Tampa, FL 33626
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There is no time like the present, and that means 2022 is a great year to make improvements to your smile with procedures like porcelain veneers or whitening. But does dental insurance cover cosmetic dentistry? You may be surprised to find out that in certain cases the answer is yes. Keep reading to find out when and how you can maximize your dental insurance benefits to cover cosmetic procedures.
How Dental Insurance Works
No matter who you have your coverage through, most dental insurance plans will pay a portion of the cost of procedures that are either preventive or medically necessary. Checkups and cleanings, which can keep you from developing cavities or gum disease, may be covered fully twice annually. Dental crowns, fillings, and other procedures that repair damaged teeth may be covered 50 to 80 percent.
The reason many cosmetic procedures may not be covered at all is for the simple reason that they are elective, meaning not required for your oral health. You can have a perfectly healthy smile that lasts you a lifetime even without a cosmetic procedure like teeth whitening or porcelain veneers, for example.
Types of Procedures that May Be Covered
However, there are certain procedures that may be partially covered by your dental insurance. Some treatments improve the appearance of your smile while also restoring your oral health. If a procedure is needed to fix injured dental or periodontal (gum) tissue, it should be at least partially covered by your dental insurance.
A few dental procedures that may fall under your coverage include:
- Porcelain crowns, which enhance the appearance of your smile by covering up a damaged tooth with natural-looking porcelain that is customized to match the color of the surrounding tooth enamel.
- Dental implants, which are used to replace missing teeth, give you back a complete smile you can have full confidence in. In addition to filling in gaps, dental implants also help to preserve the bone tissue in your jaw, which can keep you from losing more teeth down the line.
- Veneers, which cover up the visible surface of damaged teeth. Veneers are often a purely elective procedure, but in the event that the enamel has been worn down, this procedure can help to repair the structure of the tooth and prevent further damage.
The only way to know for sure if you can have a portion of your procedure covered by dental insurance is to call your dentist’s office or speak with your insurance provider directly. If you do receive coverage, there has never been a better time to finally complete that treatment plan than right now!
Meet the Dentist
Dr. Mamata Ponnaganti earned her dental doctorate at Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry as well as a number of other professional organizations. She enjoys helping her patients enhance the appearance of their smiles while also ensuring that their teeth and gums are healthy. Dr. Ponnaganti and the Happy Smiles team love helping patients maximize their dental insurance benefits – to find out if a treatment you need is covered, call the office at (727) 535-2700 or visit their website.