Exploring options to make dental implants affordable for you.

The popularity of dental implants is rising over the years and implants have become a common option for tooth replacement for people of all ages. Whether a patient only needs a single tooth replaced or several teeth at once, implants provide excellent long-term benefits. While each patient’s treatment is different from the next, the extended time frame and multiple steps involved in the various procedures can become costly.

Dental implants, if properly placed by a well-trained practitioner, can offer a lifetime solution to missing teeth. With this benefit in mind, implants should be considered a very wise investment toward improving and maintaining overall good health.

Having a beautiful and healthy smile are very important to your physical as well as mental health so don’t let the cost of treatment scare you away from choosing implants as your best solution. Here are several options to consider as you explore the costs of implant treatment.

Find the most appropriate dental implant surgeon

The first and most important step in overall savings is to find the dentist that can offer the highest level of surgical expertise and aftercare. Certain problems can be prevented by ensuring that implant placement is done correctly from the beginning. Not every implant dentist has the extensive training and knowledge that’s necessary for optimum performance.

LOCATE a qualified implant dentist near you.

Find an implant dentist/surgeon who performs all steps in implant placement. More and more dentists perform both the surgical and restorative work and working with only one practitioner could offer an overall cost savings.

LEARN MORE about the surgical and restorative steps involved in implant placement.

Know what your payment options are

Discuss payment options with your dentist, who may offer payment plans that fit within your monthly budget. Most dental practices offer programs to make the cost of implants easier to handle. Since most implant procedures occur over an extended period of time (from initial placement to final treatment) it’s commonly offered to spread payments out during that time period.

CLICK HERE for more information about the various stages of implant placement and treatment.

Ask your health insurance provider if they offer coverage

Determine what portion of the total cost of treatment will be covered by your health insurance. If dental implant surgeries are medically necessary, some insurance plans may cover certain aspects of care.

For example, former cancer patients or car accident victims may be able to tap into this resource if their tooth loss can be attributed to disease or injury. If so, the policy may cover a CAT scan or surgical steps for medically necessary restorations.

Medicare and Medicaid are two possible options for assistance with ‘medically necessary’ cost reimbursement. Medicaid does not cover dental implants but it may partially cover related dental work for adults in many states. The same is true of Medicare for senior citizens.

If your health insurance doesn’t already pay for implants, purchase an alternative dental insurance plan. Always check with your dentist before purchasing additional coverage to confirm which insurance companies they work with.

Making monthly payments toward dental insurance premiums can help to make implants more affordable by having a third-party payer reimburse a large portion of the cost. However, there are prerequisite qualifications to be aware of:

a. A dental plan must be in place prior to the beginning date of dental work and most likely will not cover the cost of teeth lost before the effective date
b. Know if your insurance carrier requires a waiting period before benefits are paid
c. Plans without waiting periods will most likely contain graded benefits, paying a higher percentage of costs with each subsequent year of coverage
d. Know what your co-pay will be prior to purchasing additional premiums

Look into other resources to assist with financing.

For more information about dental implants, and to find a qualified dental implant provider in your neighborhood, visit the Academy’s website at whydentalimplants.org.