Is There Any Difference Between a Regular Crown and an Implant Crown?

Unfortunately we live in a time where we are faced with the bureaucracy of the insurance companies. Dental insurance was never designed to pay for major reconstructions and specifically dental implants. The insurance benefits are usually low, or non-existent. Therefore you should not rely on your dental insurance to cover the cost of these procedures. You are asking questions which relates to the dental insurance companys interpretation of the procedures that we as dentist provide, as they need to establish a specific “coding” for each procedure that we do and associate a fee and a reimbursement percentage. Therefore, there is really no functional or material different between a crown fabricated for an implant, or a crown fabricated for a natural tooth. Of course the process can be different depending upon the type of implant, and the “abutment” used the part which connects the implant (in the bone) to the tooth crown sitting above the gumline. I agree with you that the “crown” on the implant should be a covered expense and at least, the insurance company should offer an “alternative benefi” for the service that your dentist is providing. If they do not, you should raise this issue with the carrier, and perhaps the dentist can describe the procedure to have them re-consider the benefits for you.

Thank you for your question. I'm not completely sure, since I am not a dentist, but from what I've heard, a crown is a piece of metal that covers a tooth to prevent the growth of a cavity, while an implant extends all the way down into the nerve of the tooth to prevent the cavity from killing it. My dad has implants, and although they are more expensive, he has thoroughly enjoyed them. I would recommend calling your dentist to find why only certain procedures are covered by your insurance. If his prices are out of your range, I'm sure he can offer payment options or refer you to someone else that is cheaper.

I have an implant and will soon get a crown. Why can't the dentist reuse the crown that was there to start with? I am having issues with paying $2100 for a crown when the one that came out is fine. It has cost $2600 so far. Thanks for your answer.