Dental implant categories?

I'm hoping someone with knowledge of dentistry can give me some insight on this. I've been paying for "comprehensive dental insurance" for the last couple of years, because I realized I might need to have a tooth removed and replaced. Last year I had it removed, a bone graft done, and now have had an implant put in. I got my "explanation of benefits" from Met Life, my dental insurer, today, and they describe it as "not a covered service." They call it an "endosteal implant." But their schedule of benefits indicates that "RECEMENT IMPLANT/ABUTMENT SUPPORTED CROWNS" are covered 60%. What is the difference between those things, and how is an ordinary patient supposed to know what will be covered before they get the procedure done? I'm actually glad I didn't get the procedure done by one of their "in-network" dentists, contrary to their recommendations, because that would probably have cost a lot more. This was done by a resident at our dental school.

Dental implant categories?
Insurance companies usually do not pay any benefits for implants.. and patients know this if a pre-treatment estimate is sent in prior to the work being done.





You should call your insurance company and find out the reasoning behind them covering to have an implant crown recemented (do they cover implant crowns?) but do not cover implants themselves.





Maybe if enough people make a fuss, they'll change their benefit program to accomodate this...





Good luck!
Reply:The endosteal implant is placed in the bone and the abutement is placed on top of that so you have a nice foundation for the crown to go on. Most dental insurances don't cover the placement of the implant but will cover the abutement and crown. Your dentist should have gone over all of this before the procedure just so you had a heads up. Ordinary patients don't know this but should be informed before the procedure of all costs.
Reply:I believe what that means is that they will cover 60% of the crown restoration that cements over the implant but not the implant its self . I work in a dental office and most insurances dont cover implants but they cover crowns and a crown is a crown wether its on an implant or its on a natural tooth .
Reply:Some dental plans do cover implants (I have Metlife and implant was covered 50%) it depends on what plan the employer wants to provide.


For expensive procedures it's always good to have the dental office submit a pre-estimate (if time allows).

Yellow Teeth