If you are among the millions of American adults who are missing one or more teeth, you might be considering dental implants as an option. This tooth replacement solution looks, feels, and functions the most like your natural teeth. However, before you decide that you definitely want to go this route, you may be wondering about your dental insurance coverage.For most patients at Brownstown Dental Care, dental coverage is the deciding factor when it comes to any dental treatment. Our friendly office staff will work with your dental insurance provider to determine your coverage during your consultation visit. We will provide you with a quote detailing your portion. We strive to make dental implants affordable and may be able to offer financing options to help.
If dental implants are deemed “medically necessary”, your dental and/or medical insurance may be willing to cover this procedure.
Common Costs Associated with Dental Implants
Chances are, you will have to pay for a portion of your dental implants out-of-pocket. On average, the estimated cost of a single dental implant is around $5,000. Of course, this depends on your personal needs, additional procedures required, your insurance coverage, and more. In order to determine what you can expect to pay, you’ll want to find out about the following:
- Your plan’s annual maximum
- Co-payments and co-insurance
- Implant procedure deductible
In addition to the above factors, you’ll also need to think about your personal treatment needs, as these will have an impact on your expected costs.
- The number of implants you need
- The type of implants used (titanium vs. zirconia)
- The number of teeth that need to be replaced
- The type of artificial teeth used (porcelain, composite resin, etc)
- The need for additional procedures including extractions, sedation dentistry, etc
- The location of the clinic
- Whether or not there are any viable alternatives
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Typically, standard dental insurance plans do not cover dental implants. You will need to check your coverage to determine if this is the case for you. If so, you may want to investigate cosmetic dental coverage, which will cover a portion of this procedure. In most cases, this will cover up to 50% of the cost of the procedure. In some cases, you must pay your deductible before coverage begins.
In some cases, your medical insurance plan may cover dental implants. However, this varies depending on your policy. If you do not have dental insurance or your medical insurance does not cover implants, you may want to look into a discount dental plan membership or find a policy that does cover dental implants.
When Does Dental Insurance Cover Implants?
If you do have dental and/or medical insurance, you will want to check your coverage to determine if cosmetic dental procedures such as implants are covered. If implants are covered, you’ll want to check the following:
- Pre-existing Conditions – In some cases, dental coverage is restricted based on pre-existing conditions. You’ll want to find out if this is in your policy. If your tooth was already missing prior to your effective coverage date, the policy may not cover dental implant treatment.
- Annual Maximum – Typically, insurance providers use the calendar year to determine the annual maximum, or the amount they will cover for you and your family within the year. If you have reached your annual maximum or you are getting close to that amount, you may be responsible for paying for the full cost of treatment.
Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation Today
If you are missing one or more teeth and have considered dental implants as an option for tooth replacement, schedule your consultation with Dr. Benjamin Hanson and the team at Brownstown Dental Care today. We are conveniently located on Allen Road and are available Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Wednesday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
We believe that everyone deserves to have the smile they desire. Therefore, we will do everything we can to make that happen for you.
Dental Implants FAQs
Dental implants are among the most popular tooth replacement solutions because they look, feel, and function the most like natural teeth. However, we understand that you have questions about this treatment. We are happy to discuss your questions and concerns at any time. Below are some of the most common ones we hear when it comes to dental implants.
Are dental implants covered by insurance?
Dental implant coverage depends on your dental insurance. Many times, dental plans do not cover implants and those that do typically only cover up to 50%. Our friendly office staff will work with your insurance provider to determine coverage and provide you with a quote detailing your cost. If you do not have insurance or your insurance does not cover implants, we offer financing options to help you pay for treatment.
Are dental implants pain-free?
We will administer a local anesthetic before moving forward with the procedure, so you may feel some pressure, but you should not feel any pain. If you prefer, we do offer IV sedation to keep you as comfortable as possible.
As you recover, you may experience some discomfort as you heal. However, this doesn’t last long. If you still have pain and discomfort after 2 weeks, please contact the office and let us know so that we can address it as soon as possible.
What is the cheapest way to replace a missing tooth?
While dental implants do require a larger investment up-front, this is actually the cheapest way to replace missing teeth. This is because it is a permanent solution, meaning you won’t have to have them replaced in the future. Dental implants are inserted into the jawbone, which prevents jawbone deterioration and supports facial structure. Other solutions, such as dentures, do not do this. Therefore, they may need to be replaced several times over the course of your life. This means that you have to keep paying for treatment.