Will Dental Insurance Cover My Cosmetic Services?

Cosmetic dentistry is capable of doing incredible things for the look and feel of your smile, affording you a new confidence in yourself. The treatments are generally quick, easy, and can make stunning changes, which is part of why their popularity has risen in recent years.

If you’re interested in getting aesthetic dental care, you might wonder whether your insurance would be willing to reimburse you for these treatments. Here’s what you should know.

Will Dental Insurance Fund Cosmetic Dental Care?

Generally speaking, dental insurance is designed to cover treatments that are important to your oral health. This means that checkups and restorative care as well as certain oral appliances.

However, cosmetic dental care is considered by dental insurance companies to be purely elective. That being the case, they won’t typically cover them.

When Can I Get Cosmetic Care Covered?

While you usually can’t rely on insurance to make your cosmetic care more affordable, there are some exceptions. Many aesthetic procedures also offer serious health benefits, like in the case of dental crowns covering a less-than-perfect tooth. In other cases, cosmetic care may be necessary to ensure your comfort; if your veneers fall off, for example, replacing them is required to keep your teeth healthy. In these cases, dental insurance may pay a portion of the cost of these treatments.

It’s usually worth at least checking whether your insurance will pay for any of your cosmetic services, even if it’s often unlikely.

Other Ways to Make Treatment Affordable

If your insurance won’t pay for your treatment, there are other methods of making it more affordable.

For one, many dental practices have in-house membership plans that function quite a bit like insurance. You pay a flat monthly or annual fee and get serious discounts on the services they offer. This usually means preventive and restorative care, but cosmetic procedures could be included as well.

You might also be interested in financing, which generally allows you to split the cost of your treatment across several monthly payments.

If you have any questions about what you can do to make your procedure fit your budget, the best thing to do is to talk to your dentist. They’ll be able to let you know about specials they offer and how you can make your care affordable.

While your cosmetic care is unlikely to be covered by dental insurance, that doesn’t mean that you have to give up on your dream smile. Talk to your dentist—they’ll be happy to give you advice for how you can make cosmetic dentistry fit your budget!

About the Author

Dr. Steven Kendrick is a deeply knowledgeable dentist who prides himself on being able to handle any issues that his patients might have. Whether you’re in pain, need a checkup, or you’re looking to get a smile that you really love through aesthetic treatment, he has the expertise needed to help you!

Dr. Kendrick received his dental degree from the Oklahoma University College of Dentistry. He is frequently a visiting faculty member for Spear Education and is part of the adjunct faculty at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry.

If you have any questions about dental insurance, his team can be reached at his website or by phone at (405) 732-0431.