Dental Plans

Think of good dental care as part of your overall health care — just like exercising, eating right, and taking care of your body. Maintaining good oral health is easy and important for your total wellness. Brush and floss every day. And visit your dentist regularly.

Both Delta Dental options cover two diagnostic and preventive checkups and cleanings per year at no cost to you. Also, both options cover basic, major, and orthodontia services, including orthodontia for adults.

What's New for 2009

The bitewing x-ray frequency for adults is changing from once every 24 months to once every 12 months.

Two National Options

Both the Standard and Enhanced options are administered by Delta Dental of Minnesota. Both options cover the same services, but have different coverage amounts, annual maximums, and orthodontia lifetime maximums.

• Standard Dental Option
  • Diagnostic and preventive care, 100% coverage
  • Fillings and periodontal, you pay 20%
  • Annual maximum benefit, $1,500
  • Orthodontia lifetime maximum benefit, $1,500
• Enhanced Dental Option
  • Diagnostic and preventive care, 100% coverage
  • Fillings and periodontal covered, you pay 10%
  • Annual maximum benefit, $2,000
  • Orthodontia lifetime maximum benefit, $2,000

For more information on the plan benefits see the Rates and Comparison Charts 2009.  
For more details on coverage, see chapter 4 of the Benefits Book. 

Advantages of Using a Participating Provider

You have the freedom to see any dentist. However, there are several advantages to choosing a participating provider, a dentist who participates in the Delta Dental plan:

• Negotiated discounts. Network dentists agree to rates that are often lower than their usual fees. In other words, as a member, you benefit from negotiated opportunities for savings.
• No balance billing. With a network dentist, you won't be billed for the difference between the actual procedure charge and what the plan allows. When you receive care from a non-network dentist, you are responsible for the balance of the bill.
• No paperwork. When you use network dentists, there's no paperwork. Dentists bill us, and we pay them directly. Members choosing a non-network dentist may have to submit their own claim for covered expenses.

Find Delta Dental Participating Providers

You can find dental providers in your area with the Provider Directory Service. Nearly two-thirds of all dental providers nationwide participate in either the Dental PPO or Delta Premier networks. However, providers in the Delta Dental PPO network have generally agreed to lower contracted fees than providers in the Delta Premier network. If you have access to providers in both networks and you receive services from a Delta PPO provider, you may pay less out of your pocket than if you receive services from a Delta Premier network provider.