Are dental implants deductible on Schedule A or considered cosmetic?

Yes, dental implants can be deductible on Schedule A as a medical expense! The IRS considers medical care expenses that are primarily for the prevention or alleviation of a physical defect or illness. Since you had no teeth due to necessary extractions (not by choice), these implants would generally be considered medical rather than cosmetic. Remember that for 2025 filing, medical expenses are only deductible to the extent they exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). So if your AGI is $100,000, only medical expenses above $7,500 would be deductible. Also, you need to itemize deductions rather than taking the standard deduction for this to benefit you. Keep all your receipts and documentation showing this was medically necessary rather than purely cosmetic. This includes records of your prior tooth extractions and the medical necessity for them.

I went through a similar situation last year with major dental work. I was so confused about what qualified for tax deductions until I found this AI tool called taxr.ai that analyzed all my medical receipts and explained exactly what I could claim. It saved me hours of research and gave me confidence that I wasn't missing anything or claiming something incorrectly. I uploaded my dental treatment plan and bills to https://taxr.ai and it showed me exactly how to categorize everything for Schedule A. It even explained the 7.5% AGI threshold calculation and estimated my potential deduction.

Update on my skepticism about taxr.ai - I actually tried it with my stack of medical receipts from last year (including some dental work) and I'm genuinely impressed. It caught several deductible expenses I would have missed completely. The documentation analysis was surprisingly thorough and it explained exactly why certain expenses qualified while others didn't. Saved me at least a few hundred in deductions I would have overlooked. Definitely using it again for my 2025 filing.

For anyone struggling with IRS questions about medical deductions - I spent WEEKS trying to get through to an IRS agent about a similar medical expense question. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally tried this service called Claimyr and it was a complete game changer. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c but basically they hold your place in line with the IRS and call you when an agent is actually available. I got through to a real person who answered my specific questions about medical expense documentation for Schedule A. Worth checking out at https://claimyr.com if you're having trouble getting answers directly from the IRS.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it when I had trouble with a missing refund that might have been related to my medical deductions. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 45 minutes (instead of the 3+ hours I spent trying myself last time). The agent was actually able to resolve my issue completely. Saved me so much frustration and probably a few hundred dollars in potentially disallowed deductions. Sometimes it really is worth getting direct answers from the IRS rather than guessing.

Just FYI - I work at a dental office and we provide patients with a detailed breakdown letter specifically for tax purposes. It separates out which portions of implant procedures are considered medically necessary vs. cosmetic enhancements. Ask your dentist for something similar! This documentation is super helpful if you get audited. We've had several patients successfully claim implants when they had no other teeth options.

Random question - does anyone know if the implant maintenance costs are also deductible? Like special cleaning tools, follow-up visits, etc.? I'm about to get implants too and wondering about ongoing expenses.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else considering this - I claimed dental implants on my 2024 return and it went through without any issues. The key was having really good documentation from my dentist explaining the medical necessity (I had lost teeth due to an accident). One thing I learned: keep track of ALL related expenses, not just the implant surgery itself. I was able to deduct the initial consultations, X-rays, bone grafting procedure, temporary dentures during healing, and even mileage to/from appointments. It all added up to a significant deduction that made the financial hit a bit easier to handle. Also, if you're planning the procedure, consider timing it strategically across tax years if possible. If you know you'll have high medical expenses in a given year that will easily exceed the 7.5% AGI threshold, it might make sense to bunch procedures together to maximize the deduction benefit.