Will Your Dental Insurance Help Cover an Emergency Visit?

A dental emergency may not be what you expected when you started your day, but if you experience a sudden injury or bothersome toothache that won’t ease up, you shouldn’t wait to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Although you may be worried about the cost of treatment, you may be surprised to learn how your dental insurance can help minimize your out-of-pocket expenses. Read on to discover what kind of financial aid you can expect when a crisis occurs.

What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?

If you’re unsure whether your injury is considered a dental emergency, here are a few examples:

• Cracked tooth
• Chipped tooth
• Knocked-Out tooth
• Very sensitive teeth
• Toothache
• Soft tissue laceration
• Broken denture/prosthetics
• Lost dental filling or crown

Not all of these situations require same-day treatment (such as a lost dental crown or filling), but you will likely need to see your dentist within a day or two of the incident to avoid further injury or infection.

What Factors Can Determine Whether Your Dental Injury is Covered?

When determining how much you can expect your dental emergency treatment to cost, there are a few factors your dentist will consider before providing an estimate:

• The severity of your injury
• The kind of treatment you will require
• The geographic location of your dental office and cost of living
• What kind of dental insurance coverage do you have

You can expect your dentist to explain the details with you during your appointment so that you don’t face any surprises before or after treatment.

Will Dental Insurance Help Cover the Cost of an Emergency?

Most dental insurance companies include emergency appointments as part of their available coverage. It is important to remember that not every plan is the same, so you will need to review your policy or have a dental team member look at it on your behalf.

You may find that your plan offers one emergency exam each year, so the cost will likely come from the restorative treatment you will need to restore your smile. This can include dental fillings, dental crowns, a root canal, tooth extraction, dentures, a dental bridge, or another restorative solution.

Depending on the type of plan you have, your insurance company may agree to cover between 50 to 80% of the total cost, but this largely depends on whether you’ve met your deductible. Also, you must have sufficient funds available within your annual maximum.

Don’t let your fear of financial responsibility keep you from getting the emergency care you need. By using your dental insurance, you can minimize the cost and focus on restoring your smile to its pre-damaged state.

About the Author

Dr. Saeed Rouhani is an emergency dentist who wants patients to feel better and be happy with their results after suffering a dental injury. Fortunately, with top-of-the-line restorative treatment, we can improve the health and function of your smile and boost your appearance for greater confidence. If you are concerned about the cost of treatment, make sure to visit our website or call (972) 733-0999 to schedule an appointment today. We’ll discuss how we can use your dental insurance to maximize your savings.