plan based on a recent 3D scan?
A firm quote written without recent CBCT imaging is an estimate. If the scan has not happened yet, ask what could change once it does.
B. What it doesn't cover
5. Are extractions and bone grafting included, or extra?
These are among the largest variables between patients. Ask what triggers the extra charges and how they would be quoted before you commit.
6. What anaesthesia is used, and who administers it?
Sedation options vary widely between providers — and so does what they cost, and who is qualified to provide them.
7. What aftercare and reviews are included after the final fitting?
Adjustments, check-ups, and maintenance: ask what is bundled, for how long, and what costs extra.
C. Time and travel
8. How many visits does the full sequence take, and when is the final prosthesis fitted?
Healing between surgical stages is measured in months for most protocols, not days. Ask what the schedule looks like if healing takes longer than planned.
9. If I travel for treatment, what happens if I need attention after I'm home?
Ask who your point of contact is, what the treating clinic can and cannot do remotely, and what records you will take home for your local dentist.
D. If something goes wrong
10. If an implant fails or the prosthesis needs rework, who pays — and for how long?
Ask for warranty terms in writing: what is covered, for how long, and what voids it. "Don't worry, we fix everything" is not a term.
11. Who exactly is the treating clinician, and what can you tell me about them?
Registration, implant case volume, and who handles complications. This is a fair question at any clinic, anywhere in the world.
12. Is this a fixed price or an estimate — and what could change it?
Ask about deposit terms, refund policy, quote validity, and what happens if the clinical plan changes mid-treatment.
Scoring what you hear
You are not looking for perfect answers — you are looking for specific ones. "That depends on your case; here is how we would find out" is an honest answer. "Don't worry about that" is not. Get the final answers in writing before paying any deposit, at any clinic, in any country.
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Request a copy by emailAbout the author of this checklist
China Health Concierge (CHC) is a non-clinical coordination service based in Beijing, China. We help international patients plan and coordinate treatment in China: preparing questions and records, requesting provider proposals, and arranging interpretation and logistics where patients ask us to.
How we get paid: CHC charges patients fees for planning and coordination services, and may also receive administrative or referral fees from hospitals and other providers. Any provider-side fee arrangement that could affect your choice of provider is disclosed before you confirm a service.
CHC is not a hospital, clinic, or medical practice, and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Clinical decisions belong to treating clinicians. Use this checklist wherever you choose to be treated.
Frequently asked questions
Does this checklist only apply to treatment in China?
No. The twelve questions work at any clinic, in any country. They are about what a dental quote should specify — implants, prosthetics, exclusions, warranties, and follow-up — not about any destination.
Is this checklist medical advice?
No. China Health Concierge is a non-clinical coordination service and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The checklist helps you gather information; clinical decisions belong to treating clinicians.
How does China Health Concierge make money from this checklist?
The checklist is free. China Health Concierge charges patients fees for planning and coordination services, and may also receive administrative or referral fees from hospitals and providers. Any provider-side fee arrangement that could affect your choice of provider is disclosed before you confirm a service.