Six Dental Implants in Two Visits to Shanghai
A US patient shares how she got six dental implants done in China over two trips — the process, communication, and final cost.
Name changed for privacy. This is a representative patient story, not a guarantee of outcomes or cost.
I’m a 54-year-old from Texas. My dentist quoted me around $28,000 for six implants and crowns. After some research, I decided to try China.
How I found the hospital
I started by shortlisting Shanghai hospitals with an international department, then emailed them my X-rays. One responded in English within a day with a written quote — that’s what finally made me feel safe enough to book.
What actually happened
- Trip 1 (2 weeks): Consultation, CT scan, and placement of all six implants. I used a hospital interpreter for the consultation — worth every bit. I paid via Alipay with my Visa card.
- Healing period (3 months): I went home. The clinic checked in by email and adjusted my plan.
- Trip 2 (4 days): Abutments and crowns placed. Final follow-up and adjustment.
Cost and communication
The all-in cost was well under half of my US quote. The main “pain points” were the same as anywhere: scheduling and making sure I understood exactly what each visit included. Writing down my questions beforehand helped a lot.
What I’d tell others
- Get a written, itemized quote before you fly.
- Use the international department — it made communication much easier.
- Bring a question list to every visit.
- Budget for two trips if you need implants that require healing time.
It wasn’t without a learning curve, but it was completely doable, and the value was real.