Dental implants can be an excellent choice for replacing any number of missing teeth. However, since they come at a higher cost than traditional bridges or dentures, you will likely want to look for ways to make them more affordable. Could dental insurance be the key to making dental implants more budget-friendly? Here’s what you need to know before you start the process of replacing your teeth from the roots up.
How Does Dental Insurance Handle Dental Implants?
Currently, many dental insurance companies consider dental implants to be a cosmetic procedure and thus won’t provide coverage for them. This isn’t necessarily the case for every insurance company, though, so it’s always worth double-checking your benefits to confirm what is or isn’t covered.
Note that an insurance plan that will not pay for dental implants may still provide at least partial coverage for certain aspects of the dental implant process. Common examples include the final crown, bridge, or denture that will be attached to the implant posts as well as certain preliminary procedures that might be deemed necessary to prepare your mouth for dental implant surgery.
Are There Other Ways to Make Dental Implants More Affordable?
It’s important to keep in mind that dental insurance is not your only option for making the cost of dental implants more manageable. For example, if you apply for low-interest financing from CareCredit, you can pay for your care in smaller monthly installments, thus putting significantly less strain on your budget. Additionally, many dental practices offer in-house savings plans that come with discounts on a wide range of services; this can be a great choice for patients who don’t have dental insurance at all.
Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?
Even though dental implants carry a higher cost than traditional dentures and bridges, many patients find that they are ultimately worth the investment in the long run, thanks to the many advantages they provide, such as:
- Looking and feeling like natural teeth.
- Staying anchored to the jaw so that they don’t slip the way traditional dentures sometimes do.
- Actively preventing bone loss by providing the same kind of stimulation as natural teeth.
- Allowing you to eat virtually any kind of food.
- Lasting for decades with minimal maintenance (which makes it less likely that you’ll need to pay for replacements).
In short, there are plenty of reasons why fitting dental implants into your budget can be worthwhile. If you schedule a consultation with your dentist, they can determine your candidacy for the treatment and help you explore your options for making it as affordable as possible.
About the Author
Dr. Shue Her is a graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. He has studied Full Arch All-on-4 implant restorations at the 3D Dentist Institute, and he can offer start-to-finish dental implant treatments at Lifetime Dental of Gainesville. If you’re interested in getting dental implants to replace missing teeth, you can schedule a visit with Dr. Her by visiting his website or calling (770) 536-6688.