Many people have dental insurance that they pay for themself or that’s given to them at work as part of their compensation. This makes paying for dental treatments much more affordable and generally comes with two free appointments each year. As helpful as insurance is for lowering the costs of dental treatments, does it work for emergency procedures? Read on to learn whether dental insurance can be used to cover emergency treatments.
What Kinds of Dental Insurance Plans Are Available?
There are several different kinds of dental insurance plants. It’s important to know what kind you have when it comes to determining what benefits come with it. Some of the most common dental insurance options are:
- Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) – This type of insurance plan lets you select a dentist from a list of practices that accept your insurance or choose your own provider. Choosing to receive treatment from an out-of-network dentist means your out-of-pocket costs will likely be higher
- Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) – This kind of plan provides patients with a network of dentists that accept their insurance for a set co-pay or free of charge. You are required to pick an in-network dentist and won’t receive coverage if you go out-of-network.
- Discount Dental Plan – This plan gives you a discount on services from select dentists, but plan care costs aren’t covered. Instead, the participating dentists give you a discount.
What Do My Benefits Cover?
Now that you know about the different kinds of dental insurance plans, what do they cover? Each dental insurance plan will have a cap on how much will be covered each year. Once this threshold has been reached, you’re responsible for all expenses. The usual structures of dental insurance coverage include:
- 100% of preventive care – This includes dental checkups, X-rays, and cleanings.
- 80% of basic procedures – This includes basic services like dental fillings and scaling for gum disease.
- 50% of major procedures – This includes services that are more complex, such as dentures, dental implants, and orthodontic treatments.
Will My Emergency Dental Treatments Be Covered?
Whether your emergency dental procedures will be covered completely depends on the type of emergency you have as well as the treatment you need. If your emergency is related to a cavity and you need a dental filling, 80% of the cost will likely be covered. If you require a more complex treatment, you may need to pay half of the cost out-of-pocket. The longer you wait to have a dental issue treated, the worse it will get. So be sure to seek out treatment as soon as possible to avoid higher costs.
If you’re worried about having to pay for dental emergencies out of pocket, your dental team can help you understand how your insurance coverage works. This will allow you to better prepare for the unexpected and eliminate some of the stress of emergency procedures so you can focus on repairing your smile!
About the Practice
Tylan Creek Family Dentistry features seven talented dentists across three locations who aim to help you learn to love and better care for your smile. They offer a range of emergency treatments to repair your pearly whites and get your smile back on track. Call their Powdersville office at (864) 603-2200, their Simpsonville office at (864) 962-6671, their Greenwood office at (864) 407-4455, or visit their website to learn more about their emergency dental services or to set up an appointment.