Nearly 67 percent of Americans visit the dentist every year. Whether it’s a cleaning or to fill a cavity, a trip to the dentist is necessary. Do you want to be sure you know what dental procedures are covered by medical insurance?
That’s the first question you might have before you even visit your dentist. You want to make sure your insurance company will cover the work before it begins. You don’t want many out-of-pocket expenses.
Here’s a list of dental procedures covered by medical insurance.
Dental Procedures Covered by Medical Insurance: Orthodontic Care
You might look at your insurance plan and think, ‘Are any dental procedures covered by medical insurance?’ In many cases, your insurance will include primary orthodontic care. However, there are exceptions, and there might be a fee on top of your primary plan.
In some cases, your plan might consider orthodontic care medically necessary dental services because braces prevent disease or when you need them to fix a deformity.
When thinking about Invisalign cost, you can reduce the overall cost by using your insurance to pay for part of the procedures. For example, if the total cost is $4,000, you can use your insurance to pay $1,000 for some out-of-pocket expenses.
It’s best to check with your insurance company about braces and the dental procedures covered by medical insurance.
Wisdom Teeth
Does medical insurance cover wisdom teeth removal? Insurance companies likely consider removing wisdom teeth medically necessary dental services.
Like removing wisdom teeth, oral surgery includes anesthesia, which is also a medically necessary dental service. Wisdom teeth can also cause pain and infection, making it a ‘yes’ when asking what dental procedures are covered by medical insurance.
Your dentist should bill medical insurance for dental procedures, like the removal of wisdom teeth. In many cases, your regular dentist won’t remove wisdom teeth, and you’ll have to make an appointment with an oral surgeon.
If you have both medical and dental insurance, your dentist and oral surgeon can often use both plans to get you the most coverage.
Implants
When you lose a tooth, you’ll need a dental implant as a replacement.
It will be necessary to check with your insurance company to find out the extent of the coverage. Sometimes, implants are medically necessary dental services.
For example, if you need an implant to replace a tooth lost due to an accident, disease, or cancer radiation treatment, that’s considered medically necessary dental services. Cosmetic implants are not.
Dental Procedures and Insurance: What You Need to Know
When asking about dental procedures covered by medical insurance, the biggest procedures to consider are orthodontic braces, wisdom teeth removal, and implants. Using your insurance to get your oral health in order will be beneficial to your life and give you a great smile!
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