Is Dental Bonding Covered by Insurance?

Maintaining good oral health is an important part of being healthy generally. Dental problems can happen at the worst times, and it can be expensive to fix them. Bonding your teeth together is a common way to fix problems with your teeth like chips, gaps, and discoloration. A lot of people want to know if this treatment is covered by their dental insurance, and the answer can be tricky. Dental bonding is a procedure that is explained in this blog post. Most dental insurance plans cover this as well.

Table of Contents

How Dental Bonding Works

You can make your teeth look better with dental bonding, which is a type of cosmetic dentistry. A tooth-colored composite resin is used to fix teeth that are chipped, broken, discoloured, or don’t look right. After the resin is put on the tooth, it is shaped and cleaned to match the other teeth in the mouth.

Dental bonding is a quick and simple process that can be done in just one visit to the dentist’s office. Besides that, it costs less than other cosmetic dental work like veneers or crowns.

Dental bonding is a flexible and slightly invasive procedure that can be used to fix a number of problems, such as:

If you have broken or chipped teeth, dental bonding can fix the shape and structure of the tooth.
Gaps between teeth: It can be used to fill in gaps and make your smile look better.
Spots and stains: Bonding can hide spots and stains on teeth.
Decaying teeth: Bonding can be used to fill in small holes in teeth sometimes.
Tooth sensitivity: Bonding can protect tooth roots that are showing and lessen sensitivity.

Tooth bonding is a popular choice for people who want a non-invasive and affordable way to fix small tooth problems because it can be used for many different things.

Dental insurance and bonding for teeth

Some insurance plans cover tooth bonding more than others, and the amount they cover can vary a lot. Insurance for dental care usually falls into one of these groups:

Basic and preventative dental care: A lot of dental insurance plans cover basic and preventative dental care, like regular check-ups, cleanings, and X-rays. Dental bonding is an important service sometimes, mostly when it’s used for therapeutic reasons like filling a small cavity.
Cosmetic Procedures: Dental bonding is often thought of as a cosmetic treatment because it only improves the way your teeth look. Most dental insurance plans don’t pay for treatments that are only for looks. In the event that bonding is needed for both cosmetic and restorative reasons, however, the therapeutic part of the process may be partially covered.
Maximums and deductibles for each year: You may still have to pay some of the cost of dental bonding even if it is covered. A lot of the time, dental insurance plans have yearly limits and requirements you need to meet before they will start paying for things. These prices can be very different based on the insurance plan.
Which is Better: Going in-network or out-of-network? Most dental insurance plans have groups of recommended dentists. If you get dental bonding from a provider in your network, it may be covered more than if you go to a provider who is not in your network.
Other Treatments: Sometimes, dental insurance plans will cover other treatments instead of tooth bonding. For instance, if a dental crown is thought to be a better choice in a certain situation, the insurance company might pay for the height instead.

Does my insurance cover sealing my teeth?

Your individual dental insurance plan will tell you if dental bonding is covered or not. Most dental insurance plans pay for routine checkups and repairs, but some may not cover cosmetic treatments.

Follow these steps to find out if your dental insurance covers tooth bonding:

Review Your Insurance Plan: Read your dental insurance policy carefully to find out what it covers. Read anything that talks about dental bonding or cosmetic treatments.
Please Call Your Insurance Company: If you have any questions about your policy, it’s best to call your insurance company. They can give you specific information about your plan and how dental bonding is covered by it.
Talk to Your Dentist: Your dentist can also help you figure out your insurance. They can give you a treatment plan with estimated costs that you can then send to your insurance company to get approved.

You should check with your insurance company to see if dental bonding is covered before you decide to get it done. You could also ask your dentist if they have any payment plans or other ways to help you pay for your care.

When insurance pays for tooth bonding

Dental bonding might be paid by insurance in some situations. Let’s say you need dental filling to fix a broken or chipped tooth. Your insurance might help pay for some of it. This is because fixing a tooth that is broken or chipped is thought of as restorative dental work.

Bonding your teeth may also be covered by your insurance if it is physically necessary. As an example, if you have a medical disease that makes your teeth discolour, your insurance may pay for dental bonding to make them look better.

How to get your insurance to cover dental bonding

If you’re not sure if dental bonding is covered by your insurance, you should call your insurance company and ask. You might also be able to ask your doctor to help you file an insurance claim.

If you want your insurance to pay for tooth bonding, here are some tips:

Get an advance OK. Before getting dental bonding, you should call your insurance company to make sure they will cover it. In other words, your insurance company will agree to pay for the treatment before you even get it done.
Ask your doctor for a written quote. Once your insurance company has said yes, get a written quote from your dentist on how much the treatment will cost. Make sure you send this quote along with your claim to your insurance company.
Please back up your claim with evidence. If you say that dental bonding is medically important, you might have to show proof to back up your claim. One piece of this paperwork could be a letter from your dentist or another medical worker telling you why you need dental bonding for medical reasons.

Other options besides tooth bonding

There are other options besides tooth bonding if your dental insurance doesn’t cover it. For instance, you might think about getting crowns or veneers. Veneers are very thin shells made of porcelain that are glued to the front of your teeth. Crowns cover the whole tooth with a cap.

That being said, veneers and crowns cost more than tooth bonding but last longer. Veneers and crowns can last up to 10 years, but dental glue might need to be changed every 5 to 10 years.

How much does bonding teeth cost?

Dental bonding costs can change based on a number of things, such as:

The number of teeth that are being joined
Where the teeth that are being fused are
The difficulty of the process
The kind of glue that was used
How experienced and where the doctor is

It usually costs around $100 to $1,000 per tooth to bond them together. The cost may be higher or lower, though, based on the things above.

For instance, the price will be higher if you need more than one tooth joined or if the teeth are in a hard-to-reach place. Furthermore, the price will be higher if you use a more pricey kind of bonding agent.

One important thing to keep in mind is that tooth bonding is not usually covered by insurance. Dental bonding is seen as a cosmetic treatment, so this is why.

If you are thinking about getting tooth bonding, make sure you ask your dentist how much it will cost before you get it done. This will help you plan your budget for the surgery and keep you from being surprised.

Here are some ways to get tooth bonding for less money:

Ask your dentist if there are any savings for paying in cash or having more than one tooth fixed.
You might want to use a bonding agent that costs less.
Find a dentist who lets you pay for your care in different ways.

Bonding your teeth together can be a great way to make them look better. But it’s important to know how much the process will cost and try to save money if you can.

How much does tooth bonding cost if you have insurance?

If you have dental insurance, the amount you pay for tooth bonding will depend on your plan. Most dental insurance plans pay for routine checkups and repairs, but some may not cover cosmetic treatments.

You may have to pay a copay or share if your dental insurance does cover dental bonding. You pay a set amount up front for the treatment, which is called the copay. The coinsurance is the amount of the procedure’s cost that you pay after your deductible is met.

You have to pay a certain amount of money out of pocket for covered dental care before your insurance company starts to pay. This is called the deductible. Every year, the fee amount is changed.

If you use bonding to fill a cavity, it should cost between $90 and $300 with insurance, based on how bad the cavity is. The normal cost changes based on why the bonding is being done.

If you have dental insurance, some plans may pay 50 to 80% of the cost of this surgery. Other plans may pay more. Putting in a composite filling instead of an amalgam filling that has broken can sometimes save you money.

Is Dental Bonding on Your Teeth a Good Idea?

Dental bonding may or may not be a good idea for you based on your own wants and goals. Dental bonding is a quick and cheap way to make your teeth look better, but it doesn’t last as long as veneers or crowns, which are other cosmetic dentistry treatments.

Here are some of the pros and cons of dental bonding:

Pros:

Simple and quick steps
Not as expensive as other cosmetic dental treatments
Can be used in many ways to make your teeth look better, such as to fix broken or chipped teeth, close gaps between teeth, or change the colour or shape of your teeth.

Cons:

Not as long-lasting as some other types of cosmetic dentistry
Insurance might not pay for it.
Over time, they may stain or chip

Before you decide to get dental bonding, you should talk to your dentist to make sure it is the right choice for you. Your dentist can look at your specific wants and needs and help you make the best choice for you.

Here are some things to consider when deciding if dental bonding is right for you:

Your budget: Dental bonding is usually less expensive than veneers, crowns, or other cosmetic dental work. But it’s important to remember that tooth bonding might need to be changed every 5 to 10 years.
Your lifestyle: Dental bonding might not be the best choice for you if you smoke, drink coffee or tea a lot, or bite down hard on your food. Over time, these things can stain or break tooth bonding.
Your objectives: Dental bonding can help make your teeth look better, but you should be honest about what you want it to do. This dental bonding method can’t change the shape or size of your teeth, and it might not work as well as other cosmetic dentistry methods like veneers or caps.

In Conclusion

Your individual dental insurance plan will tell you if dental bonding is covered or not. You should check with your insurance company to see if dental bonding is covered before you decide to get it done.

In the event that your dental insurance doesn’t cover dental bonding, you can still get veneers or crowns instead. Dental bonding, on the other hand, is less expensive than veneers and crowns.

When making your choice about tooth bonding, here are some more things to think about:

How much the process costs. Most of the time, dental bonding costs less than other cosmetic dental treatments like veneers or crowns. Still, the price of the treatment will depend on where your dentist is located and how much work needs to be done.
How long the process will last. Dental bonding doesn’t last as long as other cosmetic dental treatments. Every 5 to 10 years, it might need to be changed.
The way the process looks. There are several ways that dental bonding can make your teeth look better. But it’s important to pick a dentist who knows how to do tooth bonding well and can make the result look natural.

Dental bonding has pros and cons that you should carefully think through and talk to your dentist about to find the best choice for you.

Faqs

Q. Is dental bonding painful?

A: Bonding your teeth together usually doesn’t hurt. It’s a slightly invasive procedure that most of the time doesn’t need anaesthesia. Some patients may feel some small pain, but most of the time, they can handle it.

Q. How can I find out if my dental insurance covers dental bonding?

A: To find out what benefits you have, you should

Read over your insurance plan’s paperwork.
For more information, call your insurance company.
See your dentist. They can help you figure out what your insurance covers and give you an idea of how much it will cost.

Q: Are there alternatives to dental bonding that may be covered by insurance?

A: Some insurance companies may prefer other kinds of treatments, yes. Dental crowns or veneers, for instance, might be paid if they are thought to be better for a certain case.

Q: What are annual maximums and deductibles in dental insurance?

A: An annual maximum is the most your dental insurance will pay for treatments in a year. The amount you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance starts to pay for things is called a deductible.

Q: Does the fact that a dentist is in or out of a network affect coverage for tooth bonding?

There is a good chance that you will be covered for more in-network providers than out-of-network providers. When you go to a dentist in-network, you may not have to pay as much out of pocket.

Q: Can dental bonding be considered both restorative and cosmetic?

A: Yes, tooth bonding can be used for both medical and cosmetic reasons. If it is used to help people get better, insurance may cover some of the costs related to that part.

Q: Is tooth bonding safe for kids? Does paediatric dental insurance cover it differently?

A: Dental bonding can be used on kids, but kids’ dental insurance may not cover it all the time. It’s important to look over your child’s insurance contract to see what it covers and what age limits apply.

Q: Are there any specific maintenance requirements after getting dental bonding?

A: Dental bonding lasts a long time, but it can still get stained or chipped. You can make your bonding last longer by taking care of your teeth, going to the dentist regularly, and not biting down on things that are too hard.

Q: Can I get tooth bonding even if my insurance doesn’t pay for it?

Even if your insurance doesn’t cover dental bonding, you can still choose to get it done. Many people choose this treatment to improve their smile or take care of oral problems, even if their insurance doesn’t cover it.

Q: If dental bonding gets broken or discoloured, will my insurance pay to repair it?

A: Most insurance plans cover the initial bonding process, but they might not cover replacement if it gets damaged or discoloured. There may be some limitations, though, so it’s important to check your policy.

Q: Can dental bonding be used for bigger problems with the teeth, like major damage to the structure?

A: tooth bonding works best for small to moderate tooth problems. If there is major damage to the structure, like a lot of tooth decay, dental caps or other restorative treatments may be suggested.

Q: Does tooth bonding change the foods or drinks I can eat or drink?

As for dental bonding, it is strong, but some foods and habits can stain or chip it. It is best not to bite hard things and to drink less coffee, red wine, and other drinks that stain.

Q: Can I get dental filling on more than one tooth at the same time?

A: Yes, dental bonding can be used on more than one tooth at the same time. This makes it a quick and easy way to improve your smile.

Q: Does my dental insurance cover any other treatments that make my teeth look better?

A: oral insurance is mostly for preventative and restorative oral care. Most of the time, cosmetic treatments like veneers or teeth whitening are not covered. That being said, there may be some exceptions based on your plan.

Q: How can I get tooth bonding for less money if my insurance doesn’t cover it all?

A: You could talk to your dentist about payment plans or look into dental financing choices. Some dental discount plans and fitness programmes can also help you save money.

Q: Can dental bonding be done at the same time as other dental procedures? If so, how does that change insurance coverage?

A: Bonding your teeth together can be done with other treatments. Coverage may be different for each treatment, so it’s important to talk to both your doctor and your insurance company about this to get a full picture of the costs and coverage.