Dental
Stand-alone dental coverage.
How to think about dental coverage alongside Medicare, an employer plan, or as an out-of-pocket cost.
Why dental coverage is worth it
Preventing problems before they start is the cheapest dental care there is — and regular cleanings and exams do more than protect your teeth. They catch the early signs of bigger health problems, which is part of why a plan that keeps you in the chair twice a year tends to pay for itself.
What to watch for
- Dental health is whole-body health. People with gum disease are about twice as likely to have coronary heart disease, and routine exams can surface early signs of diabetes and osteoporosis.
- Medicare doesn’t include routine dental. Original Medicare won’t cover cleanings, fillings, or dentures — a stand-alone plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with a dental benefit fills that gap.
- Prevention is the cheap part. A plan that covers cleanings and exams usually costs far less than the work it helps you avoid.
How I help
We look at whether a stand-alone dental plan, a Medicare Advantage dental benefit, or simply paying out of pocket makes the most sense for you. No pressure either way.
Go deeper
The full breakdown of what dental and vision coverage catches — and why it’s worth more than it looks — lives in the Answer Library: Dental & Vision.