Dental insurance is a great way to make your oral healthcare more affordable. Your benefits may span from preventive treatments to a portion of restorative ones, letting you feel more confident about your smile. But is cosmetic dentistry covered by insurance? Oftentimes, this isn’t the case for services that focus on aesthetics. Here’s why and how you may be able to get some savings.
Generally, Why Don’t Dental Insurances Cover Cosmetic Dentistry?
Most dental insurance providers don’t offer benefits for cosmetic dentistry because they aren’t medically necessary. These types of treatments are considered “elective,” so getting veneers, teeth whitening, or another similar service won’t improve your oral health. They are purely to give you a smile you are prouder of.
However, dental insurances may offer some coverage for restorative procedures. For instance, if it’s a medical necessity to deal with decay, disease, or injury, then your provider may pay for a portion. As well, if you need to replace missing teeth, then you may get some coverage if their purpose is not purely aesthetic. To know what you can expect, it’s best to take a look at your benefits to get a more accurate estimate.
Are There Times When Dental Insurances Make Exceptions?
That being said, there are some exceptions that a dental insurance company can make. A large part of it comes from the claim that is sent for approval. It must be filled correctly with the right information to possibly allow your provider to pay a portion of cosmetic treatments. Here are a couple of instances:
- If you have severe decay or damage that needs to be treated with a metal-free restoration to protect the tooth and give you back its normal function.
- A front tooth is uneven or considered “abnormal” enough that it causes problems for your oral health. A veneer or cosmetic dental bonding can repair the issue and preserve your mouth from harm, possibly allowing it to be covered.
How Can I Tell What Is Covered by My Dental Insurance?
In the end, the only way you can tell what benefits you have is by taking a dive into your unique plan or partnering with your dentist’s front desk team. You’ll be able to learn more about what you can expect. That way, if you need any sort of restorative treatment, then you can consider the aesthetics of it and get to a strong smile that you feel your best in.
About the Practice
At Claybrooke Dental of Gahanna, you benefit from the skilled leadership of Dr. Brooke Buller and Dr. Clay Odenweller. We understand how the cost of treatments can be a worry for many patients, so we are proud to accept dental insurance. By filing claims for you and ensuring your treatments let you look and feel great, you can be confident knowing we do our best to make it all a breeze. If you want to learn how we can make your oral healthcare more affordable, schedule an appointment or call our office at (614) 475-1874.