Insurance & Financing

Dr. Ruiwen Ma

What is dental insurance?

Dental insurance is kind of like a coupon for your dental treatment. It works in two ways. First, it gives you an upfront discount from the office's listed price. Second, it pays a percentage of future treatment costs until it reaches a certain maximum, such as $1,000 or $3,000, depending on your plan.

How is dental insurance different from medical insurance?

Medical insurance works kind of the opposite way. You usually need to meet your deductible first, which could be a couple of hundred or a couple of thousand dollars, and then the insurance pays a percentage. Medical insurance generally does not have the same kind of low annual maximum that dental insurance does, unless you choose a procedure that is not covered.

How much does dental insurance cost?

Dental insurance can average from about $15 to $50 per month, depending on where you get it. If you get it through work, you may receive a subsidy or group discount. If you buy it yourself through the marketplace or another third-party insurance company, it may be a little more expensive or have a lower coverage cap.

What is the best dental insurance?

The best dental insurance is normally a PPO plan because it allows you to go to a doctor of your choice and often covers a higher percentage compared to HMO plans. But to me, the best dental insurance is flossing, brushing, and getting routine dental checkups.

Does dental insurance cover dental implants, braces, or Invisalign?

Dental insurance works very differently from plan to plan and from person to person. Coverage for dental implants, braces, or Invisalign can vary a lot. Sometimes there is an age limit, a dollar limit, or a percentage they will cover. We would need to review your plan details to give you a clearer, more accurate estimate.

Does dental insurance cover routine checkups and cleanings?

Dental insurance normally covers routine dental checkups and cleanings, so it can definitely be worthwhile to have it.

What happens when you have two dental insurances?

When you have two dental insurance plans, one will usually be primary and the other secondary. Which one is primary depends on several factors. One factor may be who the policyholder is, and another may be how long you have had each insurance plan. These factors can affect how much the insurance will cover.

How accurate are dental insurance estimates?

Unfortunately, they are not very accurate. We use system-generated data based on previous experience. For example, your insurance may estimate that it will cover $300 for a dental crown, but we do not know for sure until the insurance processes the final claim.

They review the dental X-rays, history, and other details before deciding whether to cover it and how much. Sometimes they cover more, and sometimes they cover less. Unfortunately, we are the messenger who sends your claim, and we are your advocate in helping you get your dental benefits, but your dental insurance is the final decision-maker on how much they want to cover for you.

At Dominion Smiles, you come first. Whether you need dental care or simply have questions, call us at (210) 866-8730 or email [email protected] to schedule your visit. Our team is here to help you every step of the way.

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The doctors at Dominion Smiles are committed to ensuring finances don’t stand in the way of anyone’s treatment plan. Along with accepting most PPO insurances, they offer flexible financing options. Additionally, they have established an in-house membership program that provides access to specially priced services.

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•No Deductibles •No Claim Forms •Immediate Eligibility •No Yearly Maximums •No Pre-Authorizations