Dental implant insurance

Dental implant insurance is a type of dental coverage that specifically helps pay for the cost of dental implants, which are artificial tooth roots surgically placed into the jawbone. Most standard dental insurance plans in the U.S.

Such as Delta Dental PPO and Cigna Dental 1500, exclude or severely limit coverage for dental implants. Some specialized policies or add-ons, like Guardian Direct’s top-tier plan, cover up to 50% of implant costs after a waiting period and annual maximums apply (e.g. $1,500 per year).

Typical exclusions include abutments and crowns related to implants, with only select insurers–such as Spirit Dental–offering partial reimbursement for these components, as reported by YourInsurance.info. Waiting periods for implant coverage usually range from 6 to 12 months before benefits activate.

Out-of-pocket costs remain high because average U.S. Implant procedures cost between $3,000 and $4,500 per tooth according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (2023).

Pre-existing condition clauses often prevent coverage if tooth loss occurred prior to policy start; examples include MetLife TakeAlong Dental. Major carriers require pre-authorization before approving claims for implants due to their high expense.

Annual maximums on covered services cap total insurer payouts at amounts like $1,000–$2,000 per year across providers including Humana and Aetna.