Key takeaways
- Dental implants replace both the visible tooth and the root(s) beneath the gums.
- Full-mouth implants, implant-supported dentures and “All-on-4 dentures” are common implant related options for replacing a full mouth of missing teeth. Implants can also be used to replace individual, missing teeth.
- A pre-treatment estimate can help you understand your expected costs before treatment starts.
- Your out-of-pocket costs can be affected by your deductible, coinsurance, annual maximum and the timing of treatment.
Replacing a missing tooth sounds simple enough, but there’s more to it than you might think. You may need to have a tooth pulled first or make several trips to the dentist for the purpose of surgical planning with plenty of time for healing in between visits. Before long, you’re not just thinking about getting a new tooth. You’re also wondering how much it will cost.
Dental insurance can help cover implants, but what’s covered depends on your treatment plan and your dental benefits. Understanding how implant treatment works can help you understand what’s covered and how it can affect your out-of-pocket costs.
Dental Implants 101
Replacing a tooth with an implant isn’t something that happens in one visit. Before any treatment plan comes together, your dentist will check the tooth (or lack thereof), the bone underneath it and your overall health. Your dentist will check to see if you need a bone graft. If you need to replace more than one tooth, they’ll also explain the treatment options available.
What is a Dental Implant
What you see above the gumline is only part of a tooth. A dental implant system replaces the part of the tooth that you see when you smile and chew with, as well as the part below your gumline called the “root.” Three implant parts work together to do that:
- Implant post
A small titanium post called the “implant body” is placed in the jawbone that and acts as an artificial tooth root. The implant body is screwed firmly into the bone. - Abutment
The connector that attaches the replacement tooth (the part of the tooth you chew with) to the implant post - Crown
The visible portion of the implant that is made to cover the abutment and looks and functions like a natural tooth
The implant itself is only one part of the process. Some might need extra treatment before they can get an implant. These include:
- Imaging to evaluate the area where the implant will be placed. This is an important part in surgical planning because it shows your dentist how much bone is available, where important structures are located and the size and angle needed for the implant.
- Tooth extraction if the damaged tooth is still present. Depending on whether a tooth will require a surgical or routine extraction will impact the cost of the extraction.
- Bone grafting if additional support is needed in the jawbone. Implants require a certain amount of bone for success. Sometimes the implant area needs additional bone added or built up before placement. If a bone graft is needed, it can take several months for the graft to fully heal and become part of the jawbone.
Because every treatment plan is different, there isn’t a single price tag for dental implants. The treatment you need plays a big role in the final cost.
What if I Need Multiple Teeth Replaced?
There are a few different approaches if you need to replace multiple teeth. If you are missing all of your teeth or your dentist has recommended a full mouth of extractions, options include full-mouth implants, implant-supported dentures that are fixed and not removable by the patient as well as implant retained dentures that snap in which a patient can snap in and out on their own. There are also implant options for single missing teeth and multiple missing teeth including single implants and implant retained bridges. Which one is right for you depends on how many teeth you’re missing and the health of your jawbone.
Full-Mouth Implants
Full mouth implants involves the placement of several individual posts throughout the jaw, where the natural teeth would be, with each post supporting its own crown Since this service requires more implants, treatment like this generally takes longer and costs more.
Implant-Supported (Fixed Dentures) or Implant retained (Snap-On Dentures)
If you’ve worn traditional dentures, implant-supported or snap-on dentures solves a problem you’ve probably already run into. Traditional dentures sit on your gums and rely on adhesives to stay in place. That means they can shift when you eat, talk or laugh. Implant-supported dentures, as well as the “All on 4” dentures, are fixed and more stable because a patient cannot remove them. The other option is an implant retained denture or snap-on dentures, which snap into a small number of implants, helping keep them secure throughout the day. The snap-on denture is one that the patient can snap in and out of their mouth for cleansing on their own.
All-on-4 Treatment
This is an implant supported approach is when where four implants are placed at precise angles and support a full arch of teeth. The All-on-4 treatment is usually the fastest path to a full smile and has gained popularity over the years. This is a fixed denture which means the patient cannot remove the denture on their own. This particular denture can sometimes be treated in one day. This treatment typically provides maximum stability, chewing efficiency, and a fixed solution that more closely mimics chewing with natural teeth.
Each option comes with its own treatment plan and timeline, which can make a difference in what you pay.
Cost of Dental Implants
If you’re wondering why the cost of replacing a tooth with a dental implant is more than other options, the answer usually comes down to the steps, materials and procedures needed to place a dental implant. For example, replacing the entire tooth, root and all, costs more than getting a dental bridge or partial denture because it involves surgery. And if you need imaging, an extraction or a bone graft first, that will cost more.
Dental implant costs can be different for everyone. What you pay depends on the type of treatment you get and how your insurance covers each part.
Dental Insurance Coverage
Two people with the same type of dental insurance can get very different answers about whether their implant is covered. Some of the most common factors that can affect implant coverage include:
- Waiting period: A set amount of time you need to be enrolled before certain services are covered.
- Missing tooth clauses: Rules that can limit coverage for teeth that were lost before coverage began.
- Alternative benefit provision: Situations where a plan pays based on the cost of lower-cost treatment option, such as a bridge.
- Coverage exclusion: Some plans don’t cover certain procedures at all, no exceptions.
- Tooth Bound Clause: Some plans require that the site receiving an implant is bound by natural teeth on each side and that those natural teeth are healthy.
Where you get care matters too. In-network dentists have agreed to specific rates with your insurance company, but out-of-network dentists don’t have this type of agreement. The dentist you choose to see can affect how your claim gets processed and what your out-of-pocket costs will be.
Understanding Potential Out-of-Pocket Costs
Getting a procedure approved by the insurance company is only the first step. What you will pay out-of-pocket will depend on your dental coverage.
- Your deductible is what you must pay before your plan starts covering treatment.
- After that, coinsurance is the percentage of the bill you owe after your deductible is met. For example, if your plan covers 50% of major services, you’re responsible for the other half.
- Your annual maximum is the total amount your plan will pay toward dental care in a calendar year.
Most of the time, an implant treatment takes more than one visit to the dentist. Extraction, bone grafting, placement of the implant body (also called the “post”), taking impressions for the crown, creating the crown and placing the crown can each take place months apart. In some cases, the process can continue into a new calendar year. That timing matters, since deductibles and annual maximums usually reset every year. It takes time for grafting to heal and for bone to become dense enough to accept an implant when grafting is needed. Likewise, it takes time for an implant to integrate into the jawbone before a crown can be placed on top of it.
Before treatment starts, ask your dentist for a pre-treatment estimate. Your dental office will send the treatment plan to your insurance, and they will give you an estimate of what’s likely covered and what you’ll owe. As for the timeline, that is something you should discuss with your dentists and depends largely on whether any grafting is recommended and healing time.
Does Delta Dental of Arizona Cover Implants?
Coverage for dental implants depends on which Delta Dental of Arizona plan you have which is selected by the individual or employer group. Dental implants can have a longer waiting period than other major services, like root canals or treatment for gum disease. Coverage percentages also vary by plan. Some plans cover a part of the cost, while more basic, lower-premium plans might not include implant coverage at all.
You can check your specific plan by using:
- Member portal or mobile app
View your coverage details, check claims status and confirm your plan’s waiting periods and coverage percentages. - Cost estimator tool
Get a general sense of what a procedure, like a dental implant, might cost before treatment starts.
If replacing a tooth is on your radar, having coverage and requesting a pre-treatment estimate means fewer surprises before treatment starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Some dental insurance plans cover implants. However, coverage varies by plan, and some plans might only cover parts of treatment.
It depends on your plan. Coverage can be limited by waiting periods, missing tooth clauses, alternative benefit provisions or coverage exclusions. Even when treatment is approved, cost-sharing requirements like deductibles, coinsurance and annual maximums mean you’ll likely still pay some of the cost out-of-pocket.
The easiest way to find out if your implant treatment is covered is to request a pre-treatment estimate through your dentist. Your dental office sends the treatment plan to your insurance, and they send back what’s likely covered and what you’d owe before any work starts.
Yes. In-network dentists have agreed to set rates with your insurance plan, which usually means lower out-of-pocket costs and easier claims than seeing out-of-network dentists.
Some Delta Dental of Arizona plans include implant coverage. Coverage percentages and waiting periods vary by plan. You can check your specific details through the member portal, mobile app or Cost Estimator tool at deltadentalaz.com.
