Will Medicaid Cover The Cost Of Dental Implants

Before we discuss the cost of dental implants and whether medicaid covers those costs, it’s important to first detail what dental implants are and how they work.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are an alternative to dentures and are used to replace teeth that have been lost or extracted for medical reasons. The process involves the placement of a plate on titanium screws inserted into the jaw bone to which dentures (false teeth) created in a lab are then adhered.

Implants are largely considered to be far more beneficial to replacing missing teeth than other dental prosthesis such as partial or full dentures. The reason is because the technology is inserted into the jawbone simulating natural teeth and encouraging blood circulation to prevent the deterioration of the bone. Implants are also more convenient for patients than the alternatives.

To learn more about dental implants, we recommend visiting the Preston Oral Surgery website at https://www.prestonoralsurgery.com/. They are located in Elizabeth City and Raleigh, North Carolina and are Medicare Certified Providers. Here’s how to contact them:

Preston Oral Surgery

8851 Ellstree Lane #116

Brier Creek Medical, Raleigh, NC 27617

[phone]

https://www.prestonoralsurgery.com/

Will Medicaid Cover The Cost Of Dental Implants?

Dental implants are considered to be an elective procedure which is commonly only performed for cosmetic and not medical reasons. The cost of the procedure is therefore generally not covered by Medicaid. Although it can be argued that implants have both physical and mental health benefits, the procedure is yet to be approved for cover by Medicaid.

This said, there are some circumstances in which Medicaid will pay for dental implants. This is usually the case with children who have lost teeth due to an injury or trauma to the face or jaw. However, the procedure will need to be well-motivated by dental and other medical practitioners in order to determine the value of the procedure over less costly alternatives such as a full or partial denture.

As a rule, Medicaid will always cover the least expensive treatment option or procedure in order to provide medical care to a patient. In the case of dental implants, partial or full dentures are the less costly option. In general, Medicaid will only cover emergency dentistry or extremely basic dentistry that is medically necessary such as extractions.

The cost of dental implants will therefore need to be paid by the patient. However, Medicaid may cover the cost of extractions if necessary. However, this will only be the case if the extraction/s are medically necessary or needed for a partial of full denture to be worn. If medicaid does cover the cost of extractions, the cost of the rest of the procedure will be for the patients account.

Medicare Parts A,B,C and D

Medicare part A covers in hospital care. Medicare part B provides cover for day-to-day medical care such as doctor's visits, specialists and care that is provided on an outpatient basis. Medicare part D covers prescription medication.

Medicare part C, or Medicare Advantage, provides additional cover for other medical needs such as dentistry. The plan will cover the cost of emergency, basic and some advanced dental procedures. This includes crowns, bridges and dental implants. However, the procedure will once again need to be well-motivated in order to prove that it will be of greater value than the less expensive dentures or partial dentures.

It is important to speak to a dentist in order to find out what options are available for replacement teeth and which will best suit individual needs. If the dentist recommends dental implants over dentures or other alternatives, they will need to motivate their decision to Medicare.

Medicare Advantage is available to certain persons at an additional cost. The multiple benefits, including dental cover, may however be of greater value than the additional cost of the Advanced plan. It is recommended to speak to a Medicaid or Medicare representative to find out what dental procedures are or are not covered. It is always advisable to seek pre-authorization for any medical or dental procedure if there's any concern regarding cover.