Costa Rica Health News – Despite the advancement in technology and improvements in dental care, millions of people around the globe still suffer from tooth loss because of gum disease, injury or simply due to tooth decay. The good news is there is a treatment called dental implants available for those people who can afford to have one.
But what is a dental implant? It is an artificial tooth root made of titanium that is embedded into the jawbones to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. The problem is, though dental implants surgery is the most effective dental solution today that is available in the market to replace missing teeth it is also one of the most expensive treatments there is. A single tooth dental implant costs around $3000 so a full arch dental implant may be around $30,000 to $40,000 including crowns in the USA.
Your next question would most likely be: “Are dental implants covered by dental insurance?”
Well, just like most elective procedures, dental implants surgery is cosmetic in nature and is not perceived as a necessary medical operation. As a result it is usually not covered by dental insurance and the patient may have to shoulder the full cost of the procedure; this is the reason it was stated earlier that it is available for people who can afford it.
However, though the entire procedure may not be covered by insurance, there are some dental plans that may cover the costs of bone grafting, sedation, the crowns that will be anchored to the patient’s mouth and aftercare, which can somehow lessen the cost the patient needs to take care of.
Take note that it is important that you know all your options before diving in so you can save money on your dental implants or make the procedure more affordable.
So what should we do?
If you do not have a dental insurance yet but may likely need a dental implant in the future, make sure to look for a dental insurance plan that at least covers some of the costs associated with a dental implants procedure and possible aftercare; this way you won’t have to foot the entire dental bill. If you already have a dental insurance, make sure to contact the insurance company to check whether your contract is inclusive or exclusive of dental implants coverage.
Aside from dental implant insurance, there are numerous dental discount plans out there that are inclusive of low-rate everyday dental procedures and dental implants surgery. These kind of plans offer flat rate or percentage based discount amounts on procedures and operations that are paid for in a monthly or yearly basis. Furthermore, with dental discount plan a patient may have a better chance of coverage than with a dental insurance plan as they are less strict and does not have a distinction on what is considered medically necessary and cosmetic procedure. Take note though that with discount plans, patients are still responsible for the payment of charges and costs of membership in the plan.
You may discuss your situation with your dentist and check if they offer discounts or allow staggered payments for the procedure.
Even with all these options many insurance companies and plans including Obamacare do not cover this procedure, being that it has been deemed a cosmetic procedure. or this reason many people have decided to pay a fraction of the cost and get their dental implants done in countries like Costa Rica. With less overhead and Costa Rica dentists that have been in many cases trained in the USA, dental tourism in Costa Rica is becoming more and more popular.
Costa Rica because of its proximity to the USA is becoming a more and more popular dental destination to both save money on dental procedures such as porcelain veneers, dental implants or a full mouth restoration and have a dental vacation.
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There is a lot of information to digest when it comes to preparing for your dental vacation to Costa Rica. Entry requirements to Costa Rica, how to find a dentist or dental clinic, what to expect for your specific procedure and so much more.
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