Implants are a popular and safe treatment for those with lost teeth due to trauma, disease or other dental problem. They offer a lasting, natural-looking alternative that can be better in both functionality and looks. But one of the first questions that patients ask is: are dental implants covered by their dental insurance? This article will address this question and walk you through what dental implants are, how insurance works, and how to handle the cost.
Understanding Dental Implants
Before I talk about insurance coverage, you should know what dental implants are. Dental Implant : A dental implant is a titanium post implanted in the jawbone to substitute for a lost tooth root. Once the post fused to the bone, the crown was re-positioned to fix the tooth. Implants, unlike bridges or dentures, are a replacement that lasts and functions like your natural teeth.
Does Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
The long answer is: it depends. The insurance covers preventive and cosmetic dentistry services such as cleanings, fillings, and root canals. But for dental implants, most insurance companies won’t pay them all as the procedure is complicated and more expensive.
How Can I Know If Dental Implants Are Not Insured?
Classification of the Treatment: Most insurance plans consider dental implants as a cosmetic surgery that you can elect and not an urgent medical intervention. This means they might not cover implants at all, particularly when they’re not medically necessary. Sometimes implants are even a luxury or cosmetic procedure that your dental insurance plan will not cover.
Prices: Dental implants cost more than dentures or bridges. That includes the implant, but also surgery fees, anesthesia and crown. Because it is so expensive, many insurance companies don’t cover implants or only some parts of them.
No Coverage In Most Plan: Almost all of the basic dental plan includes basic dental treatment such as cleanings and fillings. Implants are a more advanced treatment, however, that is outside the normal coverage. Insurance companies may cover some portion of the cost of dental implants, but the patient is still in the loop on the rest.
Alternative Treatments: Your insurance company might recommend alternatives to the dental implant like dentures or bridges, which are cheaper. These alternatives, while good, can’t last as long as implants.
What Types Of Dentistry Are Included Under Dental Insurance?
Dental Implants are usually not fully covered but there is usually coverage through insurance that covers certain portions of the implant process. Here’s what might be covered:
First Visit: Many insurance companies will pay for a first visit and exam where the dentist determines if you need implants and talks about the options.
Tooth Extraction: If the tooth missing is extracted then this is also usually covered under the majority of dental insurances.
Bone Grafting: Sometimes the bone may need to be grafted before the implant can be implanted. Some insurance companies might cover this treatment if you have to make a medical appointment.
X-rays: There are usually discounts for X-rays or 3D scans done to assess the health of the bones and get ready for surgery.
But patients need to know exactly what is covered and what is not covered by their plan.
What To Do To Get Maximum Dental Implant Coverage From Your Insurance Company?
If you’re thinking about dental implants, here are a few things you can do to get the most out of your insurance:
Check your Plan Coverage: Ask your insurance company if they cover dental implants, and make sure they do. Be specific and ask them if they cover the surgery, the restoration (crown) after the procedure, and pre-operative services such as extractions or bone grafting.
Utilize Different Insurances: If you have dental and medical insurance, you can sometimes use both to pay for different parts of the procedure. Depending on your dental plan, you might be covered for some of the implant, but you may also get other items covered by your health insurance like surgery.
Try a Health Savings Account (HSA): If you have a health savings account, you can put dental implants in this tax-favored account. That is also a great savings on the out-of-pocket expenses of implants.
Payment Plans & Financing: Many dentists will give payment plans or financing if the patient cannot afford the entire treatment upfront. This can be an option to spread out implant prices.
Think about Dental Discount Plans: If your insurance does not cover implants, then you may think about dental discount plans. Such plans come with discounts for dental care such as implants, and are a great way to help with the bill.
Alternatives to Dental Implants
If you don’t have dental implants on your insurance, or they aren’t affordable, there are other treatments to consider:
Dental Bridges: Bridges are dental devices that bridge a missing tooth. It’s sometimes cheaper than implants and most insurances will cover it.
Dentures: There is another way to replace the missing teeth, removable dentures. They’re the cheapest and typically covered by insurance, but might not be as comfortable or durable as implants.
The Good News: Can Dental Implants Be Paid for By Insurance?
The final point is, dental implants are covered by your insurance. The dentist will not typically pay for the whole implant, however they will sometimes pay only a portion of the cost. What’s more, you can reduce the cost with payments, other financing, even health savings accounts.
When you really want dental implants and your insurance is a worry, do your research. Check with your dentist and your insurance company to get all the details on what you are covered for and any financing plans you have. Implant Dentistry Dental Implants can be a costly surgery but when there are long-term benefits – better appearance, feeling and function – then for many patients it is an investment worth considering.
