Getting clear answers about what is covered by health insurance and dental coverage can be confusing, especially for specialized procedures like dental implants. Patients often ask if their insurance will cover the cost of dental implants, but it all depends on the insurance you have and the type of implant treatment you receive.
dental provider east lancaster, ca smile dental group will work with you and your insurance to create a treatment plan that meets your needs and your budget.
Reading: How much does insurance pay for dental implants?
understand dental insurance coverage
Many insurance companies consider dental implants to be purely cosmetic and therefore not a medically necessary procedure and will not cover them. But anyone with missing teeth knows that replacing them is critical to their overall health and well-being.
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Covering your dental implant procedure may require the use of medical and dental insurance coverage, depending on the reason you need them. It’s a good idea to take some time and review your insurance policy to see if it’s listed in the insurance information you received when you started the policy. Before starting treatment, it is important to ask the insurance company questions to make sure there are no unpleasant surprises:
- Does your 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 getting dental implants?
The staff at your dentist’s office will be able to work directly with your insurance company to determine your coverage based on your treatment plan.
Are implants covered by my insurance?
To determine if your insurance covers implants, it is important to understand the different parts of the treatment and how much oral preparation is needed for the implant. the amount of coverage also depends on whether you are receiving a full arch restoration or just replacing one or two missing teeth.
dental extraction: the need for this depends on whether you already have missing teeth or if the tooth is damaged and needs to be removed before it can be replaced. If the damaged tooth is still present, this procedure will be part of your dental implant treatment and is covered by most insurance companies in full or at least in part.
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Bone Grafting: Some patients require the underlying jawbone to be reinforced prior to the implant procedure to ensure the implant is stable and secure. this part of the procedure may not be covered, despite being a crucial step in the implant procedure.
Implant placement: The implant placement procedure is considered a “major” dental procedure. however, don’t be afraid of the word “major”, this is a term used by insurance companies that reflects cost rather than intensity of treatment. some dental insurance plans cover up to 50 percent of major procedures.
Artificial tooth placement: An artificial tooth, called a crown in dental jargon, which provides the appearance and functionality of a natural tooth, is also considered a major procedure. however, some insurance plans consider this the same as a crown to stop tooth decay and may cover more of the cost, so check with your insurance company directly.
dental implants in east lancaster, ca
We understand that working with insurance and a budget can be challenging. smile dental group staff will work with you, your dentist and your insurance company to offer you the best treatment according to your needs and budget. schedule a consultation online or call (661) 302-4416 today.
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