Dental insurance can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket expenses—but navigating policies, pre-authorizations, and waiting periods can be confusing. At the Texas Center for Oral Surgery, we help patients make the most of their benefits, especially for essential procedures like dental implants and wisdom tooth extractions.
Why It Pays to Understand Your Coverage
If you pay a monthly premium, you deserve to maximize your plan’s value. Here are practical ways to use your insurance more effectively and minimize unexpected costs:
1. Know What’s Covered
Review your policy or contact your insurance provider’s customer service department for clarification. If you’re still unsure, bring your policy into our office. Our experienced team can help you interpret the often-confusing insurance language and verify what’s covered.
2. Choose In-Network Providers
It’s important to understand that accepting insurance is not the same as being an in-network provider. Choosing an in-network oral surgeon can drastically lower your out-of-pocket costs. We work with many major insurance carriers and are happy to verify our in-network status for your plan.
3. Check for Waiting Periods
Some insurance policies require a waiting period before they’ll cover certain procedures. This is especially common for services like implant placement or impacted wisdom teeth removal. Be sure to schedule your treatment after that period ends—or use a flex spending account to bridge the gap.
4. Don’t Skip Pre-Authorization
Some procedures require pre-authorization. If your policy mandates it and you skip this step, your insurance may not pay for the treatment—even if it’s covered. We help patients obtain all required authorizations in advance, so there are no surprises.
5. Ask About Alternative Coverage
If your plan doesn’t cover dental implants, ask if it will reimburse you for an alternative, like a bridge or denture. Often, the insurance will pay for that portion and allow you to pay the difference for a longer-lasting solution.
6. Use Your FSA or HSA Funds
If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA), don’t let those pre-tax dollars go to waste. You can apply those funds to procedures like dental implants and wisdom teeth extractions, maximizing both your insurance and your personal savings.
7. Get Help from Our Insurance Experts
Don’t let confusion stand between you and the care you need. Our administrative team is highly trained in working with dental insurance. We’re happy to help you:
- Understand your dental policy
- Estimate costs and out-of-pocket expenses
- Submit pre-authorizations
- Maximize your FSA/HSA
Let’s Maximize Your Smile & Savings
At Texas Center for Oral Surgery, we believe that financial concerns should never prevent you from getting the care you need. Whether you need wisdom teeth removed or are considering affordable dental implants, our team will be your ally—making sure you receive optimal care with full insurance support.
We proudly serve patients at our state-of-the-art offices in Frisco, Dallas, Denton, and Flower Mound.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation and let us help you make the most of your dental insurance benefits.