Costs and insurance coverage for dental implants

Costs and insurance coverage for dental implants
Fox23News.com
Dental implant procedures can require a sizeable financial investment, depending on the extent of the work required and the patient's specific condition. Replacement of a single tooth with a dental implant can generally cost about the same as placement of a dental bridge. However, implants for multiple areas, complex cases, or cases requiring bone grafting will all tend to cost significantly more than other tooth replacement methods. Currently, most dental and medical insurance companies don't cover such procedures unless the work involves restoration following an accident. However, others cover certain aspects of implant placement, such as a percentage of the surgical fees or reconstruction fees. The general lack of coverage may be due to the newness of dental implant techniques as a means of restoring edentulousness (ee-DENT-you-less-ness) or tooth loss, as compared with the more traditional bridge and denture placement. Often, insurance covers the least expensive, most conservative option rather than the latest technology. Therefore, in the case of dental implants, it may be necessary to base a placement decision on factors such as long-term health advantages, restored chewing efficiency, and esthetic preservation, rather than on cost and insurance coverage.