Are Dental Implants Covered by Insurance?
Dental implants are widely considered the most superior tooth loss treatment. Dental implants replace the roots and crowns of a lost tooth to restore oral functions. Dental implants can be costly, so it is common for individuals to wonder if dental implants are covered by insurance.
Dental implants are often viewed as an elective dental procedure, which means they may not be covered by dental insurance. However, that is all dependent on the patient’s insurance provider and their specific treatment plan. The team at Staten Island Aesthetic & Implant Dentist works with patients from the Staten Island, NY-area to create a treatment plant that meets their unique needs while fitting within their budget.
Understanding Your Insurance Coverage
The only way to determine if dental implants will be covered by insurance is to examine the insurance plan details. Although tooth loss has a significant impact on oral health and functions, many insurance companies categorize dental implants as a cosmetic procedure, or one that is not medically necessary. As such, they may not provide coverage for dental implants, or they may only provide coverage for certain aspects of the treatment.
Our dental team works with our Staten Island patients to help them understand their insurance coverage. Depending on the patient’s unique needs and their specific treatment plan, we may be able to utilize both dental insurance and medical insurance to maximize treatment coverage. We can also help patients explore other financing options to cover the out-of-pocket expenses of dental implant treatment.
Potential Coverage for Aspects of Dental Implant Treatment
Even if an insurance provider does not offer coverage for dental implants, certain aspects of the implant treatment plan may be partially or fully covered by insurance.
- Tooth extraction - If a tooth is severely damaged but has not come out on its own, it will need to be extracted. Most insurance providers will cover the cost of tooth extraction in part or full.
- Dental restorations - Dental crowns act as anchors to hold down dental restorations, which may include dental crowns, dental bridges, or dentures. If the implants themselves are not covered insurance providers may still offer coverage for the dental restoration(s).
- Insurance allowance - Some insurance providers who deny coverage for dental implants are willing to provide an allowance that is equal to the amount of covered tooth loss treatments, such as a dental bridge or dentures.
Covering Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Whether an insurance provider offers coverage for dental implants or not, patients are likely to have out-of-pocket expenses associated with their treatment. Fortunately, there are many financing options available to dental implant patients. Our dental practice offers customized financing plans that allows patients to break the cost of dental implant treatment into manageable monthly payments.
Get in Touch
If you are interested in rebuilding your smile with dental implants but are concerned about the expense of treatment, the team at Staten Island Aesthetic & Implant Dentist would be happy to help you consider insurance coverage and financing options. To receive a customized treatment plan, send us a message online, or call (718) 705-4434 and schedule a consultation.
