Dental insurance plans generally cover what are considered medically necessary dental procedures. In fact, they tend to cover less and less of those. They may even put restrictions on what type of materials and restorations can be used in a covered dental procedure.
Teeth whitening is not considered a medically necessary procedure, and is therefore not generally covered by insurance.
Sometimes, you may be able to cover the cost of teeth whitening if it is a side effect of a medically-required procedure. For example, if you have an infected tooth that is discolored because the tooth root is dead. If that tooth gets infected, treatment will likely be a root canal which includes placing a dental crown on the tooth, covering the discolored tooth. A dental crown may also be necessary when a dead tooth cracks.
Regular professional cleanings can also help whiten your teeth. By removing discoloring particles and preventing the buildup of tartar, professional cleanings keep your teeth clean, white, and youthful. Regular dental hygiene visits are covered by insurance, and are probably the closest to tooth whitening that insurance covers.
To learn more about insurance and dental procedures, please contact Dentonics, Inc, providing dental excellence since 1925.
