Does Dental Insurance Ever Cover Cosmetic Dentistry?

The appearance of your smile is important to you, so you’re considering cosmetic dentistry to fix some of the imperfections. Before moving forward, you’d like to know what your investment will be. Furthermore, does dental insurance cover cosmetic dentistry? As you continue reading, get the details you need to make an educated decision about how to improve your smile aesthetics.

What Dental Insurance Typically Covers

The primary purpose of dental insurance is to provide patients with a means to receive the care they need in an affordable manner. Thus, only essential dental treatments are typically covered by dental insurance. However, it should be noted that there is a patient contribution required. Depending on the type of care received, it can range from 20-50% of the total cost.

Here are some examples of what dental insurance considers to be essential:

• There is decay or disease.
• There has been an accident or injury.
• There are missing or misaligned teeth that cause bite problems.

Procedures done solely to improve the smile’s appearance will usually be classified as cosmetic and non-essential.

A New Era in Dentistry

Over the past few decades, as procedures, techniques and materials have gone through an evolution, the lines between restorative (essential) and cosmetic (non-essential) dentistry have blurred. Dental crowns and fillings (also referred to as metal-free restorations) are no longer considered to be purely restorative. With the emergence of innovative ways to use dental ceramics, patients are now able to have their smile functionality and aesthetics upgraded at once.

What if You Just Want a Better-Looking Smile?

If cosmetic dentistry is your primary focus, you should plan on being responsible for the entire cost. However, there is a creative financing option – CareCredit. It provides patients with low-to-no interest financing of the treatment cost.

Here are some of the more popular cosmetic dental procedures that patients are choosing to fix their smile:

• Porcelain veneers – Thin ceramic shells that fit directly over the front-facing teeth to mask stains, chips, minor gaps and crookedness
• Direct bonding – Compound resin material that is applied directly to the teeth to mask stains, chips and minor gaps
• Teeth whitening – Involves the usage of high-powered whitening gels to lift stubborn stains and brighten teeth by as much as eight shades
• Gum recontouring/crown lengthening – Uses advanced laser technology to improve the gum to teeth ratio and create a more symmetrical looking smile

Because there are so many routes for you to take, it’s best to start by visiting a dentist for a consultation. Therefore, you can get an idea of what type of treatment is best suited for you, and a helpful staff member will assist in communicating with your dental insurance company to iron out any coverage questions. When it’s all said and done, you can achieve the results you’re looking for in as affordable a manner as possible!

About the Author

Dr. Dan Rairigh earned his dental degree from the West Virginia University School of Dentistry. He would go one to receive postgraduate training from the prestigious Dawson Academy for Advanced Dental Studies, where he furthered his knowledge in dental esthetics, cosmetics and restorations. Dr. Rairigh immensely enjoys helping his patients achieve healthier and better-looking smiles at Advanced Dental Solutions of Pittsburgh, and he can be reached for more information or to schedule a visit through his website.