When it comes to specialty procedures like dental implants, your health and dental insurance can get confusing. Many patients want to know whether their insurance covers dental implants, and the answer is that it depends on your coverage, what type of implant treatment you receive, and the reason for implants.
Reston, VA dental practice Ridgetop Dental Group will work with you and your insurance company to create a treatment plan that fits your needs, cosmetic goals, and budget.
Understanding Your Dental Insurance Coverage
Most insurance plans do not consider dental implants to be a medical procedure; instead, they are considered cosmetic. Insurance plans often do not cover cosmetic procedures because they do not consider them medically necessary, but anyone with missing teeth knows that replacing them is critical to their oral health.
Ensuring coverage for your dental implant procedure may require using both dental and medical coverage. Review your policy to determine what dental treatments are covered. Before any procedure, dental or otherwise, it’s a good idea to ask the insurance company these questions:
- 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 your dentist’s office will be able to work directly with the insurance company to determine your coverage based on the treatment plan.
Are Implants Covered By My Insurance?
There are several phases in dental implant treatment, and insurance may cover parts of the process. There are also different types of implants, depending on whether you are receiving a full arch in a restoration or just replacing one or two missing teeth.
- Tooth extraction: If the tooth needs to be extracted prior to placing the implant, this will occur as part of your treatment. Most insurance companies cover the cost of a tooth extraction.
- Bone grafting: Some patients have experienced bone loss prior to implant treatment. If so, this step is required to ensure the implant stays in place.
- Placing the implant: Some plans cover a portion of the implant placement, as it is considered a “major” treatment. This doesn’t mean the surgery itself is traumatic; rather, insurance companies use the word “major” to classify procedures with a higher cost.
- Installing the crown: Some plans consider this the same as crowning a natural tooth and may cover more of the cost than if it were part of an implant, so check your policy to determine your level of coverage.
Dental Implants in Reston, VA
We understand that working with insurance and a budget can get confusing. The Ridgetop Dental Group staff will work with you, your dentist, 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 us today.