Maintaining dental health is essential but the cost of dental care, especially for major procedures like dental implants, can be significant. Dental insurance can help manage these expenses, though it's important to understand the waiting period that may apply before certain dental services are covered.
Dental insurance is a type of health insurance that helps cover the costs of dental care. In Singapore, dental insurance usually covers routine preventive treatments and basic dental procedures, such as teeth cleaning, fillings and x-rays. But what about more complex treatments, like root canals or dental crowns? Sometimes, figuring out dental insurance can feel like trying to understand a foreign language—we've all been there, and it can be pretty confusing. Let's find out more about this today!
Root Canals: A root canal treatment is a dental procedure performed to save a tooth that’s deeply decayed, infected or damaged. During the treatment, the dentist removes the inner tissue (pulp) from the tooth, cleans and disinfects the area and then fills it with an inert material. Finally, the tooth is sealed, often with a crown to restore its strength and function. Read in-depth about root canal treatment here.
Crowns: A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that encloses a tooth. Crowns are used after procedures like root canal treatment or to protect a weakened tooth. They can be made from various materials, including porcelain, metal or a combination of both. Read more about dental crown materials here.
Whether these procedures are covered depends on your individual insurance coverage tiers. Let's look at the different tiers below.
Dental insurance coverage typically includes routine dental care but major procedures might have different levels of coverage. When seeking dental services at dental clinics, it's crucial to check what is covered by your dental insurance.
Most dental insurance packages have three main tiers: preventive, basic and major coverage.
| Coverage Tier & Description | Includes |
|---|---|
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Preventive Coverage: Covers routine dental treatments designed to maintain oral health and prevent serious dental problems. |
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Basic Coverage: A step up from preventive care, covering common dental issues. |
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Major Coverage: For extensive and complex procedures requiring significant intervention. |
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*Please note that coverage details and tiers can vary significantly depending on the specific insurance plan and provider. This table is provided as an example.
Since root canals and dental crowns are considered more complex procedures, they generally fall under the major dental coverage tier of most insurance plans. This means that they’re usually covered only if you have a major dental insurance plan. Even so, below are some important points to keep in mind.
Many dental insurance plans have an annual cap on the amount they will pay for dental care and this limit amount may vary. If you've reached your maximum coverage for the year, you might need to pay for additional treatments yourself. It's important to keep track of how much you've used of your annual limit to avoid unexpected costs
Some insurance plans require pre-authorisation for certain procedures. This means you need to get approval from your insurance company before you proceed with the dental treatment.
Insurance plans often have a network of preferred dental providers. Visiting a dentist within this network can result in better coverage and lower out-of-pocket expenses. It's beneficial to check whether your dentist is in-network with your insurance plan to maximise your benefits.
Well, it depends. Dental insurance plans in Singapore can vary significantly so it’s important to understand what your specific plan covers. Here's a summarised answer.
Root canal treatments are often covered by dental insurance plans because they are necessary for saving a tooth from being removed due to severe decay or infection. But the extent of coverage can differ. Some plans may cover the entire cost of the procedure while others might only cover a portion, leaving you with a co-payment. The amount covered may also depend on whether the root canal is performed on a front tooth versus a back tooth, as some plans have different rates for different types of teeth.
Coverage for crowns also differs! Some plans include crowns as part of their benefits, especially if the crown is needed to protect a tooth after a root canal. However, it's important to note that dental insurance usually doesn’t cover crowns for purely cosmetic reasons, such as improving the appearance of your front teeth. For cosmetic crowns, you may need to pay out of pocket.
To get the most accurate information, it’s a good idea to talk to your insurance provider before starting any dental treatment. This way, you’ll know exactly what’s covered and what costs you might be responsible for.
At Dental Designs Clinic, we’re proud to be an accredited provider for many major international insurance companies. Routine dental treatments such as teeth cleaning, fillings, extractions, X-rays, and consultations are generally covered but the specifics can vary depending on your policy. You can check out the list of companies we work with below or simply reach out to us to find out if your insurance covers our services!
Find out more about Insurance Coverage at Dental Designs, here!
Filing insurance claims promptly can also help ease the financial burden of dental treatments. Do you have dental insurance and are you looking to book a dental appointment with us? Simply follow these steps for a swift visit!
When you arrive for your appointment, just show your NRIC/FIN Card and Dental Insurance Card at the front desk.
We’ll look up your insurance coverage details online for you. Depending on your plan, you might have:
Direct Claim Insurance - We’ll submit the claim directly to your insurance provider. This means you won’t need to pay out of pocket for any covered treatments.
Self-Claim Insurance: If you’re handling the claim yourself, you’ll pay for your treatment after your visit. We’ll give you an itemized invoice and any documents you need to get reimbursed by your HR. If you have insurance forms that need filling out, just hand them to our front desk and we’ll help you with it.
Your dentist will take care of your treatment and let you know if there’s anything not covered by your insurance.
Our front desk staff will let you know if there are any extra charges or co-pays. If you have direct billing, we’ll take care of processing the claims for you.
Ready to book a dental appointment with Dental Designs? Simply leave us a message here and we will be right with you!
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