Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) doesn't cover most routine dental care, including dental implants. However, there may be cases where Medicare will cover part of the dental costs related to an inpatient hospital stay.
If you’re looking to get dental implants covered by insurance, you’ll need to sign up for Medicare Advantage (Part C) or buy separate dental insurance.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant is a dental device that acts as a replacement for the root of a tooth. Typically, this is a post made out of titanium. Along with the post, there’s a replacement tooth designed to match your natural teeth and a connector (known as an abutment) that connects the two parts.
Dental implants are an option for people who were born without a tooth or who have lost teeth for other reasons. They’re meant to fit and function like natural teeth, and they're a more permanent option than dentures or dental bridges.
Shopping for Medicare plans? We have you covered.
- $0 plan availability52% (Below average)
- Members in high-quality plansMedium (50% to 84%)
- Member satisfactionAverage
- $0 plan availability66% (Average)
- Members in high-quality plansLow (49% or less)
- Member satisfactionAbove average
How much do dental implants cost?
The cost of a dental implant can range from around $3,000 to $6,000 or more per tooth. This includes the implant, the abutment and the crown, or replacement tooth. Multiple implants will cost more. Dental implant costs can vary widely by location, type of implant and person.
Original Medicare and dental coverage
Original Medicare doesn't cover dental care or services needed for the health of your teeth, including dental implants. This also includes cleanings, fillings, dentures and tooth extractions.
The Medicare law does carve out an allowance for payment of services that are part of another covered procedure, such as the reconstruction of your jaw after an injury. It will also sometimes cover oral exams and dental treatment required for a kidney transplant or heart valve replacement.
A required oral exam would be covered under Medicare Part A if a hospital dentist performs it and under Medicare Part B if a doctor performs it. (Medicare law does define a “dentist” as a “doctor.”)
Medicare Advantage (Part C) and dental coverage
If you think dental implants are in your future, you could consider joining a Medicare Advantage plan. Most of them (98%) offer dental benefits, according to KFF, a health policy nonprofit. You may have to pay a higher premium for coverage that goes beyond routine dental care.
And, typically, you're still on the hook for about 50% of the cost of the implant process. Plus, most plans cap dental benefits, often at $1,000 or $2,000.
» MORE: Best Medicare Advantage plans
How to pay for dental implants on Medicare
If you’re sticking with Original Medicare, consider a stand-alone dental plan that specifically offers coverage for dental implants. This likely won't pay for all costs — there may be coinsurance and a maximum annual benefit amount — but it may cover enough to be worth it.
