How Dental Insurance Works
Similar to medical insurance, dental insurance enables patients to pay
significantly less for various services in exchange for monthly premiums.
While every plan’s benefits are slightly different, most offer
coverage that looks something like this:
-
Preventive services (checkups, cleanings, X-rays,
dental sealants, fluoride treatments) are covered 80-100%.
-
Basic restorative services (fillings, bonding) are
covered 50-70%.
-
Major restorative services (crowns, bridges, dentures,
root canal therapy, extractions) are covered 50% or less.
-
Cosmetic services (porcelain veneers, teeth whitening)
are usually NOT covered because they are elective procedures.
The Difference Between Dental & Medical Insurance
One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to dental insurance is
that they try to use it just like medical insurance, in that a person goes
to see their doctor after a problem develops, and then insurance
helps pay for treatment. While dental insurance can be used to partially
cover services to repair/replace cavities and missing teeth, the best
approach is to focus on prevention. Most dental insurance plans are designed
to help patients be proactive with their care so they can get regular
checkups and cleanings. This way, larger problems (and the expensive
treatments needed to fix them) can be avoided altogether. Over time, this
leads to better oral health and lower dental care costs.
