Like many people, you may have a fear of dentists. That’s normal – estimates suggest over half of all Americans struggle with mild to severe dental anxiety. Luckily, you could get sedation dentistry as a solution. It’d keep you nice and calm for your treatment! That said, you may wonder: Does insurance cover sedation dentistry? The answer to that question affects your options. So, let your Dallas dentist explain dental sedation and insurance in this summary.
Context: What’s Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is the use of sedatives to calm patients for dental care. It’s beneficial for those with dental anxiety and similar conditions.
Overall, there are varying levels of sedation dentistry. The kind you get will depend on your anxiety, procedure, health history, etc. The most popular form is nitrous oxide sedation, which relies on nitrous oxide gas. However, other forms do exist as well.
Is Sedation Dentistry Covered by Insurance?
Insurance usually won’t cover sedation dentistry. Dental sedatives work well, but most plans won’t help with the expense.
You see, insurance companies see sedation as a luxury. They put it in the same “non-essential dental services” group as dental implants and cosmetics. The option isn’t “medically necessary,” so they have patients meet the cost.
At the same time, sedation can be pricey. Some places charge as much (or more) for it as the treatment itself! Thus, insurance will argue that coverage would entail higher premiums.
Why Should You Get It Anyway?
While insurance often won’t cover sedation, the latter is still worth choosing. It offers many great benefits for dental patients. Such perks include:
- Temporary Amnesia – Many sedatives leave patients with little or no memory of the procedure. This effect leads to reduced stress concerning future visits.
- Versatility – Aside from helping with dental anxiety, sedation dentistry can ease an over-active gag reflex and sensitive teeth.
- Convenience – Sedation dentistry is fast-acting and safe, allowing dentists to perform more work per visit.
- Improved Oral Health – By easing anxiety, sedation dentistry encourages patients who’d otherwise skip dental care to attend treatment.
Normally, a dental plan won’t offer coverage for dental sedation. In light of the benefits above, though, these sedatives are still a great choice for oral care!
About the Practice
Midtown Family Dentistry is based in Dallas, TX. Led by its wonderful team of dentists, our practice will always work to make your smile flourish. To that end, we offer high-quality preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency dental procedures. Our team can even provide top-tier dental sedation for anxious patients! For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (469)-529-6016.