Do you want a shiny bright smile but are worried about the total cost?
Some insurance company got you! Cosmetic dentistry prices are very high, and you can only use insurance for this type of dental treatment under certain conditions. However, you can still benefit from dental insurance for cosmetic dentistry. Read this article to understand which dental treatments are covered by insurance and how to find affordable dental insurance for cosmetic dentistry.
Invest in dental insurance for cosmetic dentistry today and start smiling with pride!
Which Dental Treatments Are Considered Cosmetic?
When we talk about cosmetics, we mean any procedure that enhances a person’s appearance. However, it doesn’t mean cosmetic procedures don’t affect the person’s health; they are not considered medically necessary. However, when it comes to dental procedures, anything done on your teeth not only improves your smile and overall facial appearance and guarantees you a healthier body. These procedures are also known as elective dental treatments.
With this definition, cosmetic dentistry includes the following procedures:
Teeth Whitening
Brightening teeth can give you the confidence to show off your smile and make a lasting impression. That’s what teeth whitening does. Bleaching or teeth whitening doesn’t impact the overall health of your body and is solely considered a procedure to improve a person’s smile.
Dental Veneers
If your teeth’ discoloration or the presence of a gap between them is embarrassing to you, veneers will be a great option to maximize the beauty of your smile.
Scale and Polish
This procedure is also considered preventative dental care, which means everyone must go for this checkup at least once a year. During this procedure, the dentist polishes the teeth to decrease the chance of bacteria and plaque damaging the teeth. Polish also improves the smile, but the result is less visible than bleaching.
Composite Bonding
A tooth-colored composite resin is used to conceal and cover up dental imperfections like cracks or discoloration during this procedure. Dental bonding is not a one-time procedure; it should be replaced every 5 to 7 years.
Looking for a cosmetic dentist in Coolalinga? Check Acacia Dental Care. We offer various dental treatments in Darwin, Palmerston, Humpty doo, and Howard Springs, from cosmetic dentistry to preventive dental services. We aim to create a better smile for you at affordable costs.
Can You Use Dental Insurance for Cosmetic Dentistry?
Generally speaking, dental insurance doesn’t cover cosmetic dentistry treatments that are not considered medically necessary. This insurance usually covers three types of services:
Preventive dental care
like dental checkups, X-rays, fluoride treatment, or any other dental procedure preventing tooth decay and gum disease. However, it still depends on your dental insurance plan.
Basic dental care
Which are non-surgical procedures to treat minor dental problems. Your dental insurance plan can tell you the percentage covered by insurance.
Restorative dental services
Normally surgical and major procedures to treat more complex dental issues. However, in some cases, cosmetic dentistry might be considered a restorative procedure and covered by health insurance.
Read More About Restorative Dental Procedures
The following dental procedures are considered restorative, which might be covered by most dental insurance.
Dental Implants
Dental Implantation procedure is done to replace missing teeth. Since it helps the functionality of other teeth and impacts your daily life, it is one of the procedures under insurance coverage. However, most insurances cover this procedure partially, like other restorative dental treatments.
Root Canal
When a tooth is damaged and infected, the root canal is recommended to remove infected tissue inside the tooth and replace it with a filling.
Bridges
If you have one or two missing teeth, a dental bridge acts like a bridge between two healthy teeth. It will fill this gap with artificial teeth. This process not only can improve the appearance of a person’s smile but also it can enhance the chewing process.
Crowns
As the name indicates, this prosthetic coverage protects a damaged or weakened tooth. It’s like a cap or crown over the existing tooth to strengthen it.
As you can see, most of these procedures can improve the functionality of a tooth alongside its beauty. That’s why you can find these dental procedures in most dental insurance plans.
How Can You Use Dental Insurance Coverage for Cosmetic Dentistry?
Under the following circumstances, you may be able to use dental insurance for cosmetic dentistry. If insurance considers a procedure therapeutic, you can use their rebates. Restorative procedures include:
- The damaged or decayed tooth requires urgent treatment. Therefore, dental cosmetic treatment can be performed alongside the main procedure.
- A person has lost a tooth during an accident or an injury like a broken jaw. A veneer might be required alongside other major dental surgeries in this case. Therefore, the patient can use dental insurance for veneers.
- The procedure is done for any restorative requirements other than cosmetic treatment, such as orthodontics treatment that is required after a jaw injury.
You should note that every insurance has different plans. Therefore, checking your dental insurance plan to ensure you can benefit from this type of cosmetic dental coverage is still recommended. Additionally, a majority of insurance plans will not cover the following procedures:
- Bleaching, or Teeth Whitening, is not considered a necessary procedure under any condition.
- Filling the gaps between teeth if it did not cause by accident or disease
However, as mentioned, various dental plans can cover different procedures. Some insurances might have optional benefits for cosmetic dentistry. Search to find private health insurance for cosmetic dentistry near you. If you live in Coolalinga, Darwin, Palmerston, Humpty doo, or Howard Springs, check Acacia dental payment plans to find affordable dental payment options in your area.
How Much Does Dental Insurance Pay for Cosmetic Dentistry?
Before finding the best health insurance for dental in Australia, let’s briefly check how insurances usually calculate the costs of dental procedures.
First, insurances only pay a specific percentage of the total cost. It means you should pay the rest. For example, most dental insurances cover up to %50 of the total bill of major dental treatments. In the case of preventive care, this percentage might increase to %80. These numbers might differ based on each dental insurance plan you choose and the procedure or number of teeth being restored. Therefore, people can only give an approximate amount of how much dental insurance pay for cosmetic dentistry. Moreover, it will be challenging to find full coverage cosmetic dental insurance.
Furthermore, you should note that in most cases, when you apply for a dental insurance plan in Australia, you should wait from 2 to 12 months to be eligible to use your insurance for dental procedures. They intend to prevent people from joining a dental insurance plan only when needed. There is dental insurance with no waiting periods, which also can be a good option for people who need emergency treatments.
The selected insurance provider might offer a special incentive to avoid these waiting periods. You may have to pay more to these insurances to be eligible to use this promotion. You’re at the right place now if you look for such dental insurance in Coolalinga, Darwin, Palmerston, Humpty doo, and Howard Springs! Acacia dental care offers you affordable cosmetic dental treatments.
Transform Your Smile with Unrivalled Mastery: Embark on a Journey of Premium Dental Procedures
Dental insurances usually have maximum coverage of $1500 to $2000 annually (you can check the covered amount when choosing the insurance plan.) You can only use your dental insurance up to this price. Any extra costs should be paid out-of-pocket.
For example, if your dental procedure exceeds $5000, and the insurance is supposed to cover %50, it can only pay $2000, and the remaining $500 should be paid by the patient.
How to Find the Best Dental Insurance for Cosmetic Dentistry Purposes?
As mentioned, cosmetic dental procedures are generally not covered by dental insurance. But, if you wonder what to look for in dental insurance to consider it the best, check the following factors:
Dentists You Can Visit
Some insurances only cover the visits with the dentists in their network. You have a selection of dentists that can meet using your insurance. You can also find dental insurance plans that support visiting dentists out of their networks, but they cover less fees. In this case, you have to pay the rest out-of-pocket. Therefore, if you want to see a specific dentist, ensure they accept your insurance.
Dental Treatments It Covers
As we defined several times during this article, not all dental treatments are covered by insurance. Check all dental insurance plans to ensure you can use them for specific dental treatment. Don’t miss the considerations and circumstances each plan might have.
Does It Cover Cosmetic Dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry is not a commonly covered procedure for dental insurance; you can find a plan that partially covers this group of dental treatment services. However, it is more likely for you to have to pay more fees for this coverage.
How Much It Pays Per Procedure
The percentage insurance pays for each dental procedure is different. Check different plans to see which one has a better offer for you, especially in cosmetic dentistry, when in the best cases, only a part of the fee might be supported by health funds.
What Is Its Annual Coverage?
Each dental insurance has a limited amount of coverage, which means you can only use it up to that amount, and any extra fees should be paid out-of-pocket. Compare the annual coverage of different insurances to decide which plan suits your preferences.
How Much You Should Pay Monthly
Your monthly payment is different according to different insurance plans. You may need to pay more for promotions like avoiding waiting periods or if the insurance includes a specific dental procedure like cosmetic dentistry.
Should You Spend the Waiting Period?
If it is important to you to use your insurance as soon as you have selected a plan, check it with the insurance provider to ensure you shouldn’t wait several months. This might be considered a special offer to you, so it may affect the monthly fee you pay to the insurance.
Based on these factors, you can quickly discover which dental insurance plan and provider is proper for your situation and budget.
If you still don’t know which dental insurance plan to choose, consult your dentist about your situation. Since they have worked with multiple numbers of dental insurance, they can give you more information about the plans that suit you. Make an appointment with a dentist in Coolalinga.
Call us today; our team at Acacia Dental Care will be happy to hear from you!
Bottom Line
Dental insurance for cosmetic dentistry can be a valuable investment for those seeking to improve the appearance of their teeth. While not all cosmetic procedures may be covered by your health insurance, dental insurance plans for cosmetic dentistry can help decrease the costs of treatments such as dental crowns or veneers. However, your provider may mention the special scenario in which you can use your cosmetic dentistry dental insurance.