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Before considering a dental insurance company, customers should see if the type of service they need is covered. Some dental insurance providers may be more focused on businesses and organizations, while others may cater to individuals and families.

• Individual/Family dental coverage: The vast majority of dental insurance firms provide coverage for individuals and families. But do check first.
• Group (employee) dental coverage: Some dental insurance companies prefer to cover small groups (employers) of two to 99 people. Other dental insurance companies prefer to cover large groups with tens of thousands of employees.
• Seniors: Medicare Part A for hospital coverage and Medicare Part B for medical coverage don’t include routine dental coverage so retirees within six months of turning 65 should think about Medicare Advantage, a private health insurance policy with dental coverage which replaces standard Medicare coverage.
• Federal employees: Some dental insurers specialize in offering benefits to U.S. government employees.
• Americans working or traveling abroad: Some dental plans are designed specifically to cover private or public sector workers abroad.

In general, every plan covers preventive care and basic procedures, but some consumers may unknowingly sign up for a plan that does not cover an operation they may need. It is therefore crucial to check benefits and services before choosing a plan.

• Preventive care/exams: The provider usually offers solid coverage for preventive care services such as routine oral examinations, periodontal examinations, X-rays, general cleanings, topical fluoride treatment and sealants.
• Basic procedures: Basic procedures, such as emergency care, extractions, fillings, space maintainers, minor oral surgery and crowns, are sometimes covered. For good coverage of basic procedures, consumers may need to pay more.
• Major procedures: Generally, only top-of-the-line coverage handles major services. Common major procedures that are covered by more comprehensive dental insurance plans include crowns, bridgework, dentures, periodontal cleanings, gum therapies and root canals.

Even with insurance, dental care is expensive. Consumers should analyze their dental claim histories to forecast how much they will pay over the entire year. In addition to a monthly premium payment, there is usually a co-payment at each visit and a coinsurance responsibility.

• Deductible: This is a specific dollar amount customers have to pay out-of-pocket before the insurance company begins making payments for any claims. It is not part of the copayment.
• Copayment: This is a fixed amount paid at the time of the dentist’s visit. It is a separate charge and not applied toward your deductible, which you need to reach before insurance kicks in.
• Coinsurance: Given as a percentage, coinsurance is what the client has to pay after satisfying the co-payment and/or deductible for the plan. This can vary for different services.
• Maximum out-of-pocket cost: Maximum out-of-pocket cost represents the total amount policyholders will have to pay for dental care throughout the year.

Each insurer partners with various dentists throughout certain states and regions. Dentists perform services according to a rate schedule, which is a set fee agreed on by the provider and insurer. People usually pay less when the visit a dentist in an insurer’s network. Customers switching insurers may want to double check if their dentist is in the new insurer’s network. Conversely, if switching dentist, customers should check to see if the new dentist belongs to the patient’s insurer’s network.

• In-network list: Before purchasing a plan, customers should look over the list of in-network dentists and make sure there is an in-network professional in their area.
• Financial incentives: Under certain plans, patients save lots of money by going to in-network dentists. Other plans may even refuse to cover care from out-of-network dentists.
• Flexibility: To satisfy customer needs, some dentists and plans are willing to make exceptions for patients when it comes to network coverage.

From gold crowns to failure to keep an appointment, dental insurance companies always write in a list of exclusions, and consumers are responsible for reading and understanding their insurer’s list.

• Cosmetic dentistry: Teeth whitening, bonding, enamel shaping and contouring, implants and orthodontics are some examples of cosmetic services that are typically not covered by plans.
• Annual maximum benefit: The maximum benefit refers to the highest dollar amount the dental insurance firm will pay per family member per year. It is usually a part of PPO plans. This is a very important consideration as the cost of major oral surgery, once the maximum annual benefit exceeded, could fall mainly the patient's responsibility with such a plan.
• Specialties: Basic dental plans typically exclude orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics and prosthodontics.
• Discounted rates: Discounts passed along by in-network dentists may not be available in some states.
• Standalone Dental: Depending on the state in which you live, some insurers will not let you buy dental coverage unless you are also covered by one of the insurer’s medical plans.
• Special circumstances: Dental insurance companies even exclude services that may be needed due to special circumstances, among which may include losses from armed conflict, self-inflicted injuries and infections.
• Waiting periods: Some basic dental services may incur a six-month waiting period and some major services may incur a 12-month waiting period.

A great way to save money on dental insurance is to combine it with other types of health insurance. Customers can check bundle offers when they sign up for a plan.

• Vision: Dental insurance and vision insurance can often be purchased together at a discount.
• Accident: Many dental insurance companies offer an accident and dental insurance package, which helps cover injuries not covered by traditional health and dental insurance.
• General health insurance: Many health insurance plans let consumers add dental insurance at a discount.