When it comes to filling in gaps in your smile from tooth loss, dental implants are the superior solution. After all, they hold an impressive 95% success rate, are unmatched in durability, and are the only tooth replacement option that can stimulate your jawbone to prevent deterioration. However, their upfront cost is a bit higher, which may cause you to ask yourself, “Are dental implants covered by my dental insurance?” Read on for the answer!
So, Are Dental Implants Covered?
Although dental plans vary significantly from one patient to the next, the answer may be yes! However, it’s important to check with your insurance carrier directly to be certain. After all, dental insurance is designed to cover routine maintenance, basic care, and emergency treatment, and dental implants are typically considered “cosmetic.” That being said, if you lost one or more teeth due to a car accident, as a result of tumor treatment, or because of a medical condition, then your insurance provider may cover a more significant portion of the cost.
3 Tips for Maximizing Your Benefits
Whether you have an individual plan or one through your employer, dental insurance can benefit your oral health and your wallet – if you use it correctly. Unfortunately, many patients are unsure how to maximize their benefits, resulting in unused coverage and wasted dollars each year. The good news is that you can prevent that from happening by using the below tips:
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Ask your insurance provider about your annual maximum – If you’ve already hit your annual maximum, then you may want to wait until your plan renews or space out your treatment accordingly. If you haven’t, then you want to schedule your appointment sooner rather than later.
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Use your FSA dollars – A Flexible Spending Account allows employees to set aside a percentage of their paycheck for medical-related expenses, including dental treatments. Since the residual amount rarely carries over into the next year, ask your HR department (or whoever handles your benefits) about using your FSA dollars for out-of-pocket costs.
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Don’t put off your treatment – Although each dental plan is different, they typically all have one thing in common: they renew in January. So, instead of waiting until after the new year to get dental work done, utilize the remainder of your benefits before then.
How Your Dentist Can Help
Attempting to understand the fine print of your policy can be headache-inducing and sitting on the phone for hours attempting to get through to your insurance carrier isn’t much better. Fortunately, your dental team can help! They have extensive experience working with a variety of insurance plans, and they can provide you with an estimate beforehand to help you understand the cost. That way, your journey to a complete, full smile is as seamless as possible!
About the Author
Dr. Adam J. Geach earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 2006, and he has been helping his patients achieve full, healthy smiles ever since! In that time, he also earned his Certificate in Prosthodontics and Masters of Dental Science from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, providing him extensive training in dental implants and reconstructive dentistry. If you are struggling with one or more missing teeth or are simply looking for a dentist in downtown Los Angeles, visit his website.
