Dental Implant Insurance...is it worth it?

cearball

I have just received implants on the NHS for free which i am really happy about.

However i am a big fan of martial arts & don't want to give up my striking arts just to studying grappling ( which my dentist said would be ok though inadvisable)

Are the insurance schemes worth it & can anyone recommend a worthwhile scheme?

Also do they actually pay out for damaged implants or do they try to weasel their way out with creative terminology on/in the contracts.?

Any help would be much appreciated.

brook2jack

You have been very,very lucky to have implants on the NHS for two reasons
1 they are normally only available in very very rare circumstances

2 they are never placed if patient plays any sort of contact sport eg martial arts, rugby etc as they will be lost/damaged if hit

There is no insurance that will cover damage to an implant in eg martial arts as it is a specific exclusion for placing them in the first place.

If they are damaged you will have to pay the full cost of repairs,replacement which could run into thousands.

In short its your sport or your implants.

cearball

Thanks for the info.

I am really happy with the implants. I was given them because the type of tooth loss & jaw breakage was apparently quite rare combo & i allowed medical students to carry out ops aswell as have photos & articles published about them.

What about this insurance?

Google "dental implants cigna" as it wont let me add link


They say they cover dental implant repairs from external impact damage.

I Feel it would be a good idea to get them covered anyway.

I have BUPA through work but apparently they dont cover implants.

I Feel wrestling & Grappling arts are less dangerous than rugby, rugby has a high injury rate in comparison & the doctor who put them in reckon it would be ok to participate.

InsideInsurance

Read the policy book:

https://www.cigna.co.uk/downloads/dental/quote/Implants%20T&C's%20-%20FSA.pdf

Clause 4.7d explicitly excludes martial arts related damage

Twiggy_34

Sorry I can't help you with your specific query, but I'm intrigued to even hear that implant insurance exists. I've just started progress on getting a 2nd implant fitted after a failed root canal treatment, so I may well look into this if it will in any way help secure the long term investment I have made by paying to have them...

Toothsmith

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Read the policy book:

https://www.cigna.co.uk/downloads/dental/quote/Implants%20T&C's%20-%20FSA.pdf

Clause 4.7d explicitly excludes martial arts related damage

I was just going to say that I would be very surprised if any contact sports injury - gum shield or not - would be covered by a commercial insurance policy.

Much too risky for them.

As for OP - an accident affecting the implants would be a lot more messy than an accident involving real teeth. Implants are fixed to the bone in a much harder way than teeth are. Any impact to an implant would do a lot of bony damage.

I appreciate you love your sports, but one mishap and you'd be in seriously disfiguring trouble.

cearball

hmmmm thought that may be the case.

So does anyone actually know of any decent insurance that covers most things?

I heard that most companys were loathe to insure dentures & my dentist couldnt think of one.

cearball

"4. What isn’t covered by this plan?"


"4.7 Treatment resulting from a dental
accident or emergency caused or
exacerbated by you, including:

d) participating in professional sports
and, except where mouth guards
are worn, the following amateur
sports: boxing, hockey, rugby,
shinty and martial arts."

So if i wear a mouthguard im covered for amateur sports & all training as long as not participating (which i would see as competing)?


Implants are relatively new so wasnt sure if anyone here would know of a good insurer.

I mistrust insurers in general & feel that it would be hard to follows the companies guidelines for claims, the wording could give them alot of wriggle room if they didnt want to pay even if i followed their guidlines to the best of my ability.


"4. What isn’t covered by this plan?

We’ll not pay claims for the following
events, conditions, treatments and
incidental costs:

4.1 Dental implants that have not been
used as set out in the manufacturer’s
instructions.

4.2 Dental implants that have not been
looked after properly with regular
visits to a dentist with experience in
dental implants.

4.3 Any failure to osseointegrate that:
a) relates to the failure of a
replacement dental implant.
b) is the result of bone augmentation
with biomaterial.
c) relates to diabetes where the
failure can be attributed to poorly
controlled diet, lifestyle or noncompliance with treatment.
Further medical information
relating to the condition may be
sought from the relevant medical
practitioner.

4.4 Dental implants that are less than
3mm in diameter and/or 7mm in
length.

4.5 Treatment that is:
a) in any way connected to
attempted suicide of self-inflicted
injury
b) caused or exacerbated by war,
invasion, terrorist or military
activity, or while at work for the
army, naval, air services or police
forces
c) purely cosmetic
d) not considered necessary for
continued oral health
e) made outside the United
Kingdom, other than dental
accidents and emergencies that
take place overseas
f) needed because of normal wear
and tear of the dental implant
g) needed for associated or other
medical treatment
h) routine maintenance
i) mainly necessary because of you
smoking
j) related to dental implants that
were fitted when you were under
18 years of age
k) made using materials and
procedures that do not meet
our accepted evidence-based
standards
l) a result of errors or negligence
caused by the dentist"

I mean i have been told BUPA argue that implants arent covered on their policy as they class them as cosmetic & no one would necessarily really need them.

Your also not covered if you have been drinking, alot of trips/falls happen at this time & most physical assaults i would say.

vaio

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Read the policy book:

https://www.cigna.co.uk/downloads/dental/quote/Implants%20T&C's%20-%20FSA.pdf

Clause 4.7d explicitly excludes martial arts related damage

Nah, the way I read it

.......participating in professional sports and, except where mouth guards are worn, the following amateur sports: boxing, hockey, rugby,shinty and martial arts......

.is that amateur martial arts are covered as long as you use a gum shield

cearball

i will have to try ringing them & if i am happy with their price & terms i might try an ask for a letter from the company confirming any answers to my questions.

cearball

Twiggy_34 wrote: »

Sorry I can't help you with your specific query, but I'm intrigued to even hear that implant insurance exists. I've just started progress on getting a 2nd implant fitted after a failed root canal treatment, so I may well look into this if it will in any way help secure the long term investment I have made by paying to have them...

FYI other than the previously mentioned company denplan also seem to offer cover for implants