Are there a few details about your smile that you would like to change? For example, perhaps you would like your teeth to be brighter, or maybe you are bothered by visible signs of wear and tear on your teeth. Your dentist is eager to help you reach your aesthetic goals. Still, you might be concerned about the cost of treatment. Does dental insurance ever cover cosmetic dentistry? This blog post explains some important details that you should be aware of.
Dental Insurance and Cosmetic Services
It is very rare for dental insurance to cover services that are purely for cosmetic purposes. For example, your insurance is unlikely to help you pay for teeth whitening or veneers since those treatments do not have any substantial, inherent oral health benefits. Similarly, if you want to get metal-free crowns only to enhance the way your smile looks, you should not depend on your dental benefits to help.
On the other hand, if a treatment will benefit your oral health, there is a good chance that it will be at least partially covered. For example, if you have a badly damaged tooth that needs a crown, your insurance might cover around 50% of its cost. Similarly, if your dental insurance applies to orthodontia, it might pay up to 50% of the price of clear aligners, such as ClearCorrect.
To find out for sure how your plan might apply to your desired treatment, ask your dental team for assistance. They can work with your insurance company to get pre-authorization for any services that are covered under your policy.
Paying for Services that Are Not Covered
What if you want a treatment that your insurance does not cover? Talk to your dental team about your options. You might qualify for low-interest financing through a third-party company, such as Cherry.
You can also ask about treatments that are within your budget. For example, many people find that professional teeth whitening is relatively easy to afford even without assistance. If you want veneers but do not wish to pay for them at this time, you might be able to get dental bonding instead. Bonding is not as durable as veneers, but it can look very similar to veneers when it is first applied.
Dental insurance might not help you pay for a smile makeover, but that does not mean you cannot afford a beautiful new look!
Meet the Practice
Dr. Rupeshwar Renkuntla is an experienced dentist who is passionate about helping patients have healthy smiles that they are proud to show off. He offers a number of cosmetic services, and our practice always strives to charge fair prices. We welcome insurance, and we accept financing through Cherry. To learn more about how we may be able to help you afford your desired treatment, contact our Saginaw team at 817-989-2832.