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Delta Dental member resources plan your visit to the dentist

Visit the dentist

Know what to expect before and during your visit to the dentist.

Plan your visit

Get ready to visit the dentist by knowing what to expect. You don’t need a plan ID card, but if you still want one, log in to your account to view or print it. Need to find a dentist?

If you have questions about the COVID-19 safety procedures your dentist follows, contact the dental office. Remember: 
 

  • Delta Dental network dentists meet our licensing, cleanliness and safety requirements
  • Network dentists can't charge you for PPE and infection control costs
     

Learn more about COVID-19 safety precautions at the dental office. If you encounter any issues, contact us for help.

If you need care but can't get to your dental office, a virtual visit — also known as teledentristy — may be an option. Learn more about virtual dentistry and some tools that Delta Dental offers.

You can get to know your Delta Dental plan, check your coverage and review your benefits by logging in to your account. 

If you have a Delta Dental PPO™ plan that includes a Cost Estimator tool, you can log in to your account to get an estimate of your out-of-pocket costs for certain procedures:
 

  1. From your account's Home page, select Plan ahead for a visit
  2. Select Estimate costs
  3. Choose the procedure you need from the drop-down list
  4. Select Get cost estimate
  5. Answer any additional questions and select Get cost estimate
     

Besides your estimated costs, you can view network savings and the amount Delta Dental pays for the procedure (not including maximums, deductibles or out-of-pocket limits). You can also compare costs for up to five dentists in your area. 

If you have a DeltaCare® USA plan, find your copayments for covered services in your plan booklet or Evidence of Coverage.

You can ask your dentist for a pre-treatment estimate before you begin extensive dental work. After we receive your dentist's proposed treatment plan, we'll send you and your dentist a copy of the pre-treatment estimate with your expected out-of-pocket costs for covered services, as well as any applicable copayments, coinsurance, deductibles and maximums.

If you or a dependent has a dental emergency that's life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Your plan may cover out-of-network dental care in a dental emergency, up to a certain amount. If you're traveling or can't visit your own dentist, visit any licensed dentist. 

You may need to pay up front and submit a claim for reimbursement. Ask the dental office for a detailed receipt or billing statement and submit a Delta Dental claim form with the detailed receipt attached.

To file a claim, log in to your account and select Claims & visits and then "how to file a claim."

During your visit

Whether you are visiting your dentist for the first time or it's a return visit, confidence in the quality of care that you receive is important. 

A welcoming, clean reception area and facilities, courteous and professional staff members and adherence to health and safety measures all add up to a well-run practice. During your exam, pay attention to whether staff wear appropriate safety equipment (such as gloves and masks) and how thoroughly the exam and any procedures are performed. 

After your exam, the dentist should present a plan for ongoing treatment. It's important to ensure that they explain treatment alternatives, benefits, risks and costs. Your dentist should be willing to answer your questions and respond to your needs. 

If you need professional interpretive services to help you communicate with your dentist, our Language Assistance Program (LAP) can arrange this at no cost to you. Learn about Delta Dental’s language assistance services.

Health care fraud can drive up the cost of claims and premiums, jeopardizing your dental benefits. Some signs of fraud you can look for include:

  • Failure to collect your full copayment or coinsurance (offers to waive the amount)
  • Performing a non-covered service but submitting a claim for a covered service
  • Not disclosing all insurance coverage
  • Misrepresenting dates of service
  • Referring you to a specialist when treatment is not needed

You can report suspected fraud by calling Delta Dental’s anti-fraud hotline at 800-526-1852.