Does Insurance Cover Sedation Dentistry?

There’s a good chance you experience at least some dental anxiety. After all, over half of all Americans struggle with a form of it. Fortunately, sedation dentistry is a great solution to this issue. It’d help you stay calm during the treatment process. If costs are a concern, though, you may ask yourself: “Will dental insurance cover sedation dentistry?” Well, your Grand Island dentist is here to answer that question. Read on to learn how insurance and dental sedation relate to each other.

Is Sedation Dentistry Covered by Insurance?

Sadly, dental plans normally don’t cover sedation dentistry. The latter is effective, but most policies won’t help with its cost.

The truth is that insurance companies see sedation as a luxury. They consider it similar to other “non-essential services” like implants and cosmetics. As such, the average dental plan deems sedation unnecessary. The patient has to meet the cost on their own.

Another factor is that sedation gets pricey. In fact, some practices charge as much (or more) for it as the treatment itself! Insurance will thus argue that coverage would entail higher premiums.

Other Ways to Make Sedation Dentistry Affordable

Insurance may not help, but sedation can still be affordable. Many dentists offer financing options for their patients. With the right one, your sedatives can be more budget-friendly.

For example, some offices work with CareCredit – a reputable third-party financier. Through them, you could split sedation’s price into smaller monthly installments. These payments would also have little-to-no interest. That way, your treatment wouldn’t have to break the bank!

Sedation Dentistry is Cost-Effective

Despite the price, sedation dentistry is still a great choice. Its many benefits help make it cost-effective. In particular, sedation’s perks include:

• Versatility – While sedation does relieve dental anxiety, it can ease sensitive teeth and an overactive gag reflex as well.
• Convenience –  Due to being fast-acting and safe, sedation lets dentists perform more work per visit.
• Temporary Amnesia – In many cases, dental sedatives leave patients with no memory of the procedure. This effect leaves them with reduced stress toward future visits.
• Improved Oral Health – Thanks to its calming effects, sedation helps patients who’d otherwise skip dental care to attend visits.

So, will dental insurance cover sedation dentistry? The answer is generally “no.” However, sedation is still a worthy dental choice!

About the Practice

Stec & Stines Cosmetic & Family Dentistry is based in Grand Island, NE. Led by Drs. Steven Stec, CJ Stec, and Jacob Stines, our practice gives each patient top-quality dental care. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency dental treatments. Naturally, this range of options also includes sedation dentistry! For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (308)-382-4440.