Table of contents:
Will Insurance Pay For Dental Implants – For patients who are missing teeth, dental implants are an important investment in their oral and overall health. And the financial investment is significant, so finding ways to afford it is important in making the decision. The vexing question of whether dental implants are covered by insurance can be difficult to research. Interpreting dental insurance benefits is often like navigating a minefield. Trying to figure out when and if dental implants are covered by a plan can often be confusing, even for people who are well-informed about their benefits.
Dental insurance is great for covering and protecting patients from the costs of preventative care like cleanings and x-rays, but that’s about it. Twice-yearly cleaning and maintenance are usually paid for, as well as some other procedures such as occasional refills. Dental implants are generally defined as “cosmetic” and most insurance plans simply do not cover cosmetic dentistry.
Will Insurance Pay For Dental Implants
Most group or employer-based dental plans are designed to be affordable and cover the basics. Once dental needs transition to high-priced items such as root canals, periodontal (gum) procedures, dentures, or implants, these expenses are usually applied to the patient’s deductible.
Dental Implants Tx
Those who purchase dental insurance coverage are likely to enter what are known as ‘waiting periods’. A waiting period is exactly what it sounds like and is designed to limit costs to the insurance company. Insurers, in order to balance their overhead costs, require an individual to be an active member for a certain period of time before receiving certain benefits.
So even if someone finds an affordable low-deductible plan that covers dental implants, that plan may subject them to a 6- or 12-month waiting period before those benefits kick in. When a missing tooth causes dental or medical problems, not to mention an imperfect smile, it can be a long wait.
Teeth become brittle as we age, and many Medicare beneficiaries require reconstructive dental surgery. Medicare, like most major dental plans, does not reimburse the cost of dental implants. Medicare Part A and B will only cover dental costs as they apply to pre-operative visits for specific surgical procedures.
To receive dental benefits, patients must enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan through a private insurance provider. As with most group, individual or employer-sponsored dental plans, they may find that their benefits do not extend beyond routine and preventive maintenance.
Understanding Immediate Dental Implants
Here’s a caveat: As with our examples above, patients may find an Advantage plan with dental benefits that include cosmetic procedures like implants. However, they should expect waiting periods to apply. Additionally, once they discover an Advantage plan that pays for cosmetic dentistry, they must also find an experienced oral surgeon who accepts that particular insurance. One way to start your search is with our search tool. The Dental Health Society’s database is full of dental professionals, including cosmetic specialists, across the country.
As any quick search will show, dental implants can be quite expensive. A dental implant usually costs about $5,000 per tooth.
Retrieving a full row of teeth starts at around $8,500, depending on the extent of tooth loss. The greater the loss of tissue and bone around the tooth, the more likely a bone graft will be needed. It simply increases the cost and complexity of the procedure itself.
There are a few simple reasons and explanations for the high cost of dental implants, starting with the materials themselves. An implant consists of three parts: a crown, an abutment, and a screw or post (which attaches to the jawbone).
Kitchener Dentist Files:
The base of the implant itself is made of expensive titanium. Cheaper materials don’t work as well, so there are only a few other options. This cost alone can reach $500 per crown. An abutment (a button-like piece used to attach a crown to an implant) can cost anywhere from $100 to $200 per crown. If the dentist needs to perform a bone graft or implant membranes before placing the implant itself, it can cost an additional $200.
In addition to the nearly $1,000 cost of hard tooth delivery, the dental office must invest in imaging and fabrication equipment that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Add to this equipment renewal and access costs for software, licensing and maintenance. Of course, these are all rough estimates, but at least it shows how complex and refined the process is. Ultimately, the dentist creates a unique, customized set of teeth for each person.
Since this is major dental surgery, the last line to consider is the job. Dental implant training is usually not included in standard dental school training, so becoming a board-certified oral surgeon requires additional education, time, and of course, money. Patients pay for this experience and knowledge.
Experienced dentists charge for their time and will charge market rates based on their location. So if they are located in an expensive city or rent a space in an exclusive or desirable location, these considerations add to the cost of the operation as well.
Cost Of Dental Implants In Knoxville Tn
What are the next steps in finding a dentist for dental implants? Short answer: Compare prices and evaluate your options
As mentioned above, oral surgery is a dental specialty that requires additional education and training. There are quite a few options for finding an experienced oral surgeon. You can start with providers that accept your insurance (including your current provider) for referrals. Using our online tool to search and compare trusted surgeons with the latest facilities and equipment is also a great way to find a provider and schedule a consultation.
There’s no getting around it – dental implants are expensive and rarely covered by insurance. You might be wondering if you…
A dental implant is often an excellent solution for a missing or damaged tooth. Many patients prefer these to the old-fashioned…
Costs Of Dental Implants In Singapore
Dental plates and dental implants are two very different solutions to the same problem: missing teeth. Understanding the differences, together…
Modern dentistry has evolved in some remarkable ways. Things like dental implants that look and feel just like real teeth… Health insurance and dental coverage can be confusing, especially when it comes to coverage for specialty dental procedures like dental implants. Many of our patients ask us if their dental insurance will cover dental implants, and the answer is that it depends on your insurance and the type of implant treatment you have. dr. Mark Sowell of Sensational Smiles in Plano, TX will work with you and your insurance company to create a treatment plan that fits your needs and budget.
Many insurance companies consider dental implants to be merely a cosmetic procedure and therefore not medically necessary. Most dental insurance plans generally do not cover cosmetic procedures because they are not considered medically necessary. However, anyone with missing teeth knows that replacing them is very important to their oral health.
You may need to use both medical and dental coverage to cover your dental implant procedure, depending on the reason you need it. Review your insurance policy to determine if dental implants are included in the materials provided to you when you started the policy. Before undergoing any procedure, it is important to ask your insurance provider specific questions to ensure there are no surprises:
The Truth About Dental Implants
Your dental office staff will be able to work directly with your insurance company to determine your coverage based on your treatment plan.
To determine if your insurance covers implants, it is important to know the different parts of the treatment and how much oral preparation is required. The amount of coverage also depends on whether you are getting a full arch restored or just replacing one or two missing teeth.
Tooth Extraction: Depending on whether you are already missing teeth or need to have a tooth extracted, this procedure will be part of your dental implant treatment. Most insurance companies cover all or most tooth extractions.
Bone grafting: Some patients need to strengthen the lower jawbone before the implant procedure to ensure that the implant stays in place. This part of the procedure may not be covered, although it is a crucial step in the implantation procedure.
What If My Dental Insurance Doesn’t Cover Dental Implants?
Implant placement: The implant placement procedure is considered a “major” dental procedure. However, don’t be alarmed by the use of the word “highest,” which is a term used by insurance companies that does not necessarily reflect the intensity of the treatment. Some plans cover up to 50 percent of major procedures.
Placing an artificial tooth: An artificial tooth—a crown—placed over an implant provides the appearance and functionality of natural teeth. This part of the procedure is also considered “main”. Some plans consider it the same as crowning a natural tooth and may cover more costs, so check with your insurance company directly.
We understand that dealing with insurance and budgeting can be confusing. The staff at Sensational Smiles will work with you, your dentist and your insurance company to offer the best treatment based on your needs and budget.
