Will My Dental Insurance Plan Cover the Cost of Emergency Dentistry?

Sometimes, life will throw a curveball your way – and when it comes in the form of a dental emergency, it’s quite easy to feel defeated and frustrated. Not only is your smile now injured, but you must also seek emergency dental care to get things back on track! However, you might also be wondering if you can utilize your dental insurance plan when faced with this type of injury. Here’s what you need to know about dental insurance and its role when it comes to emergency dentistry.

What Dental Insurance Covers

In general, most dental insurance plans provide greater coverage for preventive care – after all, dentists and insurance companies alike understand that it’s much more cost-effective to prevent problems from occurring rather than treating them after the fact.

That said, no one can anticipate a dental emergency! That’s why many plans also include provisions for urgent care; however, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the details of your plan beforehand, to be certain that you have this coverage.

It’s fairly normal for plans to offer full (100%) coverage for things like routine checkups, cleanings, and X-rays, whereas basic procedures like fillings and root canals often receive partial coverage up to 80%. For major procedures like crowns, dentures, and bridges, most plans cover around 50% of the cost. All of this coverage also normally requires the plan’s deductible to have been met.

Factors That Impact the Cost of Emergency Dental Care

It’s also wise to keep in mind that there is no “set” cost for emergency dental care; it’s always going to depend on the nature of the injury. Here are a few of the primary factors that contribute to the cost of treating a dental emergency:

• The severity of the injury or infection, which determines the type of treatment needed.
• The cost of living where you’re seeking emergency care.
• The specifics of your dental insurance plan.

Emergency Dentistry Is Always Worth It

It’s important to consider what can happen if you do not seek out emergency dental care when it’s needed. While you might save a little money on dental bills at first, over time, your injury is highly likely to worsen to the point where you’ll absolutely need professional care.

Unlike a common cold or stomach bug, a dental injury will not get better on its own! It goes without saying that serious, complex injuries require more complex and costly care, which will ultimately cost you more down the road whether you have dental insurance or not.

Nobody ever wants to sustain a dental injury – and most of us prefer to not even imagine these scenarios. That said, it’s crucial to know the role that dental insurance plays in addressing these situations so that if the need arises, you’ve got nothing to worry about!

About the Author

Dr. Terry F. Rakowsky received his dental doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and has proudly served patients and families in the Doylestown, PA community for several years. His practice offers same-day emergency dentistry for urgent injuries, in addition to a wide array of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic treatments. If you have any questions about the blog or you need to get in touch with the team, please feel free to reach out online or over the phone for assistance. Telephone: (215) 348-2224.