A workers’ compensation dental claim often comes from serious injuries to the mouth. It is important to get any dental procedures caused by a work injury to be covered by workers’ compensation because dental work is expensive, and injuries to this area can affect your ability to speak and to eat. Even so-called cosmetic issues can impact your ability to be hired for some jobs.
Does Workers’ Compensation Pay for Dental Work?
Workers’ compensation in Pennsylvania covers all dental work that is caused by a work injury and considered to be reasonable and necessary. If your dental injury was caused by your work and left you disfigured or scarred, you can also get wage loss benefits, to an amount determined by a judge. A judge will consider how severe the disfigurement is and will offer an amount based on that decision.
One issue that can arise with dental work is insurers may deny dental work due to being unnecessary or as merely cosmetic. If you fall at work and lose part of a tooth, an insurer may claim you do not need a crown to replace the tooth if the tooth can be removed. It is useful to speak to a workers’ compensation attorney to ensure you are covered for reasonable treatment and are not persuaded to accept lower-cost dental care that can affect your quality of life later.
Types of Dental Injuries Covered by Workers’ Compensation
In Pennsylvania, many types of dental injuries can lead to a claim, such as:
- Broken or chipped teeth
- Lost or knocked-out teeth
- Loose teeth
- Broken Jaw
Other injuries include:
- Tooth intrusion. This injury is caused by an impact that pushes a tooth into the alveolar bone.
- TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders. TMJ can be caused by tooth grinding from a previous work injury or by a direct impact that causes joints to be damaged.
All of these injuries may require treatments, and workers’ compensation can pay for your dental surgery as well as:
- Braces
- Bridges
- Bonding
- Physical therapy
- Medication
- Injections
- Caps
- Crowns
- Dentures
- Extractions
- Root canals
- Fillings
- Tooth implants
- Sealants
- Veneers
- Any other medical treatment related to your injury
Contact Us for a Consultation
Unfortunately, it is not always easy to get dental care covered by workers’ comp. Some dental injuries are caused by a previous work injury, and it can be challenging to prove a dental treatment is related to work duties in these cases. Insurers may also dismiss the severity of a dental injury or may incorrectly claim it is not covered.
If your workers’ compensation claim for a dental injury has been denied or if your benefits are late or less than you think you should be getting, contact Frommer D’Amico. When Pennsylvania workers need legal representation for workers’ compensation for a dental injury in PA, they turn to us. Our team of certified workers’ compensation experts focuses on client needs and offers personalized attention.
Contact us online or call us at 717-400-1000 today for a free consultation.