Does Cosmetic Dental Care Come Under Insurance? All Details Here
By: Dr. Rajan Sharma
Who doesn’t love to flaunt a bright smile? It goes a long way in breaking the ice between strangers, friends, or office colleagues. Unfortunately, some individuals’ smiles lose sheen due to loss or damage of the teeth. This could occur due to factors like gum disease, lifestyle, dietary choices, or poor oral hygiene routine. This is why cosmetic dentistry is in high regard as well as in demand in the United States. Yet it will be a challenge to get your cosmetic dentistry expenses covered by your insurance provider. Traditional dentistry procedures expenses would be easily taken care of by your insurance coverage. On the other hand, it gets quite complicated in answering the question: will insurance cover cosmetic dental.
The point to note is that not every insurance plan covers cosmetic dental procedures. Fortunately, if you purchase dental insurance, some cosmetic procedures would come under its ambit. Overall. It all hinges on the insurance plan. To help our readers, we will find out does cosmetic dental insurance exists in the American market.
What Dental Procedures are Considered Cosmetic?
There are few dental processes that come under the label of cosmetic dentistry field. Some of these are:
- Shaping: The dentist modifies the tooth’s shape through filing. It improves the tooth’s appearance.
- Teeth Whitening: Brightening the teeth by removing stains and discoloration.
- Veneers: It is a customized wafer-thin shell made of composite resin or porcelain.
- Gum Contouring: The dentist will remove the excess soft tissue covering certain portions of the teeth.
Some insurance companies have almost zero coverage for dental procedures at all. While you can find other insurance coverage plans that could lower the additional expenditures without covering the entire procedure’s cost. The positive bit is that there are exclusive Dental Plus Plans for enhanced dental coverage that would include cosmetic dentistry. So, it’s important to understand the different insurance plans available on the market.
When is Cosmetic Dentistry Covered by Insurance Companies?
In some scenarios, a cosmetic procedure’s expenses will be covered up to 50% of the full treatment cost. This would be applicable if there are genuine medical benefits stemming out of the procedure apart from the aesthetic advantages. Don’t worry about that much as there are a significant number of cosmetic dentistry procedures providing umpteen benefits for the teeth. You won’t get any rebate for teeth whitening and gum contouring in the majority of cases. While there could be some coverage for dental crowns & bridges and veneers in the several dental insurance plans available in the country.
So, What We Learnt:
For the most correct and definitive answer to whether your insurance takes care of cosmetic dentistry procedures, talk to your insurance provider. Every insurance company and policy are markedly different from each other. So, make an effort to contact the insurance provider about the coverage and what it means for cosmetic dental care. In the event, if you or your loved ones are thinking about a dental implant in Illinois, do read about our services here. You can schedule a free consultation here or contact us at 800-250-3500.