Do you have dental insurance but aren’t entirely sure how it works? You aren’t the only one. Many patients find the verbiage and details of their plan challenging to navigate, often leaving them frustrated when paying for dental care. Fortunately, your knowledgeable dental team can help walk you through your policy so that you can receive the treatments you need to preserve your pearly whites. Keep reading to receive a general breakdown of what you can expect your dental insurance to cover!
What Does Your Dental Insurance Cover?
When looking over the details of most traditional dental insurance plans, you’ll typically find two types of treatments that receive coverage: preventive and restorative. Most policies will agree to cover 100% of the price of preventive appointments. This is to emphasize reducing the risk of oral health issues from starting in the first place, encouraging proactive dental care. These treatments usually involve general exams, dental X-rays, cleanings, and fluoride treatments.
For dental complications or injuries that happen unexpectedly, dental insurance providers typically agree to cover 50-80% of the cost of restorative procedures. This may include fillings, dental crowns, bridges, dentures, root canals, tooth extractions, and gum disease therapy. Coverage for these services usually involves your deductible and maximum. The former is the number of dollars you’ll need to pay before the coverage kicks in. Your dental insurance company will then help pay percentages of your care until meeting a set dollar amount known as the maximum.
What Will Your Dental Insurance Not Cover?
If you’re interested in improving the appearance of your pearly whites, then you might consider undergoing cosmetic dentistry. Unfortunately, these treatments are not considered “essential” to your oral health, so many dental insurance providers will not offer coverage for the overall cost. If you wish to enhance your teeth and feel confident about your smile, then you’ll likely have to pay out-of-pocket for your cosmetic makeover. However, you might consider consulting your dental team about alternative financing options, such as CareCredit, that can help make the cost of your treatment more affordable.
So, if you want to make the most out of your dental insurance, be sure to speak with an expert member of your dental team. They’ll be more than happy to walk you through the details of your benefits so that you can make a well-informed decision on how to preserve your pearly whites and achieve your best smile!
About the Author
Dr. Bryan Villescas earned his dental doctorate from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. He’s also a proud member of several prominent organizations such as the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. He provides a wide selection of high-quality and all-inclusive services, including dental crowns, dentures, dental implants, root canals, and veneers. If you’d like to know more about your dental insurance benefits, visit his website or call 941-627-9900.