The next time you need a dental treatment, you don’t have to be left in the dark wondering how much the bill will be.

To help members understand costs before they’re incurred, Delta Dental provides free pre-treatment estimates*, which are sometimes referred to as pre-determinations or pre-authorizations. These estimates give patients an approximate idea of how much a dental treatment will cost overall, and how that cost will be split between the member and Delta Dental.

Getting a pre-treatment estimate is easy. The first step is to have your dentist submit a proposed treatment plan and supporting X-rays to Delta Dental. We will review these documents and your specific benefits plan, then respond to you and your dentist with a treatment cost estimate.

The estimate is based on the type of plan you have, your eligibility, your current plan benefits and the amount remaining in your annual maximum. Estimates are usually returned in a matter of days, but more complex treatments can take longer to assess.

Pre-treatment estimates are helpful when it comes to budgeting for dental procedures. They can also help determine how you and your dentist decide to proceed with a treatment – your dentist may be able to suggest alternate treatments and procedures based on what your plan covers. Estimates are most typically requested for costly procedures such as crowns, wisdom tooth extractions, bridges, dentures and oral surgery.

Don’t get left wondering how much your dental treatment is going to cost. Ask your dentist to request a pre-treatment estimate! 

*This service is only available for Delta Dental PPO^SM and Delta Dental Premier® members.