Full Coverage Dental Insurance

If you’re looking for cosmetic dental insurance, you should know that cosmetic dental procedures are typically not covered by general dental insurance.   What is a cosmetic dental procedure?   Cosmetic dentistry is usually classified as a procedure that is not preventive but instead meant to improve your smile.

Therefore, it’s not entirely likely that cosmetic dental insurance would exist because of the fact that insurance is generally meant to cover the unexpected things that happen to us.  Common cosmetic dental procedures that won’t be covered include:  bleaching, Britesmile, laser teeth whitening, dental implants, porcelain inlays, veneers, orthodontics, Invisalign braces, and cosmetic gum crafting.

In order to understand what procedures will be covered contact your insurance company.   Contact your insurance company directly to see what, if any, cosmetic dental procedures are covered.   If you choose a cosmetic dentist who does not accept your insurance carrier, ask the office if they will submit a claim to your carrier for you.   Depending on the policy of your carrier, you may be reimbursed for the maximum benefit you are entitled to under the plan.

Some dental procedures may not be covered by insurance and for many patients, paying out of the pocket is out of the question.   More and more dental providers are accepting payment through outside lenders.   Capital One’s dental fee plan and Care Credit are considered the dental industry’s two major financing companies.  As with any type of financing, your credit history will play a role in both your loan approval rate and your interest rate.

If you are interested in pursuing cosmetic dentistry procedures through financing but have bad credit, you will most likely need a cosigner.   Many financing companies and independent brokers put a lot of effort into helping parties with bad credit.  While they may approve your application, you should be aware that you will pay higher interest rates.   On the other hand, if you have a good credit rating, many companies may offer you a low introductory rate for a specified period-sometimes as low as zero percent.

While it’s unfortunate that cosmetic dental insurance isn’t generally available, the costs of cosmetic dental procedures vary widely.   Cosmetic dentistry porcelain veneers can serve as an alternative to worn tooth enamel and abnormal spacing.   Veneer costs depend on a number of factors including:  the fees of the cosmetic dentist who performs the procedure.

The artistic and technical skill of the ceramist making the veneers and the cosmetic dentist who is applying the veneers also is factored into the procedure cost.   Costs for dental veneers also vary by region where the procedure is performed.   The cost will also depend on the material used and the number of teeth requiring veneers.

Porcelain veneers are more expensive than their resin counterparts.  Traditional porcelain veneers may cost from $900 to $2500 per tooth.   Porcelain veneers may last 10 to 15 years.   Composite veneers cost approximately $250 to $1500 per tooth and are expected to last five to seven years.

Bleaching and cosmetic dentistry teeth whitening is another example of a cosmetic dental procedure.  The term bleaching is permitted to be used only when the teeth can be whitened beyond their natural color.   This applies strictly to products that contain bleach-typically hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.   The term whitening on the other hand refers to restoring a tooth’s surface color by removing dirt and debris.   Any product that cleans like a tooth paste is also considered a whitener.

There are a number of whitening options.   In-office whitening results in a significant color change in the shortest amount of time.   The process involves careful use of a relatively high concentration peroxide gel applied to the teeth by the dentist or trained technician after the gums have been protected with a paint-on rubber dam.  An in-office teeth whitening procedure costs about $650 ,per visit on a nationwide average.

Professionally dispensed take-home whitening kits are another option for teeth whitening.   Many dentists are of the opinion that professionally-dispensed take-home whitening kits can produce the best results over time.   Take home kits incorporate an easy to use lower concentration peroxide gel that remains on the teeth for an hour or longer (sometimes overnight).   The gel is applied to the teeth using custom-made bleaching trays that resemble mouth guards.   A take home teeth whitening kit costs approximately $100 to $400 based on national average.

As you can see, your options for cosmetic dental insurance may be limited – but there are still financing and other affordable possibilities in its place.