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How Does Dental Insurance Work?

Dental insurance can help pay for a variety of dental costs to keep your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy. While each plan is different, many are designed to help cover preventive services, basic services, and major services. Let's take a closer look at what dental insurance is and how it works.

4 Min Read

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

  • Dental insurance can help cover costs of preventative care, basic dental services, and major procedures.
  • There are several types of dental insurance plans that you may be able to choose from, including PPO, HMO and dental discount plans.
  • Aflac offers primary and supplemental dental insurance (additional coverage for dental care expenses not covered by your primary insurance plan) for individuals and families that can help reduce your dental costs.

How dental insurance works

With dental insurance, you’ll pay premiums to an insurer and receive coverage for dental expenses, like exams, cleanings, and procedures. Depending on the dental insurance plan you have, you may be required to visit dentists in-network or have the freedom to receive care from any dentist, including those out-of-network.1

Aflac offers primary dental insurance for individuals and families with a variety of coverage levels, including full coverage. You can also get supplemental dental insurance from Aflac to help with costs not typically covered by primary insurance. Additionally, we offer three types of coverage in one comprehensive plan with our Dental, Vision and Hearing Insurance. Consider getting our DVH Core or DVH Elite Plan to help with the cost of treatments.

Types of dental insurance

There are two primary types of dental insurance plans you may consider:

  • Dental PPO: PPO plans are flexible insurance plans that allow you to choose your own dentist. However, they also offer discounted services through a network of preferred providers.
  • Dental HMO: HMO plans require you to choose a primary dentist from a plan network. Although they have less flexibility, usually they offer lower premiums.

What does dental insurance cover?

In most cases, dental insurance covers three areas of dental care, including preventive services, basic services, and major services. Here’s how each of these services works:2

Preventive services

Preventive services usually cover routine exams, cleanings, x-rays, and preventive care.

Basic services

Basic services are simple procedures such as fillings, basic oral care gum treatments, and non-surgical tooth procedures.

Major services

Major services tend to be complex and might include oral surgery, and major services.

How much does dental insurance cost?

The cost of dental insurance can vary based on factors like your age, the state you live in, and the type of policy you get. The National Association of Dental Plans estimates that the average DHMO plan for individuals costs $13.83 per month, and the average DPPO plan for individuals costs $35.16 per month.3

While every dental insurance plan is unique, many of them have the following features:2

  • Deductible: The out-of-pocket dollar amount you must pay for dental care before your dental insurance company starts to pay. If you have a $100 annual deductible, for example, you’ll be on the hook for $100 before your insurer kicks in and covers the rest.
  • Copayment: Also known as a copay, this is the amount you’ll need to pay before you receive a covered service, even after meeting your deductible. For example, a plan may require a copay of $20 for a cleaning which you must pay out of pocket.
  • Coinsurance: The remaining cost you pay for services after you reach your deductible, typically expressed as a percentage. Coinsurance typically ranges from 20 to 80% of a procedure.
  • Annual maximum: Your plan’s annual maximum is the most it will pay toward your dental services within a given year. Although dental plans differ, annual maximums often range from $750 to $2,000.
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How to get dental insurance

If you’re interested in getting an Aflac dental insurance plan, follow these steps:

  1. 1. Fill out a short online form.
  2. 2. Wait for an Aflac representative to call you and discuss your options.

You can also start the process via phone and call Aflac directly at 1-855-782-5850.

Why dental insurance is worth it

Primary dental insurance, including full coverage dental insurance, can help you save a significant amount on dental care costs. Supplemental plans can also help cover expenses that are not typically covered by primary plans. Benefits of dental insurance include:

  • Reduced out-of-pocket costs: Dental insurance helps lower the out-of-pocket costs every time you go to the dentist. This can help save you from a significant financial burden.
  • Affordable coverage: Compared to other types of insurance, dental insurance comes with affordable premiums. Additionally, Aflac’s primary dental insurance plans offer lower deductibles the longer you have the plan, offering additional savings over time.
  • Improved oral health: You may be more motivated to take care of your oral health if you have dental insurance. Without a plan, you might develop serious complications that cost you more money and headaches in the future.

Get a quote for Aflac dental insurance

Now that you know how dental insurance works, you may be wondering which type of plan is right for you. Aflac offers dental insurance for individuals with reasonable premiums and comprehensive coverage. Chat with an agent to learn more about how Aflac’s primary dental insurance, supplemental dental insurance, and Dental, Vision and Hearing Insurance can help you get quality dental care within your budget.

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Learn more about Aflac products for Individuals & Families: