Answers to common questions about dental benefits

Everyone has a different level of knowledge about their dental benefits. To make sure you’re making the most of your plan (or using it in the first place), let’s address a few common questions.

82% of adults agree that having dental benefits is essential to protecting oral and overall health. Most dental plans place an emphasis on preventive coverage and sharing of costs.

Depending on your plan, select procedures, cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening and certain pre-existing conditions may not be covered.

You can easily locate an in-network dentist near you by using the Find a dentist tool on Delta Dental’s website.

You’ll want to stay in-network to maximize you benefits, savings and convenience. That’s because in-network dentists agree to charge discounted rates for their services, and they file claims and any other paperwork for you.

Let’s review a few terms that are helpful to know:

• Deductible. A dollar amount that you must pay toward covered services before Delta Dental’s benefits are paid.
• Coinsurance. The percentage of the costs of services paid by you. For example, a benefit that is paid at 80% by the plan creates a 20% coinsurance obligation for you.
• Annual maximum benefit. The total dollar amount that a plan will pay for dental care for an individual member or family member (under a family plan) for a specified benefit period, typically a calendar year.
• Lifetime maximum benefit. The maximum amount a plan will pay over the course of a lifetime. It may apply to an individual or a family and typically applies to specific treatments such as orthodontic treatment.

Want to learn more about your dental plan? If you’re a Delta Dental member, you can always review your plan details by logging into your account.