Delta Dental Of Massachusetts To Cover Dental Implants
Implants Improve appearance, function and save adjacent healthy teeth
Boston, MA - "Almost all of today¹s dental benefits are based upon procedures that were developed in the 1950s." according to Robert Compton, D.D.S., Chief Dental Officer for Delta Dental of Massachusetts (DDMA). "With the addition of coverage for individual tooth implants, as well as other recent evidence-based benefit changes, Delta Dental of Massachusetts is bringing dental benefits in line with 21st-century science and technology."
Delta Dental of Massachusetts announced the addition of another valuable evidence-based benefit single tooth implants to its dental plans. DDMA will provide this scientifically-proven treatment at no additional cost to their clients starting on Jan. 1.
Typically, when someone loses a tooth, a conventional, fixed bridge is used to replace it. In many cases, depending on overall oral health status, dentists may still opt to go with a bridge. But for many patients with generally good oral health, an individual implant may be a better alternative.
A conventional bridge requires that the healthy teeth on either side of the lost tooth be cut down and crowned to support the bridge. However, when the teeth on either side of the space are in good health, a single dental implant is a better alternative. "An implant is less invasive; a much more conservative approach to replacing a lost tooth," said Compton. "The amazing thing about the dental implant is that the bone and tissue surrounding it will grow around the implant and anchor it solidly in place."
Compton said that improved implant technology, comparable cost and their track record of success, makes them a preferred clinical course for many single tooth replacements. "Implants help restore chewing function and allow patients to feel confident that replacement teeth won¹t move or loosen. Dental implants offer some of the best restorative results in modern dentistry."
Delta Dental of Massachusetts is a longtime leader and innovator in oral health benefits the company was the first dental insurer to cover dental sealants in 1984 and one of the first to cover the treatment of periodontal infections with chemotherapeutic agents and offer brush biopsies to detect oral cancer.
Earlier this year, Delta Dental of Massachusetts started offering three other new dental benefits designed to prevent or reverse dental disease and have the potential to reduce the cost of treatment over time for at-risk populations. They include: Dental Sealants beyond age 15; Prescription Strength Fluoride Toothpaste for patients who have had periodontal (gum) surgery; and Chlorhexidine, a prescription mouthrinse, for members who have had scaling and root planing (deep cleaning).
"As the leader in dental health management, we want to do everything possible to help our members achieve and maintain good oral health," said Compton. "Today, there are many powerful and effective new tools and therapies for the prevention and treatment of dental disease available, and we are proud to be among the first in our industry to bring these to our clients."
SOURCE: Delta Dental Of Massachusetts