Dental insurance can make it much easier to get the care your smile needs to stay healthy without putting unnecessary strain on your bank account. But do you have a clear idea of what exactly your plan covers? It’s important to make sure you completely understand your benefits so that you can get the absolute most out of them. To help you do that, here’s a closer look at the kind of coverage that you can typically expect your dental insurance to provide.
What Does Dental Insurance Normally Cover?
While the specifics of your dental insurance plan can vary, it will generally provide coverage for three main kinds of services:
- Preventive treatments that help minimize the risk of oral health problems occurring in the first place, such as biannual dental checkups, cleanings, and X-rays.
- Basic services such as fillings, tooth extractions, and gum disease treatment.
- Major services such as crowns, bridges, and dentures.
The level of coverage that your dental insurance provides depends heavily on the type of service you need. Many insurance plans will offer 100% coverage for preventive treatments, 80% coverage for basic services, and 50% coverage for major services. Of course, these percentages won’t necessarily be exactly the same for every insurance carrier.
What Isn’t Covered by Dental Insurance?
You typically shouldn’t expect your dental insurance plan to provide coverage for cosmetic dentistry. The main purpose of dental insurance is to help you pay for treatments that are necessary to protect or restore the health of your smile; thus, purely elective treatments that are only meant to enhance the appearance of the teeth are generally not covered. Exceptions may be made for cosmetic dental services that are considered medically necessary, such as veneers placed to repair damaged teeth.
On top of that, it’s worth noting that a specific service that’s covered under one plan may not necessarily be covered by another plan. It’s a good idea to take the time to review your benefits so that you have an accurate idea of the kinds of services that your dental insurance will and will not pay for.
What Else Do You Need to Know About Dental Insurance Coverage?
When you first get dental insurance, there will likely be a waiting period. This is the amount of time you need to wait before your insurance plan provides any coverage for certain treatments. There typically isn’t a waiting period for preventive care, but there most likely will be one for basic and major restorative services.
Furthermore, even after the waiting period is up, you will most likely need to meet a deductible before your coverage kicks in. Said deductible is simply a set amount that you need to pay out of your own pocket for your dental care. Bear in mind that, unlike waiting periods, your deductible will reset every year.
Remember, if there’s anything you don’t understand about your dental insurance plan, you can always speak to your dental team. They can look over your benefits with you and give you a clear idea of what your coverage looks like so that you can make informed decisions about your care.
About the Author
Dr. Shane Smith studied dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He has completed hundreds of hours of online training through Dentaltown, and he has gained extensive experience working at a variety of dental offices. His practice in Jonesboro offers a wide range of high-quality dental services and accepts many different dental insurance plans. If you are ready to schedule an appointment with Dr. Smith, you can visit his website, use his online scheduling tool, or call (870) 932-2644.