Does Medicare Cover Dental Implants
In order to best address this question, it is important to understand what dental implants are, why they are used, and how they are completed. In general, unfortunately, Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, does not cover dental implants (nor does it cover routine dental care), but it might cover some of the costs of different stages of the procedure. Some Medicare Advantage plans might have routine dental care as part of the benefits, but even these plans generally will not cover implants. Additionally, if you have private dental coverage, implants are not always covered by private dental insurance. It is best to check with your dentist and your Medicare/dental insurance provider so that you can get the best and most accurate information about your particular coverage. Your dental office will be able to help you with this step in the process. Dental implants can be costly, so it is also important to shop around and ask about pricing prior to a procedure. It is important to remember the better health and quality of life that can come with implants as opposed to other options for missing teeth, and to discuss all this with your dentist.
What is dental implantology?
Dental implantology is a branch of dentistry that aims to restore missing teeth by inserting artificial titanium roots (dental implants). Basically, implantology is a rehabilitation procedure aimed at those who have lost their natural teeth.
Artificial teeth are designed to replace real teeth that are missing both in terms of aesthetics and chewing function. State-of-the-art dental implantology techniques allow permanent rehabilitation of chewing and avoid the hassles associated with the use of removable dentures, ensuring an aesthetic result equal to that of natural teeth.
Tooth loss: the causes
The causes of tooth loss can be many:
* mechanical trauma of various kinds
* periodontal diseases
* other pathologies of the oral cavity
The loss of one or more teeth causes a reduction in chewing function which, in turn, causes a slow loss of bone mass and density. Following the loss of a tooth, thanks to dental implantology, it is possible to resort to various solutions:
* partial or total removable prostheses
* bridges on natural teeth
* rehabilitation with dental implant
If you decide to do an implant to replace your missing teeth, be aware that it is a process that can involve several visits with your dentist. During the first visit, the specialist dentist (implantologist) shows the patient a suitable treatment plan. The implantologist performs an accurate diagnostic evaluation, using diagnostic tests such as radiographs, orthopantomographies and Digital Dental Scan (3D) CT scans.
Before the dental implant surgery, to ensure the best outcome of the operation, the implantologist prepares a computer-guided planning to be used during implant placement. Computer-guided planning is a particularly useful tool in the field of dental implantology, because it increases the precision of implant insertion and reduces the surgical invasiveness of the operation, for the benefit of the patient.
Implant integration times and healing times
Dental implant surgery consists in the placement of a titanium dental implant integrated into the bone of the affected dental arch (osseointegrated implantology).The result is a stable bond between bone and dental implant that allows it to withstand high chewing loads. The implant is left inside the bone and gum for the time necessary for osseointegration: the patient will not see any difference inside their mouth.
Usually, the implant integration time varies according to the affected bone: maxilla (4-6 months); mandibular (3-4 months). The healing times are estimated by the implantologist, also considering the factors that could slow down osseointegration. After the osseointegration period, the implant is uncovered. It is a small operation to be carried out before starting the final phase of making the new tooth. The uncovering of the implant exposes its head in the oral cavity, through the use of healing screws that are used to adapt the gum.
Dental implants: do they hurt?
Normally, the implant surgery is performed in the clinic and requires the administration of local anesthesia. Upon request by the patient, the operation can also be performed in conscious analgesic sedation. In any case, during the operation, the patient generally does not feel pain.
Conscious analgesic sedation is a simple, non-invasive and side-effect-free method that allows you to face any dental session in total tranquility. This type of sedation consists of the administration via intra-nasal nebulization of an analgesic drug. This type of sedation can be used to undergo any dental treatment. In addition to surgical interventions, it is used for practices such as dental hygiene, root canal therapies, treatment of caries and periodontitis and implantology interventions.
It is a widespread and scientifically recognized technique that reduces the patient's perception of pain and the anxiety level, leaving the subject conscious and lucid, without causing any side effects. Conscious analgesic sedation is suitable for all ages and even children can undergo it.
Dental implants: success rate, maintenance, risks
Complete osseointegration of dental implants is successful in the vast majority of cases.
International studies based on the scientific and rigorous evaluation of over 1,200,000 implants have indicated that the average success rate is over 98%. For smokers, the success rate drops to 85%.
It should be emphasized that this result is closely related to compliance with an adequate program of periodic checks and professional oral hygiene (tartar ablation or scaling) planned by the dentist and the patient. Pre-intervention planning is essential to ensure an excellent response to chewing stress and immediate stability of the entire structure.
Good oral hygiene, every day, at home
After the insertion of the implants, all surrounding teeth must be carefully cleaned to avoid contamination of the wound. In the two weeks following the surgery, we recommend using a variety of preparations to rinse the mouth, antimicrobial-based gels and a very soft surgical toothbrush for post-operative wound hygiene. Dental implants need to be taken care of just like you would your natural teeth, i.e. brush them regularly. Only through regular visits and good oral hygiene will you be able to keep your dental implants in top condition for decades.
Like natural teeth, the implants placed in the bone of the mouth are connected to the outside through the oral cavity and are therefore exposed to the action of bacterial plaque. Poor oral hygiene can contribute to the onset of inflammation and infection just like natural teeth. Such inflammations can cause gum bleeding and, in the more advanced stages, the formation of pockets around the implants and the destruction of the bone. The initial inflammation of the gum around the implant can be resolved if diagnosed in time. Deeper inflammation (peri-implantitis) can lead to the destruction of the bone around the implant, with abscesses and pain until the implant itself is extracted.