I was recently in a biking accident and injured both of my front teeth beyond repair. My best option is dental implants, and I’m totally on board because it’s important to me that I have the most natural-looking smile when it’s all said and done. My dentist is saying my insurance won’t cover much on the procedure because it’s considered cosmetic. Am I just supposed to live without my front teeth? Do they expect me not to eat? It’s completely necessary to have them replaced and I’m not just doing it for cosmetic reasons. How can I get my insurance to pay more? — Morgan
Morgan,
How frustrating this situation must be for you! Yes, teeth are a necessity for eating and chewing, but there is also another reason why you need to get this situation taken care as soon as possible – and that is the fact that your remaining teeth will start to shift into the empty space.
Here’s the problem with most insurance companies: they understand the need to replace them, but they don’t believe in restoring your smile with the best and most expensive solution – thus their determination that it’s cosmetic. With other options available, they are just looking for “good enough” and more often than not, that is the least expensive option. You’ll likely have to pay the difference between the least expensive option and the implants or they might offer to only pay for the crown that will go on your implant.
Have your dentist request a pre-authorization or a predetermination of benefits from your insurance company. They can give the insurance company all the details so they can officially state what they will and won’t pay for. If your dentist provides a written explanation of why the implants are necessary, they may give more consideration and possibly pay more. Coverage varies from company to company, so just be sure you provide them with all the necessary information so that you can get the best benefit possible.
This blog post is brought to you by Des Moines cosmetic dentist, Dr. Phelan Thomas. For more information on the services he provides, please visit his Des Moines cosmetic dentist website.