Four Methods for Covering Dental Implant Costs

When you have a dentist appointment for a consultation about teeth implants, make sure you keep the appointment. It’s necessary to have many appointments throughout the process of getting a dental implant. There are three main parts of a dental implant: the post, abutment, and crown. It takes several months to get the full implant completed, and it can be up to a year for the entire process to be done.

The post that is put into the bone is a durable metal post that is implanted once you are determined to have enough bone to hold it. You may have to get a bone graft first. After you have had the post implanted and have been given a while to heal, you can get the abutment for the dental implant attached to the post. The abutment meaning in dentistry, also the abutment medical definition, is a device that goes in between two other pieces.

The abutment sits in between the crown and the post. The last step is to make the crown and to install it. Some dentists can make it in-house on the same day, but most have it made in a lab and delivered to them within a week or two.

There are many reasons that people avoid the dentist. The most common reason is a fear of pain. Many people have come to associate the dentist with pain and would rather avoid it entirely. The other common reason is the cost. Most dental procedures do not fall under basic health insurance. If you don?t currently have health insurance, it can be very expensive to afford many of the available dental procedures. If you require a dental checkup and are concerned about the cost, consider these payment options.

Use current health insurance or sign up for dental insurance
In most cases, the best way to cover dental costs is with dental insurance. Dental insurance plans cover routine procedures and then a percentage of the more expensive procedures, like dental implant costs. If you expect that you have expensive dental needs coming up, it could be beneficial to sign up for a dental insurance plan now. Most plans charge a minimal amount per month, especially if you are adding it to an already existing health insurance. Once you get your coverage, you can receive all of the general dentistry procedures you need, for a fraction of the cost.

Pay out of pocket
This is not always an option. However, for some, it is the only option. If you require dental implants, for example, to correct a painful tooth, you could be left paying out of pocket. Dental emergencies cause many patients without dental insurance to cash out savings accounts or take out loans. There are even some dental problems that are expected, like the removal of the wisdom teeth. It is not uncommon for adults to have their wisdom teeth removed because there is usually only enough room for 28 teeth in the mouth. Yet, the removal of wisdom teeth without dental insurance can be very expensive.

Arrange a payment schedule with your dentist
More and more dentists are becoming aware of the common limitations of regular dental care. In an attempt to improve overall patient dental health and to also increase patient numbers, many dental offices are offering payment schedules. With payment schedules, you can get the dental procedures you require and make affordable payments each month. This is a great solution for those that require extensive dental procedures, like dental implant costs or even dental veneers. Traditional porcelain veneers cost between $925 and $2,500 per tooth but can last 10 to 15 years.

Take out a health care credit
If you needed a new vehicle, you would take out a loan. If you required a large amount of money to close on a new house, you would take out a loan. Creditors have noticed this financial need in the dental industry, and if needed, you can apply for dental health care credit. If you require dental implants, but cannot currently afford the dental implant cost, your dentist might offer health care credit. This works similar to any credit card. You charge the amount and then instead of making payments to the dentist, you make it to the creditor. The healthcare credit is becoming more common with cosmetic dentistry procedures.

Approximately 96% of adults believe that an attractive smile makes a person more appealing to members of the opposite sex. Additionally, an attractive smile can increase your confidence level and affect both your career and personal life. Yet, many people entirely avoid the dentist because of financial constraints. Fortunately, there are alternative ways to cover the costs of the dentist that you may not have considered. These payment methods make it possible to finally receive the dental care that you require.