Two separate questions often get folded into one search. The first is clinical: who is qualified to plan and place a dental implant well? The second is financial: how does my Delta Dental plan treat the office I choose? This guide takes them one at a time. It covers how implants work, what to look for in the dentist who places them, how Delta Dental’s network affects your costs, and how members can use out-of-network benefits if they choose an office outside that network.
One point needs to be clear from the start. Reimels Dentistry in Huntersville, NC is out-of-network with Delta Dental. The practice does not participate in any Delta Dental network. Its only in-network relationship is with Blue Cross Blue Shield GRID+. Delta Dental members are still welcome here, and the rest of this article explains how that works, along with how to find an in-network Delta Dental office if that is what your budget requires.
What a Dental Implant Actually Replaces
A dental implant replaces more than the visible part of a tooth. It replaces the root. Delta Dental’s own member education describes implants as replacements for natural teeth and roots. A post, usually made of titanium, is placed into the jawbone. Over a healing period the bone bonds to the post. A connector called an abutment then attaches to the post, and a crown, bridge, or denture attaches to the abutment.
That bonding between bone and implant is called osseointegration, and it is the reason implants can feel stable when you chew. The StatPearls review of dental implants hosted by the NIH describes this process and the factors that influence whether an implant integrates successfully, including bone quality, overall health, and careful surgical planning.
Implants are regulated as medical devices. The FDA’s consumer page, Dental Implants: What You Should Know, explains the parts of an implant system, the potential benefits, and the risks patients should discuss with their dentist before treatment. It is worth reading before any consultation, because it helps you ask better questions.
Materials Used in Dental Implants
The material of an implant affects how it integrates and how it looks. The two most common choices are:
- Titanium. Titanium has been the standard choice for decades. It is strong, durable, and biocompatible, which means bone tends to accept it and bond to it well.
- Zirconia. Zirconia is a ceramic option for patients who prefer a metal-free implant. It is tooth-colored and durable, and some patients choose it for appearance or personal health reasons.
The FDA page linked above notes that implants are made from materials such as titanium and zirconia and encourages patients to ask their dentist which material is being used and why. The right choice depends on your bone, your bite, where in the mouth the implant goes, and your preferences.
Standard Implants and Mini Implants
Implants come in different sizes, and diameter matters.
| Type of Implant | General Characteristics | Typically Suited For |
|---|---|---|
| Standard implants | Wider and stronger; the common choice when the jaw can support them | Most cases where there is enough healthy bone |
| Mini implants | Narrower, placed with a less invasive approach | Limited space, or a jaw too narrow for a standard implant, and some denture stabilization cases |
Standard implants are generally recommended when bone volume and density allow, because they offer a robust, long-term foundation. Mini implants can be useful where bone is limited or where a patient is not a candidate for grafting. Sometimes the better answer is to build up the bone first with grafting and then place a standard implant. These are decisions to make with your dentist after imaging, not before.
Choosing the Right Dental Implant Dentist
The word “specialist” gets used loosely in implant marketing. In dentistry, implants are placed by oral surgeons, periodontists, and general dentists who have pursued additional implant training. What matters most is not the title on the door but the dentist’s training, case volume, planning process, and how clearly they communicate with you.
Factors to Consider
When evaluating anyone who will place your implant, look at:
- Experience and training. Ask how often the dentist places implants, what types of cases they handle, and what continuing education they have completed in implant dentistry.
- Planning technology. Three-dimensional imaging and computer-guided surgery let a dentist plan the implant’s position before the procedure. Guided placement can make surgery more precise and predictable.
- Range of care under one roof. Implant treatment often involves several steps: extraction, bone grafting, implant placement, and the final restoration. An office that handles all of these can coordinate the timeline without sending you to multiple locations.
- Comfort options. If anxiety is a barrier, ask whether sedation is available.
- Patient reviews. Read what previous patients say about how they were treated, not only about the result.
- Consultation and communication. A good consultation explains your options, including alternatives to implants, and answers questions about risks, healing, and maintenance in plain language.
- How your insurance fits. Ask whether the office is in-network or out-of-network with your plan, and how it handles claims either way. The next sections explain why this matters.
How Delta Dental’s Network Works
Delta Dental, like most dental carriers, contracts with dentists who agree to join its networks. Those in-network dentists accept a negotiated fee schedule for covered services. That arrangement is the main source of savings for members who stay in-network.
In general, choosing an in-network Delta Dental dentist means:
- Contracted fees. The dentist has agreed to the plan’s fee schedule, so your share is calculated from that negotiated amount.
- Cost predictability. Because fees are set by contract, it is easier to estimate what you will owe.
- Claims handled for you. In-network offices typically file claims directly, and the plan pays the dentist.
Delta Dental offers several network types, and the rules differ among them. Some plans, such as many PPO-style plans, include out-of-network benefits. Others, such as certain managed-care or HMO-style plans, may pay little or nothing outside their network. Your plan documents tell you which kind you have.
Finding an In-Network Delta Dental Office
If staying in-network is the priority for you, the most reliable path is to go straight to the carrier:
- Log in to your Delta Dental member account or use the dentist search on Delta Dental’s website for your specific plan and network.
- Search by ZIP code and filter for dentists who place implants, or for oral surgeons and periodontists.
- Call the office you choose and confirm they are in-network for your exact plan and network, not just “Delta Dental” in general. Networks are plan-specific.
- Ask the office to submit a pre-treatment estimate to Delta Dental before implant surgery begins.
Reimels Dentistry cannot provide in-network Delta Dental care. If your plan pays only within its network, or if in-network pricing is essential to your decision, an in-network office found through Delta Dental’s directory is the right place to start.
Using Delta Dental Out-of-Network Benefits at Reimels Dentistry
Many Delta Dental members have plans that still pay something when they see a dentist outside the network. If yours does, you can apply those benefits toward implant care at Reimels Dentistry. Here is how that works in practice.
Check your plan first. Out-of-network reimbursement varies from plan to plan. Look in your benefits summary or call the member services number on your card and ask:
- Does my plan include out-of-network benefits at all?
- Are dental implants a covered benefit, or are they excluded?
- Is there a waiting period for major services such as implants?
- How does my plan calculate what it pays out of network?
- How much of my annual maximum have I already used?
- Is there a missing tooth clause that affects a tooth lost before my coverage began?
Request a pre-treatment estimate. Because implant care is a significant investment and usually happens in stages, ask for an estimate before treatment. It gives you a written picture of what your plan expects to contribute based on the actual treatment plan.
Understand balance responsibility. Because the office is not bound by Delta Dental’s contracted fee schedule, your share may be different from what it would be at an in-network office. Your plan determines its own payment, and the difference is your responsibility. Reviewing the estimate together before treatment helps avoid surprises.
Nothing in this article is a guarantee of what any Delta Dental plan will pay. Only your plan, and the estimate it returns, can answer that.
Self-Pay and Financing Options
Whether you use out-of-network benefits or have no dental insurance at all, there are ways to manage the cost of implant treatment. The options on record at Reimels Dentistry are:
- Self-pay
- Cherry
- Sunbit
- CareCredit
- LendingClub
- Proceed Finance
Each financing company sets its own terms and approval process, so review the details directly with the lender before you apply. Patients often combine approaches, for example applying out-of-network benefits to part of the treatment and financing the remaining balance.
Medicaid and Medicare are not accepted at Reimels Dentistry. If either is your primary coverage, check with that program about where implant-related care can be provided.
What Implant Care Looks Like at Reimels Dentistry
If you decide to use your out-of-network benefits here, or to pay through one of the options above, the next step is a consultation. The practice provides the full sequence of implant care in one Huntersville location, which means the steps of treatment can be planned together rather than split across offices.
Implant-related services on record include:
- Single dental implants
- Full mouth dental implants and All-on-4 dental implants
- Same-day dental implants
- Implant-supported bridges and implant-supported dentures
- Zirconia fixed bridges
- Computer-guided implant surgery
- Bone grafting
- Tooth extraction
- Sedation dentistry for patients who want help staying comfortable
At a consultation, the dentist reviews your health history, examines the area, and uses imaging to assess the bone. From there you can discuss which type of implant fits your situation, whether grafting is needed first, which material makes sense, and what the timeline looks like. If an implant is not the right choice, alternatives such as bridges or full and partial dentures can be discussed as well.
Once you have a proposed treatment plan, that is the moment to send it to Delta Dental for a pre-treatment estimate so you can see how your out-of-network benefits apply before anything begins.
Caring for an Implant After Treatment
An implant cannot decay the way a natural tooth can, but the gum and bone around it can still become inflamed and infected if plaque builds up. The FDA’s consumer guidance stresses following your dentist’s care instructions and keeping up with regular checkups. Good habits include:
- Brushing twice daily and cleaning between teeth, including around the implant
- Keeping regular exams and cleanings so the dentist can check the gum and bone around the implant
- Reporting any looseness, pain, swelling, or bleeding promptly
- Avoiding tobacco, which can interfere with healing and long-term gum health
- Wearing a night guard if you clench or grind, when your dentist recommends one
Summary
- A dental implant replaces the root of a tooth and relies on bone bonding to the post, so planning and placement skill matter.
- Choose the dentist who places your implant based on training, technology, communication, and the range of care offered, not just a title.
- In-network Delta Dental dentists accept contracted fees and file claims directly. To find one, use Delta Dental’s own directory and confirm network status for your specific plan.
- Reimels Dentistry is out-of-network with Delta Dental and is in-network only with Blue Cross Blue Shield GRID+.
- If your Delta Dental plan includes out-of-network benefits, you can use them toward implant care at Reimels Dentistry. Check your plan and request a pre-treatment estimate to see what it reimburses.
- Self-pay, Cherry, Sunbit, CareCredit, LendingClub, and Proceed Finance are available for the balance or for patients without coverage.
Knowing both the clinical and financial sides before you start lets you make an implant decision that fits your mouth and your budget.
