Dental insurance helps people effectively budget for the cost of maintaining their beautiful smile. While choosing a dental insurance company, it is important to verify its financial strength and credibility, claim settlement and expense reimbursement record, and provider network. When choosing the right plan, look at monthly premiums, services covered, annual coverage limits, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance costs. Always read the plan documents before choosing the right plan to understand the exceptions and conditions for each plan.

Important features and facts about dental insurance
Dental insurance covers expenses related to teeth and gum issues, selected surgical procedures, and oral preventive care like annual screening. It can cover the cost of treatment if one loses a tooth due to an accident, trauma, or violence.

Dental insurance does not cover cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening or teeth shaping veneers, or gum contouring. Braces may be covered by some companies but with conditions.

Like health insurance, copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and annual coverage limits also apply to dental insurance plans.

If one is already consulting a dentist and they are available in the plan’s network, one can opt for less expensive plans. However, if a person’s current dentist is not in the provider network, one can still buy insurance but must pay much more than choosing a new dentist.

If one wants to consult a new dentist, one can choose one from the provider’s network to save on costs.

If one wants insurance for specific procedures, one must look for companies that cover those procedures.

Waiting periods range from six months to one year and sometimes two years.

Dental insurance plans provide 100% coverage for preventive care, 80% for basic treatment, and 50% for major procedures. The procedures and services that fall under basic and major procedures may vary from one company to another.

The premiums depend on the coverage, the provider, the location, and the plan.

Four common types of dental insurance plans
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
These plans allow a person to choose a dentist who accepts reduced fees for the services covered by the plan. 82% of the dental insurance plans sold in the country are PPO plans.

Dental Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
These plans offer low-cost coverage for preventive care like cleanings, sealings, and periodic examinations.

Dental Savings plans
They offer discounted prices for select services for specific doctors in the provider’s network. One can purchase an annual plan and pay the dentist at discounted prices.

Dental Exclusive Provider Organization Plan (DEPO)
These plans have a deductible and coinsurance. One can now consult a specialist dentist without a referral from a primary care dentist.

Dental insurance cost
The average monthly premium is $25 for individuals and about $75 for families. Maximum dental insurance coverage ranges between $1000 and $2000.

Best dental insurance companies
Cigna
This company offers three types of plans up to a $1,500 coverage limit and is available in 50 states covering 89,000 dentists nationwide. Some of their plans cover restorative and orthodontic procedures.

Renaissance Dental
They have 4 policies with a coverage limit of up to $1,600 and are available in 50 states with a network of 300,000 dental offices and clinics. It has an A+ credibility rating.

Spirit Dental
This company offers 8 types of dental insurance plans offering up to $5,000 maximum coverage for plans that are 3 years old. It is available in 50 states with a network of 111,500 dental providers.

Humana
They offer 6 types of dental insurance plans with unlimited coverage for select plans. It is available in 50 states.