Does Insurance Cover Cosmetic Dentistry? What to Ask About Cost
This article doesn't quote prices. What follows is how insurance treats cosmetic work, and what to ask before you agree to a treatment plan, so that the cost conversation gets somewhere useful.
Insurance and cosmetic work
Insurance usually doesn't cover cosmetic dentistry services, because insurance companies don't consider cosmetic procedures necessary from a health standpoint. You'll also need a certain level of commitment to maintain your smile, and some treatments, such as porcelain veneers, may be irreversible and require replacement every few years (Cleveland Clinic).
Veneers, coverage and trade-offs
On veneers specifically, dental veneers are cosmetic, so they're not covered by most insurances. There are disadvantages to weigh: you'll lose at least some of your natural enamel, many types of veneers aren't reversible, your teeth may become more sensitive to heat and cold, and it's possible for a veneer to fall off or become dislodged (Cleveland Clinic).
A veneer may chip, crack, wear down or loosen over time, requiring your dentist to re-bond, repair or replace it, and veneers are considered cosmetic dentistry, so your veneer may not be covered by insurance unless it's deemed medically necessary (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
Cosmetic and restorative are defined differently
Restorative dentistry focuses on repairing or replacing teeth, and the main goal of restorative dentistry is to improve oral health and chewing function; crowns, bridges, implants and dentures are examples of restorative dental procedures. Restorative dentistry focuses on improving oral health and function, while cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of your smile (Cleveland Clinic).
There is also a separate article on cosmetic versus restorative dentistry.
Questions to take into the cost conversation
None of these questions needs a figure to be worth asking:
- What is this treatment called when it goes to my insurance, and what does my own plan say about that?
- Is this being proposed for the appearance of my teeth, for their health and function, or for both?
- If insurance pays nothing toward it, what is the full cost to me, and what is included in that?
- How long is it expected to last, and what is involved if it has to be repaired or replaced later?
- Which parts of the proposal are optional, and what changes if I do less?
Where to ask about your own coverage
We verify insurance before treatment and file claims, and our insurance and payment page gives a list of PPO plans and mentions CareCredit and payment plans. For a first appointment, see our first-visit page. Our office is at 147 Main St, 2nd Floor, Lodi, NJ 07644.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic. "Cosmetic Dentistry." Updated 2024-11-06. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23914-cosmetic-dentistry
- Cleveland Clinic. "Veneers." Updated 2022-07-18. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23522-dental-veneers
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). "Veneers." https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/veneers
- Cleveland Clinic. "Restorative Dentistry." Updated 2022-08-02. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/10924-dental-restorations
