Getting straight answers about what’s covered by health and dental insurance coverage can be confusing, especially for specialty procedures like dental implants. Patients often ask their dentist whether their insurance will cover the cost of dental implants, but it can vary based on what insurance you have and what type of implant treatment you receive. Virginia Beach, VA dentist office Coastal Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry will work with you and your insurance company to create a treatment plan that fits your needs and budget.
Understanding Dental Insurance Coverage
Many insurance companies view dental implants as purely a cosmetic procedure ie not medically necessary, and will not cover them. But anyone who is missing teeth could tell them that replacing their missing teeth is critical to their health and general wellbeing.
Getting your dental implant procedure covered may require using both medical and dental insurance coverage, depending on the reason you need the implants.
Review your insurance policy to see whether dental implants are listed in the materials you were given when you started the policy. Before getting any procedure, it’s important to ask your insurance provider questions about coverage to ensure there are no expensive surprises:
- Does the plan cover implants?
- What percentage of the procedure does the policy cover?
- What is my annual maximum out-of-pocket cost?
- Do I need a referral before receiving dental implants?
The staff at Coastal Dentistry will be able to work directly with the insurance company to determine what will be covered based on your treatment plan.
Are Implants Covered By My Insurance?
To determine whether your insurance will cover the cost of dental implants, it’s important to understand the different parts of the treatment and how much mouth preparation is needed. The amount that will be covered also depends on whether you are receiving a full arch of restored teeth or just having one or two missing teeth replaced.
Tooth Extraction
The need for this part of the process is dependent on whether you are already missing teeth or if the tooth is still present but damaged and needs to be extracted before it is replaced. If so, this procedure will be part of your dental implant treatment plan and it is covered in full or at least in part by most insurance companies.
Bone Grafting
Some patients will require their underlying jawbone to be strengthened prior to the implant procedure to ensure the implant will be secure and stable. This part of the procedure may not be covered, although it is a crucial step in the implant procedure.
Placing the Implant
The implant placement procedure is considered a “major” dental procedure. But have no fear of the word “major,” though. This is a term insurance companies like to use that does not always reflect the intensity of treatment. Some plans may cover up to 50 percent of major procedures.
Placing the Artificial Tooth
The artificial tooth, called a crown in dental parlance, that provides the appearance and functionality of a natural tooth is also considered a major procedure. However, some insurance plans view no difference between crowns for implants and those for stopping tooth decay and may cover more of the cost, so check directly with your insurance company.
Request a Dental Implant Consultation Near You
We understand that working with limitations posed by your insurance and your budget can be challenging. The Coastal Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry staff will work with you and your insurance company to offer you the best treatment based on your needs and budget — and a long-lasting smile. Schedule a consultation online or call 757-656-6368 today.
To learn more about dental implants, see Dental Implants.