How to Budget for Major Dental Procedures

What counts as a major dental procedure?

A major dental procedure is a treatment that fixes a serious dental issue, such as a damaged, infected or missing tooth.

These treatments are typically more complex and expensive than routine care or basic services. They may also involve multiple exams or follow-up care. Each step can add to the total cost of treatment.

Note: Dental insurance policies may classify procedures differently. For example, the same procedure may be considered "major" under one plan and "basic" under another. Reviewing your policy can help you understand your treatment's classification.

Step 1: Understand the full cost of treatment

Before you schedule a major dental procedure, ask your dentist for a written treatment estimate. Depending on your procedure, the estimate may include:

• Exams or consultations
• Follow-up visits

A detailed estimate can help you understand your dental procedure costs and plan for them in your budget. If anything in your estimate is unclear, ask your dental office to walk you through each charge before your treatment begins.

Step 2: Review your insurance coverage

Dental insurance can help lower out-of-pocket costs, but it may not cover every procedure in full. You can get a better idea of what you'll pay for your major procedure by reviewing your policy's:

• Waiting periods
• Deductible
• Coinsurance
• Annual maximum
• Coverage exclusions for major services
• Network restrictions

You can also ask your dentist to submit a pre-treatment estimate to your insurance company. This can help give you a clear idea of what your plan may pay before you start treatment.

Step 3: Create a dental savings plan

If you know you’ll need major dental work in the future, setting aside money in advance can help you prepare. To create a simple savings plan, just follow these steps:

• Estimate your expected out-of-pocket cost
• Set a target date for your treatment
• Divide the total by the number of months until that date
• Save that amount each month in a separate account

For example, let’s say you need dentures that cost $2,000.¹ You learn that your dental insurance covers 50% of this procedure, leaving you responsible for the remaining $1,000. You plan your dentures appointment three months in advance and save $333 each month.

If you already have funds in a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA), ask your benefits administrator whether your procedure is eligible to use these funds. HSA and FSA accounts let you use pre-tax dollars for qualified medical or dental expenses, which can help make your dental care dollars go further.