Does Medicare cover dental appointments

If you are on Medicare, it can be confusing to figure out what dental care is covered. This guide explains what Original Medicare pays for, when dental care is covered because it is tied to another medical condition or procedure, how Medicare Advantage plans handle dental benefits, and the practical steps an Understood Care advocate can take to help you use your benefits.

The short answer

Original Medicare is centered on medical care and may cover dental services when they are essential to a covered treatment or procedure. For everyday dental needs such as cleanings, exams, X rays, fillings, extractions, dentures, and implants, many Medicare Advantage plans offer built in dental benefits that can pay for preventive and other services. Benefits and limits vary by plan, so you can choose one that matches your dental goals.

When Original Medicare may cover dental care

Medicare pays for dental services only in specific situations where the dental care is integral to another covered service. Examples include the following

1. Dental or oral exams and treatment needed to eliminate infection before an organ transplant or certain cardiac procedures such as heart valve replacement, when ordered as part of the medical workup
2. Dental and oral services that are inextricably linked to head and neck cancer care, including services before and during cancer treatment and services to address complications that result from that treatment
3. Repair of the jaw after a traumatic injury, including wiring of teeth to stabilize a jaw fracture when performed as part of treating the fracture
4. Dental exams performed in a hospital setting when required for a covered procedure and billed appropriately under Part A or Part B

These coverage rules were clarified and expanded in recent CMS policy updates, beginning in 2023 and continuing through 2024. The updates do not create broad coverage for routine dental care, but they do help more people get medically necessary dental services tied to covered treatments.

Costs under Original Medicare

If a dental service qualifies for coverage under Part A or Part B, you are responsible for the usual deductibles and coinsurance for that part of Medicare. Items and routine services that Medicare never covers remain your responsibility.

What the video covers

1. If you have Traditional Medicare, also called Original Medicare, dental care is paid only when it is connected to a medical diagnosis or procedure. Examples include dental damage from an accident, dental care linked to cancer treatment, or oral complications that are part of treating another covered condition.
2. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, many plans include dental benefits for routine care. Those benefits may be managed by a partner company with its own provider network. An advocate can help you understand what is covered, confirm in network dentists, and estimate costs.
3. If you have Original Medicare and a chronic condition that contributed to your dental problems, an advocate can review whether your situation meets the medically necessary criteria for coverage and help your clinicians document the medical need so the claim can be considered.

Medicare Advantage dental benefits

Medicare Advantage plans must cover everything Original Medicare covers. Many plans also add routine dental benefits that can include cleanings, exams, x rays, fillings, and more, subject to network rules, annual limits, and copays. Plans often contract with separate dental networks, so checking in network status is important before you book care. Use your plan’s Evidence of Coverage to confirm the covered services, frequency limits, prior authorization needs, and any annual maximum.
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An Understood Care advocate can help:

• Review your plan and explain dental benefits in plain language
• Confirm in network dentists and estimated costs before you go
• Schedule your dental appointment and share what to bring
• Coordinate referrals and prior authorization with your clinicians
• Arrange transportation and follow up reminders

Prescriptions related to dental care

Medicare Part D helps pay for outpatient prescription drugs such as antibiotics or pain medicine that you fill at a pharmacy after a dental visit, as long as the drug is on your plan’s formulary and the prescriber is allowed to write the prescription. Part B covers a limited set of drugs given in a clinic or hospital setting. Your costs depend on your plan’s rules.

Practical steps to take before you schedule

1. Identify your coverage
   Confirm if you have Original Medicare with or without a standalone Part D plan, or if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes dental
2. Check for medical linkage
   If you think your dental care may be covered because it is connected to another procedure or condition, ask your medical specialist to document why the dental service is essential to that treatment, and make sure the dentist coordinates with your medical team for proper billing to Part A or Part B when appropriate.
3. Verify plan rules
   If you are in Medicare Advantage, review the dental section of your plan materials to confirm covered services, network dentists, annual limits, and any prior authorization
4. Confirm the provider’s network status
   Call the dental office and your plan to verify in network participation and benefit details before you go
5. Save all documentation
   Keep copies of referrals, physician notes that connect the dental service to the covered procedure, pre treatment estimates, and any prior authorization approvals

How an Understood Care advocate can help

Scheduling your appointment

We can schedule your dental visit with the right type of clinician for your needs, including a general dentist, periodontist, endodontist, oral surgeon, or prosthodontist. We coordinate with your primary care and specialty teams when medical clearance is required. We also request a pretreatment estimate, verify what imaging is needed, and share a simple checklist of what to bring.
Start here
https://understoodcare.com/care-types/appointments

Transportation to and from the dentist

If getting to appointments is a challenge, we arrange rides that match your budget and mobility needs. We can secure wheelchair accessible vehicles, plan for escort requirements after sedation, and coordinate pick up times for multi step procedures.
Learn more here
https://understoodcare.com/care-types/transportation-help

Coverage review and documentation

We review your Medicare coverage and any Medicare Advantage dental benefits in plain language. For Medicare Advantage, we confirm covered services, frequency limits for cleanings and exams, annual maximums, copays, coinsurance, and any waiting periods or prior authorization. We check whether your plan uses a separate dental network and make sure you have the correct member ID information.
For Original Medicare, when dental care is linked to a covered medical service, we help your clinicians document the medical need and coordinate proper billing. Examples include dental clearance before organ transplant or certain cardiac procedures, care related to head and neck cancer treatment, and dental services that are part of repairing a jaw injury. We gather notes, referrals, and letters of medical necessity so claims go to the right part of Medicare.

In network verification and cost estimates

We confirm in network status for dentists and specialists, request fee quotes for the specific procedure codes your dentist plans to use, and help you get a pretreatment estimate. We explain how deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and annual maximums affect your costs. When an allowance applies for services like dentures or implants, we clarify what is included and what out of pocket costs to expect.

Prior authorization and referrals

When your plan requires approval, we assemble the paperwork, send clinical notes, and track the status. If you need a referral to a specialist, we coordinate between your dentist, medical team, and plan so the referral is correctly recorded before your visit.

Prescriptions and aftercare

We help you understand coverage for antibiotics and pain medicine through your pharmacy plan, check for interactions with your current medicines, and request prior authorization or exceptions if needed. We provide simple aftercare checklists for extractions, root canal therapy, periodontal treatment, or oral surgery and set reminders for follow up visits.

Records and imaging coordination

We request prior x rays and digital files from your current or past dentist to avoid duplicate imaging. When new imaging is required, we help schedule it and ensure files are shared with any specialists so care stays coordinated.

Claims help and appeals

We review explanations of benefits, match them to treatment notes, and follow up on unpaid or incorrectly denied claims. When an appeal is appropriate, we help collect supporting documentation and submit it on time. We also track your remaining dental benefits for the year and plan visits so you avoid surprises.

Accessibility and communication support

We arrange interpreter services, confirm office accessibility, and share visit summaries in clear language. If you prefer a companion on the visit, we coordinate timing so everyone has the same information.

Community and savings options

If a needed service is not covered, we help you compare options such as community clinics, dental school programs, staged treatment plans, and office payment arrangements. Our goal is to help you receive safe, timely care that fits your budget.

Request a dedicated time to talk with an advocate
https://app.understoodcare.com

Frequently asked questions

Does Medicare cover routine cleanings or checkups

No. Original Medicare does not cover routine preventive dental care such as cleanings and checkups. Some Medicare Advantage plans do cover these services.

What about dentures or implants

Original Medicare does not cover dentures or dental implants. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer a denture or implant allowance, but limits and networks apply.

If my dentist says the care is medically necessary, is it covered

Medically necessary for dental purposes is not the same as Medicare’s rule that the dental service must be integral to another covered medical service. Coverage depends on whether the dental care is part of treating a covered condition or procedure as described by CMS policy, with proper documentation and billing.

How can I compare plans that include dental

Use the official Medicare plan comparison tool to review Medicare Advantage plans in your area and check dental benefits, networks, and estimated costs.

You can also request a dedicated time to talk with an advocate at
https://app.understoodcare.com

Key takeaways

1. Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care
2. Some dental services are covered when they are part of treating another covered condition or procedure, such as before an organ transplant, during head and neck cancer care, or after a jaw injury
3. Many Medicare Advantage plans include separate dental benefits with networks, frequency limits, and annual maximums
4. An advocate can help you confirm coverage, book appointments, arrange transportation, and prepare documentation so you get the most from your benefits

References

• Medicare dental services coverage overview
  https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/dental-services
• What Original Medicare does not cover, including dental exceptions linked to other covered services
  https://www.medicare.gov/providers-services/original-medicare/not-covered
• CMS Medicare dental coverage overview for clinicians and plans
  https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coverage/dental
• CMS Medicare Benefit Policy Manual update that implemented dental coverage clarifications beginning in 2023
  https://www.cms.gov/files/document/r11995bp.pdf
• CMS manual update detailing scenarios such as pre transplant and cancer related dental services effective for 2024
  https://www.cms.gov/files/document/r13029bp.pdf
• KFF analysis of dental coverage in Traditional Medicare and recent policy changes
  https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/coverage-of-dental-services-in-traditional-medicare
• Medicare Part D overview
  https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/part-d
• Medicare Part B coverage of a limited number of outpatient prescription drugs
  https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/prescription-drugs-outpatient
• Compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, including extra benefits
  https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options/compare-original-medicare-medicare-advantage
• Find and compare Medicare plans in your area
  https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/

This content is educational and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized care.