Dental Implants

[LMC]

This just sounds lovely. My DS is missing 9 permanent teeth plus 3 wisdom teeth (assuming the can salvage the impacted one) so I can see what I have to look forward to. And I have been informed that since his are missing due to genetics, insurance won't cover any part of the implants or crowns or whatever it will take to fill in the gaps.

 

[starwood]

Dh got one last year. It was over $3000. Insurance pays half up to $3000 a year but they also include cleanings with that and the crown was extra (which we weren't told). We had to pay over $1000 out of pocket AND a few months ago the implant came loose and he is now going through the whole process over again (at least they aren't charging for it).

Now last night I broke a tooth and I don't think there is anyway I will ever go through having an implant. I hope they can just put a crown on it but that will probably cost us about $500 out of pocket.

 

[Pembo]

Anyone ever go to a place that does implant and crown all in the same day?

 

[KCMiller]

If you live anywhere near a college of dentistry, and they have an implant clinic, you owe it to yourself to check it out. The work may be done by 'students', but these students already have graduated from dental school with their DDS degrees (implant is an added specialty), and the work will be supervised by experienced faculty who teach and do research into dental implants for a living. You'll get the BEST treatment, from folks who do nothing BUT implants. And the cost will be lower than private practice. There might even be a study you can join - for instance, locally, the dental school here is seeking folks who need 2 non adjacent dental implants. Participants in this study would receive a $500 discount on the surgical part of the treatment (current fee for single implant placement is $1050), and $200 for two tissue biopsies.

KC

 

[MomToOne]

One way to save money is to put enough money into an FSA to cover it - that way you will at least be paying for it with pre-tax dollars. Depending on your tax brackets, that can save you alot of money.

Another way to save some money is to use an oral surgeon that accepts your insurance plan. While most insurance won't pay for the actual implant surgery, by going to an in-plan oral surgeon you can get the insurance company negotiated rate at least - that can save you hundreds of dollars. For example, my oral surgeon charges a normal rate of $2002 for just the main implant surgery. But the negotiated rate with my insurance company is actually $1700. My insurance company won't actually pay anything, since the implant is not covered, but my oral surgeon will charge me only that negotiated rate, saving me $300. I also saved on my bone graft, and will on the crown as well (which my insurance actually covers at 60%, but even the 40% I pay will be of the negotiated rate, not the "rack" rate )

With negotiated rates, in all I will pay about $3000 for this implant, which includes the bone graft and the crown.

 

[MomToOne]

Dh got one last year. It was over $3000. Insurance pays half up to $3000 a year but they also include cleanings with that and the crown was extra (which we weren't told). We had to pay over $1000 out of pocket AND a few months ago the implant came loose and he is now going through the whole process over again (at least they aren't charging for it).

Now last night I broke a tooth and I don't think there is anyway I will ever go through having an implant. I hope they can just put a crown on it but that will probably cost us about $500 out of pocket.

Unfortunately, a certain percentage of implants are going to fail. But that actually brings up a good question to ask your oral surgeon - how many implants have they had fail? Some surgeons will do implants in riskier situations (less jaw bone, etc.), but a larger number of those fail. Find out how conservative your dentist is in that regard - I have one that is extremely converservative (which can be good or bad depending on your situation) and has never had one fail. Not that that's a guarantee of success, but it's something to consider.

Also, smokers have a much higher rate of bone graft/implant failure. One report I saw said 15.8% of implants failed in smokers, versus 1.4% of implants in non-smokers. If you smoke, be aware you run that risk - you may want to research that further before deciding on the implant. (Not saying Starwood's husband is a smoker, just thought I'd point that out fact for anyone considering an implant).

 

[klynn]

I just had my first implant done week. Earlier this year I had the extractions and bone grafting. I will get my second implant in a few weeks. After that heals I will get my new bridge (6 tooth). From start to finish I will have paid $15,000. It is just plain expensive.