When choosing dental insurance it is important to understand both the type of coverage you’re getting as well as what type of dental services are covered by your benefit plan.
There are many different types of dental insurance plans and many variables that come into play depending on the plan that one may have.
If you have general questions about dental insurance, or about an insurance plan you belong to, the best course of action is to contact your dental provider. Associated Dentists makes a concerted effort to be upfront about the costs of specific procedures, assist in helping the patient understand details of their insurance plan, and inform about what is covered by insurance and what needs to be paid for out of pocket.
Preventative Dental Procedures
Preventative dental procedures can include examinations, cleanings, X-rays, and fluoride treatments among other services. Coverage of what is considered basic dental care procedures will vary among different insurance plans.
If you have questions about what types of dental care procedures are covered by your benefit plan, the easiest way to find out is to call your insurer and ask for a description of what services are covered 100% and what services are not. In the case of procedures that are not covered 100%, ask how much you will be expected to pay in each case.
In some cases a dental plan may not provide any coverage for certain procedures, which is why it’s important to know what your plan will and won’t cover.
Basic/restorative Dental Procedures
Basic restorative procedures are generally considered straightforward in nature. Examples of such services can include: different types of fillings, and some tooth extractions.
Major Dental Procedures
Major dental procedures are often more complex in nature and tend to be more costly than basic restorative services. These tend to include: dental crowns, bridgework, tooth implants, complex surgical procedures, anesthesia, and dentures Madison WI.
Orthodontia and Cosmetic Dentistry
Check with your insurer or dental provider regarding coverage for orthodontia and cosmetic procedures. The benefits of having such work done include repairing a chipped tooth, worn tooth, or small gaps between teeth, and restoring the size, shape and shade of your teeth.
Such procedures include teeth whitening, bonding and recontouring, esthetic tooth recontouring, and veneers.
Emergency Dental Care
Another consideration is to understand how your dental plan handles emergencies. As with any other procedure, as much as possible,it is best to check with your dental implants provider in Madison or insurer.
Experiencing tooth pain or having a chipped or knocked out tooth is no fun. At Associated Dentists we will work with you quickly to schedule an appointment.
Alleviating pain while waiting for treatment can be as simple as rinsing your mouth gently with warm water and applying an ice pack to the outside of the cheek to reduce swelling or calm any immediate dental pain. It is also important to get treatment as quickly as possible. Waiting to get treatment can worsen the injury over time. In cases of a knocked out tooth every hour can make the difference in recovering. It is critical to keep the dislodged tooth and store it in milk.
Dental Care Membership Plans
If a patient does not have dental insurance, Associated Dentists offers a dental care membership plan called Associated Dentists Dental Care Plan. The program is not an insurance plan as it is not transferrable to other dental offices or any other person or persons except those covered under the specific membership plan.
The Associated Dentists Dental Care Plan is available in three different options – Child Plan, Adult Plan, and a Perio Plan. Services included in the Child Plan and Adult Plan include: two dental cleanings per year, two doctor exams per year, one emergency exam per year, needed X-rays as directed by the dentist, and 15% off all additional dental bridge services in Madison. The Child Plan also includes one fluoride treatment per year. More information can be found at associated family dentist Madison WI.
Advantages of these plans include: no deductibles, no pre-authorizations, no yearly maximums, no waiting period, no hidden fees, and no exclusions for elective care.
Associated Dentists is Here to Help
If you need any assistance understanding your dental insurance benefits or would like to inform us of any changes to your coverage, reach out to our in-house insurance department at our Madison and Verona locations.
