Covering Cosmetic Dentistry Fees: Insurance, Payment Plans, And Financing Options

While the need for cosmetic dentistry is widespread and many people desire to change the physical appearance of their teeth, many are concerned that the costs of the procedures outweigh their desire to get the work performed. However, when it comes to dental health, people should consider that the benefits are many and the most common procedures are not cost-prohibitive. Plus, when you consider that the result will likely change your appearance for the better, it is usually worth the cost.

The actual costs vary based on where you live in the country, as well as what exact procedure you are getting done. While orthodontics cost several thousand dollars, procedures like bonding and porcelain veneers typically start at less than a thousand dollars per tooth. Of course, each person is different and more complicated versions of the same procedure can cost far more than the simple version. The expenses also go up when you are having work done on multiple teeth at the same time or having several different types of procedures performed.

Depending on what cosmetic dentistry procedures are performed, dental insurance may cover some of the costs. Although all insurance policies are different, many will cover at least part of the dental work that stems from health-related problems like decay, but will not cover the more appearance-based cosmetic work. Check with your insurance company to see what they cover and you may be pleasantly surprised what they will pay for.

If insurance does not cover the particular work that is wanted, there are typically other payment options available. Many dentist offices will give their clients payment plans wherein they can have the work performed now, but pay it off over time. Additionally, there are specific financing options available for cosmetic dentistry procedures. Special credit cards that are meant to cover only dental-related expenses that are not covered by insurance are available to help ease the burden of paying the dental bill. Depending on the financing, you may be able to go several months without making payments or have a low interest rate over a longer period of time.