Many people believe dental implants are expensive, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. They are the most affordable overall because they have over a 95% success rate and are proven to last for 30 years or more. They reduce your oral health expenses to save money down the road. Although they cost more initially than other treatments, they are affordable for people from all walks of life. You can use your dental insurance, but time is running out. Here’s how to invest in a complete smile before your dental benefits expire.
Insurance Coverage for Dental Implants
It’s unlikely your insurance will pay the entire cost of your treatment. However, you can use your coverage to lower your out-of-pocket expenses for certain steps of your treatment, like:
- Consultation: Your first step to replacing your lost teeth is a consultation with your dentist. Your insurance may cover the expense after a co-pay.
- Diagnostic Services: Your dentist may require X-rays, a CT scan, and other diagnostic services, which may be included in your dental benefits.
- Preliminary Procedures: It’s not unusual to require a little prep work, like tooth extractions, gum disease therapy, or bone grafting. Your insurance can pay 50% to 80% of the expenses for medically necessary procedures after meeting your annual deductible.
- Sedation: Dental sedation is needed to ensure you’re comfortable, while titanium implant posts are surgically placed into your jaw. Sedation is often classified as a luxury, but it can be covered partially by your dental insurance.
- Restorations: You can use your insurance to pay some of the expenses for your restorations until you reach your annual limit.
Since the dental implant process involves several steps with separate costs, you won’t have to come up with a lump sum. You can pay for each phase separately, making it easier to budget for dental implants.
Use It Before You Lose It
Your dental benefits expire at the end of the year. You’ll lose anything you don’t use and nothing accumulates. You won’t be reimbursed for your premiums or deductibles.
With less than 3% of Americans meeting their yearly limits, you have plenty of benefits available to keep dental implants within your budget. You can even split the expenses into the upcoming year.
You have several options to pay any fees not covered by your dental insurance, like monthly payments with CareCredit.
There’s no better time than now to invest in the most successful tooth replacement methods.
About Dr. Eduart Shkurti
Dr. Shkurti achieved his dental degree from the University of Southern California and has continued his education in various specialties, like dental implants and smile makeovers. He accepts many dental insurance plans and offers various financial solutions to keep dentistry affordable. Contact his office through his website or call (646) 713-0132.