Understanding Dental Insurance Coverage For Veneers

Cosmetic dentistry, the practice of directly placing aesthetic restorations on the natural teeth without tooth preparation, commonly involves dental veneers, which are thin laminates made of porcelain or chrome material cemented on the facial surface of teeth. Dentures are a popular cosmetic process because they solve problems such as staining or discoloration, small misalignments, or chips.

However, like with most dental procedures, especially the esthetic ones, determining the insurance coverage on veneers is difficult. This article will act as a guide to give a clearer understanding of the subject.

Dental Veneers

Cosmetic dental care is one of the most popular treatments that the dental field offers as we speak. They are slender layers manufactured individually to fit over the front part of your teeth; they enhance your smile by changing its color, form, size, or length. As the treatment presents long-term outcomes that make people’s teeth shine, they may cost some individuals a lot of money. It is at this point that dental insurance considerations are taken into account.

Dental Veneers: Types, Procedure, and Benefits

• Just as a fake nail conceals a real nail, a veneer is a fake tooth surface. The veneer records the shape and shear dimensions of the teeth as the data is given to the ceramicist by the dentist for the construction of the veneer. Just like natural teeth, veneers are thin, 1-millimeter structures of porcelain or resin-composite.
• While a crown entirely engulfs a specific tooth, a veneer is placed on only the visible part of the tooth. The crown is placed to support broken teeth, usually after a procedure known as root canal therapy, while veneer serves its need typically of an esthetic nature. Veneers will hide stains, adjust teeth for misshapen, align gaps, or hide cosmetic damage like a crack or a broken tooth. A veneer can be put on several teeth or simply one, according to the cause triggering the dental procedure.
• Usually, veneers are made in at least three separate visits or appointments. There are cases, for example, in which all teeth that will be veneered are compromised by some cavities or other pathologies among the patient; these problem areas must be solved before the veneering procedure.
• Then, at the next appointment, the dentist will shave down part of the tooth’s surface, removing some of the outer enamel. This gives the tooth the right surface to attach the veneer. After this procedure, the patient is given temporary veneers to enable him/her to eat and drink.
• The prosthetic veneers are fabricated and made in a laboratory, and they are cemented in approximately a couple of weeks. Resin-composite veneers will have a life expectancy of approximately five years. Those that are made from porcelain can easily serve more than 10 years of use.

Average Cost of Veneers

The cost of veneer is influenced by the following factors:

• Type of veneer to be used; second,
• Number of teeth that require veneer placement; and third,
• Other related procedures.

The two types of materials are normally used. Porcelain is the most costly, costing about $500-$2500 per tooth. Other commonly used material includes composite resin. The cost resulting from composite veneers varies depending on the quality of the veneers available. When done in a dental office, you may run up to $800 per tooth. If made in a fabrication laboratory, some types of composite veneers can cost an average of $1000 per tooth.

Other surgery operations may have to be carried out before the veneers can be placed. If any adjustments are required before the actual veneer procedure, the action will entail additional charges.

Why are Veneers Not Always Covered By Insurance?

Given that veneers are often considered a cosmetic procedure, insurance coverage can sometimes be a gray area. Here’s a deeper dive into when dental veneers might be covered by insurance:

1. Medical Necessity vs.Cosmetic Desire

• Cosmetic Procedures: Virtually all dental insurance plans classify veneers as cosmetic prostheses. If you’re getting veneers for cosmetic reasons, that is, to conceal a small space in between the teeth or minor misalignment or stains, then insurance will not cover the procedure.
• Medical Necessity: This does not mean, however, that there are no considerations for veneers to be approved as a necessary treatment. For instance, if a traumatic injury or medication stains a tooth, or if a tooth is significantly worn and veneer placement is advised to shield it, then insurance may want to pay the bill.

2. Pre-existing Conditions

Each insurance plan has some conditions regarding the circumstances that prevailed when the policy was ineffective. Suppose you needed veneers before your insurance policy began. In that case, the insurance might not pay for the costs. Still, with the changes in insurance policies, rules, and regulations, the exclusion of pre-existing conditions is gradually fading off in some parts of the world.

3. Inclusions and Exclusions in Your Specific Plan

There’s a lot of variation in insurance plans. In one plan, there may be veneers under certain circumstances, but you may find that in another plan, there aren’t.To understand your policy, speak to someone from the insurance firm.

4. Alternative Treatments

Veneers could probably be compared with other possible treatments by the insurance companies. If there is a cheaper method of attaining the same medical result, like crowning or bonding, the insurance may opt for that instead of veneers.

5. Frequency Limitations

But even if an insurance plan does include veneers for medical needs, there could be restrictions on how often they pay for such a treatment. For example, if you have had a veneer on a given tooth within a given period of time, then your insurance might not make a replacement for several years.

6. Deductibles, Copays, and Maximums

Even if veneers fall under the company’s dental plan, there will still be some financial plan they employ. Sometimes, you are supposed to pay a small amount of money before insurance kicks in, or maybe coinsurance is required for the procedure. However, all dental insurance plans have a limit for the amount they will pay annually, and the cost of veneers will easily push the limit to an extent.

7. Pre-authorization Requirements

Certain operations must undergo pre-authorization before the insurance plans are offered to cover the costs. If you believe getting veneers is medically necessary and, therefore, should be paid by the insurance, you should seek permission beforehand to avoid a hefty bill.

As an oral technique, it is highly advisable to keep communication lines open with your dentist and your insurance carrier if you are to undergo veneers. If the dentist is quite sure that there are medical merits to carrying out the procedure, then the insurance company can be called on to provide a copy of the documents or the x-rays, among other procedures. Ensure you always know situations when your policy is applicable and any out-of-pocket expenses you may have.

Wrapping up

If your insurance plan doesn’t have veneer coverage, there are several other options. In case your insurance plan does not allow dorsal caps, there are other alternatives. Any dentist’s office you approach will probably provide affordable payment options, making it possible to pay in installments. Talk to your dentist and find out what kinds of payment options he or she has.

Another way of using dental savings plans is to pay for veneers. Being another form of conventional dental insurance plan, you are required to pay a monthly premium and then turn to the provider when in need of a dental procedure. Rio Bravo Dentist is always there to help in such situations. However, dental savings plans may differ from most insurance plans because they may include dental veneers and other aesthetic dental treatments.