Dental Insurance

Dental insurance is offered by most employers to offset the cost of dental care. Patients can also register for their own independent insurance if they are not offered a plan by their employer, or would prefer a different policy. Most dental offices accept a number of insurance plans, and some even work with labor union members to provide affordable dental care.

As insurance does not always cover the full cost of treatment, patients may be asked to pay the balance immediately before or after their visit, or may be billed at a later date, according to the dental office's policy. While many dentists and their staff are happy to inform patients of what is and is not covered by their insurance, this is a courtesy--they are not required to find or provide this information. For a full disclosure of what a policy covers, the policy holder must contact the insurance company directly.

Financing Dentistry

In many cases, dental insurance does not cover the total cost of treatment. This is especially the case with elective procedures, such as restorative and cosmetic work. In these situations, most dentists offer dentistry financing through Care Credit®, CapitolOne® Healthcare Finance, or a similar dentistry financing company. When patients work with a financing company to cover any remaining costs, they are able to make monthly payments rather than pay a lump sum. This removes much of the financial burden from more extensive treatments.

Contact a Dentist

If you have questions about dental insurance or would like to know which procedures are or are not covered by your policy, you should contact either your insurance administrator or a dentist. The support staff at your dentist's office will have detailed information about dentistry cost and financing and may be able to help you understand what work is covered under your policy. Use the DocShop directory to locate a dentist near you.