Getting fitted with dental implants is the ideal alternative to having your natural teeth. Whether you have a single missing tooth or need full upper and lower dentures, implants can give you the same results as you had before your tooth loss. The implant process includes a range of additional costs that you’ll be required to pay for. Can you get dental implants insurance, and if not, what can you expect your private or employee health insurance to cover?
What Insurers Cover
Dental implant prices vary due to several factors and the range of costs can be between $900 and $4,000, depending on the number of teeth you need with a dental implant. Few health insurers are prepared to contribute to what they consider a “cosmetic” solution, although there are some upper-end insurers that may consider it if you can provide them with a letter from your dentist. Your bet is to find out from your healthcare insurance provider what they cover before you make your first appointment, so if there are documents you need to get from our dentists in North Delta, you can request them at the consultation.
The Consultation Stage
Long before you can have implants fitted, you’ll need to consult with a dentist to find out if you’re a good candidate for the process. Most private insurance companies will pay for this consultation, especially if you have a regular checkup or a dental cleaning at the same time. This is usually subject to a maximum annual amount, which could be $500 or it could be much higher depending on your policy. If you have a plan with a healthcare savings account you could also offset some of the cost against your savings.
The Investigation Stage
Before your dentist can confirm whether implants are an option for you, s/he will have to take x-rays of your mouth and jaw. This enables them to see whether the jawbone is healthy enough and positioned correctly to take the implants. Most insurance companies have a separate code for dental X-rays, so if you have private or employee insurance there’s a good chance you can claim reimbursement for the cost of this part of the process. These digital scans range from $25 to $200, depending on how many you need and the type required.
The Preparation Stage
It’s possible you might need several procedures in preparation for your dental implants. If you have any decayed teeth you want to keep, these might need to be filled. If you have teeth that require removal, your dentist will schedule an appointment to extract them. Patients who want full upper or lower implants such as All-On-4 or All-On-6 will need surgery under a general anesthetic to remove all the teeth. Some patients have problems with their jawbone, which means they might need to have a bone graft to build it up before implants can be inserted.
In many cases, you don’t need special dental implants insurance to pay for these procedures. Tooth fillings, extraction, and root canal surgery should all be covered under your regular dental insurance, although you might have to space the procedures out over a couple of years to get everything paid for. While you do so, it’s a good time to save up for the actual implants, or to look for a medical or dental loan company that will fund you.
Once your implants are fitted, your ongoing dental consultations and teeth cleanings are covered by insurance as before, so you should have very few additional costs you have to pay for personally. Note that every insurance policy is different so its to check with your insurance company first to confirm what is and what Is not covered in your policy.
For more information on dental implant insurance, please book an appointment with our dentists in North Delta to discuss your options.