Does Medicare Cover Dental Implants
The answer to whether Medicare covers the cost of dental implants is a complicated one. For instance, if dental implants are being placed strictly for cosmetic reasons, Medicare will not cover the cost of the procedure; however, Medicare may cover the procedural costs if dental implants are needed due to illness or injury, such as lost teeth caused by oral cancer or extreme physical trauma to the face or jaw.
If your dental implant procedure is being performed in a hospital, Medicare may not cover the cost of the procedure itself, however it may cover your inpatient care costs. Medicare will also typically cover any medications you are given while in the hospital. Also, Medicare will typically cover any costs that come about should health complications develop due to the surgery or if your implants fail or become infected. Certain Medicare Advantage plans may also cover the cost of regular exams and cleanings in addition to other related procedures, like fillings, tooth extractions, and/or tooth restoration. These plans may also cover the cost of any antibiotics and/or pain medications prescribed following the procedure.
Are Dental Implants Right for Me?
Provided a patient meets the qualifications to have the dental implant procedure performed, this will be the recommended treatment. The reason your periodontist will encourage the dental implant procedure is because doing so is the most effective way to return the strength of your bite and give you a natural feeling and looking solution. Dental implants also do not come with many of the issues commonly attributed to traditional dentures.
One of the biggest reasons patients with missing teeth opt for traditional dentures compared to dental implants is because the cost of treatment is significantly higher for having dental implants placed. While it is true that conventional dentures are much less expensive and can be placed much faster than dental implants, there are also many drawbacks that come with traditional dentures. This includes things such as frequent slipping out of place, causing sore spots to develop, and having an odd taste. There is also a great deal of specialized maintenance that must be performed with traditional dentures. Finally, traditional dentures do not halt the deterioration of one’s jawbone, which means that over time as the jawbone continues to deteriorate, the shape of one’s jaw will begin to change, which means a new denture will need to be fabricated. This further deterioration also increases a person’s risk for developing other oral health issues, so even though the upfront cost of traditional dentures is much lower than dental implants, in the long run you may end up spending more money to address issues that might have otherwise been avoided.
If you would like to learn more about dental implants and what different financing options may be available to you, please refer to the following.
Am I Too Old for Dental Implants?
Provided your periodontist has performed a thorough evaluation and determined that you are a viable candidate for dental implants, then there is no such thing as being too old to have the procedure performed. Granted, the time and cost of treatment are important considerations, but having this procedure performed can have a tremendous impact in your overall quality of life. Not only that, dental implants can help extend the longevity of your life, thanks to returning your ability to eat and properly digest a wide range of foods. Increased self-confidence following the dental implant procedure is also very common, which can have a profound effect on your overall health.
To maintain the health of your implants, however, and ensure that the procedure was time and money well spent, it is critical that you prioritize your oral health moving forward. As we age, we become more susceptible to things like gum disease or tooth loss, which means it is absolutely essential that you brush and floss regularly, eat a healthy diet, and continue scheduling examinations with your periodontist at least every six months. Provided you take these steps, your dental implants can last you decades and you can avoid having to spend money on additional procedures that may have otherwise been avoidable.
Remember the Benefits You Will Enjoy With Dental Implants
Perhaps the biggest reason periodontists recommend dental implants despite them being one of the more expensive options is because having dental implants placed is really an investment in preserving your overall oral health and avoiding developing other issues that will inevitably result in the need for additional periodontal care, which will in turn raise your overall costs of treatment. In addition to avoiding these future costly and unnecessary procedures, other benefits you will enjoy having dental implants include:
- You will notice a significantly improved ability to speak and enunciate words
- Dental implants will not require nearly the level of maintenance and constant care that is required to maintain traditional dentures.
- Dental implants will also eliminate issues like rubbing or you developing sore spots, which is a common issue among patients with traditional dentures.
- Your smile will look and feel completely natural.
- Most patients notice that they have a much higher level of overall self-confidence, due to them no longer needing to feel self-conscious when smiling. This improved self-confidence can impact all sorts of areas in one’s life, including romantic and professional business opportunities.
- Dental implants (unlike traditional dentures) provide your jawbone with the stimulation it needs to avoid atrophying. Patients with traditional dentures will inevitably develop the loss of jawbone, which will necessitate a new fitting for the denture. Additionally, this jawbone loss increases the risk of additional teeth falling out and causes the person’s face to begin to sag, making them look older than they actually are.
Contact Your Periodontist Today
If you are interested in getting dental implants but are unsure if you are a good candidate or are concerned about the cost of treatment, contact your periodontist today. They can provide you with a detailed list of anticipated costs, tell you what will be covered and what will not, answer any additional questions you may have about the dental implant procedure, and discuss financing options that may be available to you.