Funding Your Dental Implant Makeover

The beauty, strength, and long-term health benefits of dental implants are hard to beat. They realistically mimic the look and feel of natural teeth, and even the downside of their lengthy healing period is offset by the advantage of lasting a lifetime. But there is one factor that’s important to consider before treatment: the upfront cost of dental implant surgery and if your insurance will cover getting dental implants.

Dental implants are more expensive compared with other treatment options for replacing missing teeth. They are well worth the investment, but understanding your dental insurance coverage and out-of-pocket expenses can help ease any stress you might have before your treatment date.

Dental Insurance Coverage for Dental Implants

The coverage you’ll receive for your dental implants is directly dependent on your provider, their stance on dental implants, whether or not your implants are “medically necessary”, and any additional treatment you might need. Here are some questions to ask.

Does your insurance recognize dental implants in their coverage?

Very basic or limited dental insurance plans may not cover dental implants, even if yours are necessary for a healthy, fully functioning mouth. However, a growing number of providers are accepting dental implants as science continues to prove how detrimental tooth loss is for a person’s overall health.

Is your dental implant considered necessary or cosmetic?

If your provider does offer coverage for dental implants, they may have additional stipulations regarding the “medically necessary” limitation. For example, if a front tooth is missing, this may only be considered a cosmetic issue and not a functional one. However, a rear molar may be considered necessary as these teeth are crucial for proper chewing.

Dr. Staley can help you understand this in greater detail and vouch for the necessity of your dental implant to your insurance provider.

Does your provider include additional treatment during surgery?

Dental implant surgery also requires digital X-rays and additional imaging, anesthesia, optional sedation, necessary bone grafts, the dental crown, and so on. Some insurance providers include this in coverage while others may only cover a portion of only the surgery itself.

Give your insurance provider a call for the most accurate answers.

Explain your situation and see if your insurance will cover necessary dental implants as well as what percentage of the overall cost will be your responsibility. Staley Dental will also reach out to your insurance provider with a request for coverage before your treatment date.

Other Options for Affording Dental Implants

If you don’t have dental insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover as much of your implant surgery as you hoped, there are still other options to consider.

In-House Health Savings Plan

Staley Dental has a dental membership plan for patients to help make dental care more affordable. Our plan includes free biannual cleanings and evaluations as well as regular digital X-rays. Any other dental care, including dental implants, is available with a 15% discount.

If you’d like to know more about our in-house health savings plan, just give our office a call and our staff will help.

CareCredit

CareCredit is a very popular option that’s designed strictly for paying healthcare and medical bills. After you are accepted, we can move forward with your dental implants and you’ll simply pay off your bill in manageable monthly increments, just like a personal credit card.

Personal Loan

Taking out a low-interest personal loan is another method of paying for dental implants up front. Depending on the financial institution and your credit score, a small personal loan may offer lower monthly payments than a standard credit card.

Personal Savings

If you decide you’d like to postpone dental implant treatment while you save money, Dr. Staley can help you figure out a prosthetic tooth alternative (i.e. dental bridge) to fill the gap while you wait.

It’s generally not recommended to wait on getting a dental implant as bone loss in the jaw can occur, resulting in the need for a bone graft in addition to the implant surgery. However, we know that every patient has different needs and we are more than happy to work with your situation.

Your dental implant consultation includes a financial discussion.

The first step for anyone interested in dental implants is a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Staley. During this visit, you’ll find out if you’re a candidate for dental implant surgery and go over what you can expect before and after treatment. Dr. Staley will also discuss financial factors to ensure you’re never caught by surprise.

If you’re an established patient with a common insurance plan, our team can easily determine how much of your dental implant surgery will be covered and what you can expect to pay out of pocket. Dr. Staley will also provide an accurate treatment quote before your surgery so you can see everything laid out in detail.

Schedule your dental implant consultation today by calling our Boise, ID, office or requesting a visit online.