Dental insurance helps pay for covered dental services such as preventive care, cleanings, exams, X-rays, fillings, crowns, root canals, and other dental treatments, depending on the plan selected.

Most dental plans cover preventive services like cleanings, exams, and X-rays up to 100%. Basic services like fillings and simple extractions are often covered up to 60%–80%, while major services like crowns, dentures, and root canals may be covered up to 40%–50% (coverage varies by carrier and plan).

Many dental plans have no waiting periods for preventive care, but basic or major services can have waiting periods of 6–12 months (can vary by carrier and plan).

This is the most the insurance company will pay toward dental care in a plan year. It commonly ranges from $1,000 to $2,000, though some carriers offer higher limits up to $5,000. Preventative services are usually not counted toward the annual maximum limit.

Yes. Many people find dental insurance valuable because it can help reduce out-of-pocket costs for routine preventive care and unexpected dental procedures.

PPO plans generally provide more flexibility when choosing dentists, while HMO plans typically require members to use network providers and may have lower costs.

Yes. Many dental insurance plans are available for retirees and individuals enrolled in Medicare.

Original Medicare generally does not cover routine dental care. Many Medicare Advantage plans include dental benefits, and standalone dental insurance plans are also available.