Sedation is a valuable provision that dentists and oral surgeons often use to help their patients enjoy an easy, calm treatment experience. However, sedation can add significantly to the total cost of your care, so you might hesitate to commit to it. Could your insurance policy help you pay for sedation, or will you be left to manage its cost on your own? This blog post explains what you should know about how your coverage might apply.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Sedation?

In most cases, dental insurance does not cover sedation. Insurance companies consider it to be an elective, luxurious part of treatment, so they are often unwilling to cover even a portion of its cost. This is a sad fact, especially given all of the research that highlights the benefits of sedation for certain groups of patients.

The good news is that there may be some instances in which sedation might be covered. You are more likely to receive coverage if:

• You have a medical condition that would make it difficult or impossible for you to undergo treatment without sedation.
• You must undergo a relatively lengthy or complex procedure.

Of course, even if one of the above points is true for you, you should not assume that you are eligible for coverage. It would be wise to seek preapproval from your insurance company.

What if You Cannot Get Coverage?

If your insurance company will not help you pay for sedation, you have a couple of options:

• Pay out of pocket. For many patients with significant dental anxiety or other conditions, sedation can enable them to undergo treatment that would otherwise be impossible. It may be well worth the cost!
• Ask about financing. Most patients qualify for third-party financing from CareCredit or another reputable company. You may be able to pay for your entire procedure — including sedation — over the course of several months.
• Go without sedation. If you do not have a high level of anxiety, you do not need an extensive procedure, and you do not have other strong indications for sedation, you may be able to get through your procedure just fine with only local anesthetic.

Sedation is a wonderful provision, and it is necessary for some patients. Ask your dental team or oral surgery team to help you navigate the financial side of this service.

Meet the Practice

Dr. Tamir Anver and our team are proud to provide a range of oral surgery services to the Dallas community. We welcome insurance, and we are in-network with several popular plans. We also accept financing through CareCredit. If you would like to learn more about sedation or our practice’s financial policies, we are ready to answer your questions. Contact Texas Wisdom Teeth & Dental Implants at 972-960-1111.