If you’d rather be anywhere else in the whole world than the dentist’s office, you aren’t alone—many patients these days suffer from dental-related fear and anxiety, and at times, it can be so debilitating that necessary treatment is put off! This is where sedation dentistry comes in handy; it’s an accessible and useful option that helps with these situations. But you might be wondering if it’s covered by insurance; here’s what you need to know.
When Insurance Typically Covers Sedation Dentistry
To put it simply, even though sedation dentistry is notably beneficial, it’s not often considered a medical necessity, meaning that the majority of dental insurance plans don’t offer coverage for it. There are a few exceptions to this:
- When the use of sedation lowers the overall cost of dental treatment.
- If the patient has a medical condition that makes it impossible for them to receive dental care without sedation (this applies to conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism, and more).
- When a dental procedure is especially complex (major oral surgery, tooth extractions, etc.).
- The patient has enrolled in a more expensive policy that provides specific benefits for sedation dentistry.
Why Sedation Dentistry Is Well Worth It
The bottom line is that sedation dentistry is absolutely worth the cost; not only does it make it magnitudes easier for anxious or troubled patients to receive necessary dental care, but it also makes it easier for the dentist to perform said care. It also ensures that moving forward, you feel a little bit better about going back to the dentist—and you can’t put a price on this peace of mind.
Regardless, it’s always worth checking the specifics of your plan before committing to any type of dental treatment, whether sedation is involved or not. It’s also worth mentioning that several practices off various means of making sedation dentistry more affordable, including things like in-house savings plans, third-party financing, and more. Lacking insurance doesn’t mean you’re out of luck; in any case, sedation dentistry is well worth the investment!
About the Practice
The team at Berkshire Dental Group is thrilled to provide patients and families in the Broken Arrow community with an elite level of dental care. Under the leadership of Dr. TJ Sprague, they’re proud to offer a wide range of services including sedation dentistry for those with dental-related anxiety! If you have any questions about the blog or think you or a loved one might benefit from receiving sedation dentistry, feel free to contact the practice online or by phone for assistance. Telephone: (918) 250-9528.