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Sedation dentistry has allowed countless patients to receive routine, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dental treatments comfortably despite issues like fear, anxiety, or difficulty sitting still. While this is incredibly beneficial for many people, dental insurance plans typically do not consider sedation to be medically necessary, so it is rarely covered. Here’s a brief guide to how dental insurance policies treat dental sedation.
What Is the Most Common Form of Dental Sedation?
The most common dental sedation method is nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas. This colorless, odorless gas has been used for almost two centuries to safely reduce dental patients’ ability to feel pain and induce a sense of calm and wellbeing. The treatment is administered through a mask placed over the nose, so it involves no pills or needles, and the effects wear off within minutes after the patient stops receiving the gas. This method has no lasting side effects, making it a great solution for almost everyone.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Sedation?
While dental insurance plans typically consider sedation treatments to be elective luxury services and, therefore, do not cover them, there are a few exceptions. Nitrous oxide can be medically necessary for patients who have medical conditions that make it especially difficult for them to stay still such as cerebral palsy. However, it’s important to confirm what your insurance provider will pay for before committing to the treatment, and your dental team will be happy to help you navigate your plan and file for pre-approval.
Dental insurance policies typically only cover $1,000 to $1,500 in treatment costs annually, and sedation treatments can sometimes make patients exceed these limits more quickly than they would like to. Luckily, many dentists offer financing options that allow clients to break their bills into easily manageable monthly payments with little to no interest. If you’re interested in sedation dentistry, discussing financing with your dental team may help you find a way to fit it into your budget.
Sedation treatments can make dentistry an easier and more pleasant experience for many patients. Consulting with your dentist can help you find out if you qualify for sedation and how you can make it affordable.
About the Author
Dr. Francisca A. Sanchez earned her dental degree at the Columbia School of Dental Medicine where she also completed her Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency. She is proud to serve as a member of the New York Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Her office in New York City provides general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as sedation services. If you are interested in sedation dentistry, contact her office online or dial (646) 669-7407.