There are some people out there who’d rather be anywhere else in the world than seated in their dentist’s chair for treatment—and if you fall into this category, you are not even remotely alone. That said, did you know that there’s an excellent, accessible solution for these instances? Sedation dentistry is considered the go-to option for patients who need help receiving dental care; however, as useful as these services are, they normally aren’t covered by dental insurance. Here’s a closer look at why this is, along with why sedation dentistry is still a very worthwhile endeavor.
When Does Insurance Cover Sedation Dentistry?
To put it simply, dental sedation often isn’t considered a medical necessity, meaning that most dental insurance plans don’t offer standard coverage for it. Fortunately, there are a few exceptions to this, including:
- The use of dental sedation ends up lowering the overall cost of dental treatment.
- The patient has a medical condition that makes it near-impossible for them to receive adequate care without the help of sedation; this applies to conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism, and others.
- The dentist needs to complete a particularly lengthy or complex procedure, such as major oral surgery or a tooth extraction. Sedation is more or less necessary in these instances.
- The patient has enrolled in a more expensive dental insurance policy that provides specific benefits for sedation.
Always be sure that you’re checking the specifics of your insurance policy before committing to any type of treatment; most dental offices have savvy, knowledgeable employees who are also able to assist you with navigating the specifics of your plan.
Is Sedation Dentistry Still Worth It?
These days, it’s always tempting to save a few bucks wherever you can—and if your dental insurance plan doesn’t offer benefits for sedation, and your treatment doesn’t necessarily require it, you might be wondering if you should forget about it. But the bottom line is that sedation dentistry is almost always going to be worthwhile. Not only does it make undergoing dental treatment magnitudes easier for anxious or troubled patients, but it also makes it easier for the dentist to perform said care. Better yet, it ensures that moving forward, you feel a little bit better about going back to the dentist.
You absolutely can’t put a price on that peace of mind; oral care is a lifelong journey, and anything you can do to make things easier for yourself now will pay off in the future!
About the Practice
The talented team at Riviera Family Dentistry of Denver has proudly served families in Denver and the surrounding area for several years. Their practice is thrilled to offer a wide range of sedation dentistry options, including both nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with the team to schedule a visit for yourself or a loved one, feel free to reach out online or over the phone for assistance. Telephone: (720) 640-0272.