Navigating dental insurance under normal circumstances can be a hassle, but when it comes to dental implants, what is usually a minor inconvenience becomes an even bigger headache! Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer as to whether dental implants are covered by dental insurance. Even when a plan does cover implants, there may be a number of restrictions and loopholes that affect your eligibility. Here's everything you need to know about dental implants and insurance.
Understanding Dental Implant Coverage
To begin with, because dental implants are considered a cosmetic procedure, some dental insurance companies will not cover them at all. This is unfortunate, because dental implants provide numerous oral health benefits and it’s well-established that they’re not simply a matter of aesthetics like whitening teeth.
If your dental insurance does cover dental implants, the next step is to determine how much of the cost they will cover. Your coverage is determined by the specifics of your plan, as well as your annual limit. Here are a few possible scenarios:
- Your dental insurance will only cover procedures that are required to prepare your jaw for dental implant surgery, such as tooth extraction or bone grafting.
- Your dental insurance will cover the crown, bridge, or denture that will be affixed to your implants, but not the implants themselves.
- Your dental insurance will cover the cost of dental implants, but only if they are needed after an injury.
- Your dental insurance will provide you with a reimbursement for dental implants that is equivalent to the cost of a dental bridge or dentures.
- Your dental insurance will cover the cost of dental implants, but only for teeth that you have lost since you’ve been insured by them.
Your medical insurance may also cover some of the costs of your dental implants in certain circumstances. For example, your health insurance may provide coverage if you've lost a tooth and this has caused medical complications. In addition, dental implants are sometimes covered by health insurance after oral cancer or radiation therapy. If both your health and dental insurance policies cover dental implants, you may be able to combine your benefits to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
You can trust that our team will go above and beyond to maximize your insurance benefits while lowering your out-of-pocket costs. Our goal is for you to be able to receive the dental care you need at a cost that fits into your budget.
Making the Cost of Dental Implants Manageable
Because dental implants are a long-term solution for missing teeth, the procedure usually takes a few months to complete. If you have an annual limit for your dental insurance, we can maximize your coverage by starting the dental implant process at the end of one year and finishing it the next.
We also provide financing through CareCredit for qualified patients whose dental insurance plans don’t cover dental implants or who have insufficient coverage. Patients who are eligible for CareCredit can finance their dental implants with no interest and affordable monthly payments.
Learn More About Dental Implants and Dental Insurance
If you’d like to learn more about dental implants and whether your dental insurance will cover the costs involved, contact us today at 817-481-6888 to schedule an appointment for a consultation.