Does My Dental Insurance Cover Emergency Care?

When it comes to dental insurance, it can sometimes be confusing to know exactly what your policy covers. This is frustrating enough on a regular day, but when there’s an emergency it can be downright scary. Thankfully, you don’t have to wait for a problem to familiarize yourself with your coverage. Not only will it give you peace of mind, but it will also alert you to any changes you may want to make to your plan.

Though individual policies will vary, if you’re concerned about what your dental insurance will cover in an emergency, here’s a general primer on what you can expect yours to pay.

What Does My Dental Insurance Cover?

Dental insurance can be extremely useful for covering the cost of preventive care such as oral health exams and X-rays, but some plans may also pay for emergency treatments. This will depend on your policy and the type of service needed.

There are three main types of care:

• Preventive care like your semi-annual exams is frequently covered at 100 percent
• Basic procedures including fillings are typically covered at 80 percent
• Major procedures such as crowns, root canals, or dentures usually are covered at 50 percent

Prevention is Key

The best way to avoid a dental emergency is to take advantage of your policy’s preventative care coverage and attend your semi-annual dental exams. These appointments will help your dental team keep tabs on your oral health so you can stop costly and painful emergencies from happening. Other ways to prevent dental emergencies include:

• Practice excellent oral care at home (brush twice a day, floss once a day)
• Eat a healthy diet
• Don’t smoke
• Wear a mouthguard when playing sports
• Wear a bite guard if you’re a tooth grinder
• Only use your teeth for food

Financing / Payment Plans

Because many people simply do not have the wiggle room in their budget to take on an emergency dental expense, your dentist may offer financing options. These are lines of credit that work just like a credit card but are only for use on medical expenses at participating providers. If you need help funding an emergency service, speak to your dental team about their financing options.

Remember, while there’s simply no way to prevent all dental emergencies, there is still much you can do to reduce your risk of certain problems like cavities and tooth infections, and familiarizing yourself with your dental coverage before accidents happen can go a long way towards easing your mind in an emergency.

About Our Practice

At Richland Dental, we’re honored to provide routine and emergency care to all our patients. We use the latest technology like digital X-rays, intraoral cameras, and cone-beam scanners to give you the best experience possible. Let our team get to know you and your family on a personal level.

If you need an emergency appointment, please visit our website or call us at 972-848- 5333