Are dental implants usually covered by insurance?

One of the biggest perceived barriers to dental implant treatment is the price.

As such, people naturally wonder if they can use insurance to cover the cost. 

So, is it possible?

Will insurance cover my dental implants?

Unfortunately, most insurers will not cover dental implants. 

Unlike other fields of dentistry which tend to be covered by insurance, dental implants are considered a more expensive option for tooth replacement, when compared to dentures or bridges – which they usually will cover. 

However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any providers that cover dental implants, to some extent, including: 

• Vitality dental insurance – as part of their optical, dental, and hearing insurance 

As well as the following provider who may cover dental implants, depending on your individual package:

• Unum dental insurance 

How to pay for dental implants without insurance 

Even if you don’t have insurance, there are many ways you can make paying for dental implants easy and stress-free. 

This includes: 

• Personal loans

Depending on your credit score, you may be eligible to take out a personal loan through a bank to use towards your dental implants. 

In most cases, you can apply with any bank or building society but it is important to look for providers that pre-check eligibility with a soft credit check – so as not to damage your credit score. 

You may also find that you can receive more favourable credit that you can access in as little as 24 hours, by applying through your current bank. 

Just remember, the lowest APR available will mean that you will pay less interest, making your total repayment amount smaller.  

• Pay monthly packages

Some dentists provide pay monthly packages that their patients can use to pay smaller regular increments towards treatment. 

This can seem much more achievable than paying one large lump sum, but it is important to note that providers may need you to clear the balance a certain time period before your treatment date. 

This can mean that you will have to wait until you have fully paid up before you can get dental implants, leaving you with an incomplete bite and ongoing dental issues until then. 

• Payment plans 

The most accessible option for many people is an affordable payment plan. 

A combination of finance and monthly repayments, payment plans allow you to pay a deposit straight to your preferred dental implant provider, taking the remainder of the cost on finance, which you then pay back monthly.  

This option can allow you to find a low APR, as low as 0 – 5.9% in some cases, which makes your final repayment amount much smaller than getting finance or a loan from another source. 

The biggest benefit of a payment plan, however, is that you won’t need to wait, as the first direct debit is taken either 25 to 30 days after you’ve started treatment!

Consider alternative ways of paying for dental implants 

Although the idea of claiming on an insurance policy to pay for dental implants is attractive, in actuality, it’s probably not an option for most people. 

However, with such simple, low APR payment plans now becoming available direct from providers, dental implants are actually a much more appealing and accessible option than people consider.