Dental Insurance

What exactly are inlays and onlays?

Inlays and onlays are an old fashioned, traditional method of restoring teeth that are not commonly used by dentists these days. They are known as indirect fillings. When the biting surface of the tooth is damaged and regular fillings are not adequate, inlays and onlays are used to fill crevices or repair extensive damage.

The difference between dental fillings and inlays and onlays is that dental fillings are directly done on the spot: they are placed in the tooth during your visit to the dentist, on the other hand, inlays and onlays have to be made in a dental laboratory; these are then subsequently fitted and chemically bonded to the damaged tooth by the dentist. Hence the name:Indirect fillings. Sometimes, inlays and onlays are used in place of full dental coverage crowns. As compared to full dental coverage crowns, they are better fitting, last longer, and look better.

The difference between inlays and onlays:

When the material is bonded within the center of the tooth, it is called an inlay. If the damage is more widespread and the new structure covers the whole chewing surface including one or more tooth cusps, the procedure is called an onlay.

The Benefits of using inlays and onlays:

Inlays and onlays are methods of repairing comparatively wide-ranging tooth decay or damage without really needing to replace the entire outer portion of the tooth as one would need to do with a crown. The amount of tooth material required to be removed is less, so inlays and onlays tend to be more conservative and esthetic as compared crowns.

The inlay and onlay procedures strengthen a tooth’s structure as compared to fillings where the structure may be weakened due to removing too much tooth material. Inlays and onlays are also likely to last longer than a regular filling, because the inlay or onlay material is custom made and bonded or fused to the tooth.

They offer a superior fit as compared to crowns, as the procedure tends to preserve as much of the healthy tooth as possible. This also safeguards the structure of the basic tooth and does not weaken it further and this in turn offers strength and stability to the teeth. An onlay can actually protect the weak areas of the tooth as the procedure does not require the complete reshaping of the tooth.

Esthetically, tooth color is retained offering better visual appeal, because inlays or onlays will not discolor as resin fillings usually do. Due to the fact that inlays and onlays are custom made and they fit better and do not shrink or change size during the curing process, this makes it a lot easier for you to clean or brush your teeth. Inlays seal the tooth better as compared to regular fillings and thus they keep out bacteria ensuring that there is no further decay taking place inside the tooth, under the filling.

The Procedure used for Inlays and Onlays:

Generally speaking an inlay or onlay procedure usually requires two or three dental visits to complete it.
In the first visit, the dentist makes a mold of your teeth as they exist in your mouth. This gives the dentist a basic structure to work from. A temporary sealant is placed on your damaged tooth. The mold is then sent to the laboratory where the technician will proceed to make an inlay or outlay as advised by the dentist, depending upon the extent of damage. The material to be used for the inlay or onlay is also selected in this visit.

The material selected to make the inlay or onlay depends on many factors such as the location and visibility of the tooth- if the tooth is situated at the back of the mouth and will not be visible when you smile or speak, then gold may be recommended as the material to be used, as this is long lasting, offers better protection and is smooth causing less abrasion to the opposing tooth. Whereas if you require an inlay or onlay for your front teeth, or teeth that will be exposed when you smile or speak then porcelain will be recommended as the best material as this can be made and colored to match your existing healthy teeth and will thus blend in better. If are a person who habitually grinds your teeth or have a very strong bite or chew heavily, or if you have malocclusion where your jaw is misaligned,then resin could be the best material for you. The dentist will help you make your best choice.

In the second visit, sometimes a temporary inlay or onlay could be fitted, if the final inlay or onlay is not yet ready. The final fitting would require a third visit. If the final inlay or onlay is ready, this will be fitted in the second visit. The temporary sealant will first be removed. When fitting the inlay or onlay the dentist will ensure that the restoration fits perfectly with all adjacent teeth, that there are no problems with malocclusion that might affect the fit of the inlay or onlay. When the inlay or onlay is fitted, it will be bonded to the tooth and then polished.

What lies in store for Inlays and Onlays?

Inlays and onlays as a restorative procedure are here to stay. They offer a fantastic amalgamation of excellent functional longevity and esthetic naturalness in addition to the fact that the materials used for making inlays and onlays continue to evolve, improve and become better, the procedure is not likely be replaced by another.

Factors to consider when selecting a Dentist for an Inlay or Onlay:

Not many dentists use the inlay and onlay procedure as there is no formal training for this procedure that any dental school offers. Dentists can get trained in the inlay and onlay procedure while working in close collaboration with the laboratory technicians. Sometimes the laboratory technician can be a part of your consultation or visit to the dentist offering his advice if the doctor has the technology of a video conference where the image of your teeth can be seen in real time by the dentist and the technician. Often the technician may be part of the fitting procedure, assisting the dentist, using the same conferencing technology.

What does the Inlays and Onlay procedure cost?

The expenses of the inlay and onlay procedure vary and depend upon many factors such as :

The fees of the dentist you have chosen. Renowned and experienced dentists may be more expensive as compared to a dentist who is just starting out and setting up his / her practice.
The location of the teeth that require the inlay or outlay in your mouth: For example, teeth in the front of the mouth are easier to prepare and work on as compared to molars or teeth located at the back of the mouth.
The size of the inlay or onlay required- smaller inlays or outlays are cheaper as compared to bigger ones.
The material that you select for the inlay or outlay- it goes without saying that a gold inlay or onlay will be more expensive as compared to porcelain. Conversely, porcelain inlays or onlays might require more craftsmanship and this might cost more in terms of labor than material.
Another factor influencing the price of inlays or onlays is your geographic location. If you live in a place where this technology is not available, you may need to travel to a place where it is. Or there may not be a local technician to fabricate the inlay or onlay, in which case it will need to be sent to a place where it can be fabricated and this will add to the cost.

Does Dental Insurance cover Inlays and Onlays?

The insurance policies and procedures differ from company to company. Inlays and onlays could be classified under ‘basic’ or ‘major’ service by the insurance company.

In the basic category the usual procedures such as dental cleanings, dental fillings, and routine services may be covered. Some insurance companies might have a pre-set limit for these services. You will have to verify from the company what these are. In case the dental insurance company that you have selected classifies the inlays and onlays procedure in the major category as they do for full coverage crowns, then it is possible that you will be compensated at the 50 percent coverage rate.

Again as this is variable, it is best that you verify with the insurance company that you have selected. In event you wish to be really sure how much compensation you will receive, you could ask your dentist for an estimate of the cost, and submitting this to the company, you can ask at what rate you will be compensated. That way you will have a clear idea of the cost and reimbursement that you will have to prepare for.

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The rise of Dental Insurance

Health insurance is a common practice in current times and many have reaped benefits in emergencies and other health conditions. But, a relatively new kind of health insurance has emerged which has demanded attention due to massive appeal and specificity to problems that health insurance does not cover. Although, it has been there since quite a while, it has become much more noticeable in the current decade. Dental Insurance is rapidly spreading its roots in the U.S. It is often provided by the employers to their employees as an added bonus or perk Lets look at what exactly is Dental insurance and how it differs from a Dental Health Plan.

What is Dental Insurance?

Dental Insurance involves a pre-determined coverage for fixed premium paid monthly to the Dental Insurance Company. It covers cost for most procedures except prior conditions. The conditions are specific to each company and there might be quite a variation between different companies or different plans by the same companies..

Dental Insurance is generally given out to employees by their employers but is very costly if taken out for an individual and most companies prefer not providing it to individuals. They are happy to accept families or groups though. The reason for the reluctance of insurance companies to provide true dental insurance to individuals is because of the predictable nature of dental requirements. The insurance company would probably run in to losses if they provided complete cover for individuals.

As Dental Insurance involves paying a fixed premium, it is considered as a true type of Dental Insurance.

What is a Dental Health Plan?

Dental Plan is a type of Dental coverage that involves discounted rates for most procedures when you visit specific dentists that are taking part in that program. Now putting that in simple words, it simply means that the insurance company is willing to pay part of your expenditure on dental health. There is usually a cap placed on the maximum amount that the company is willing to pay per year and is generally around $1000-$1500.

What are the types of Dental Plans?

Broadly categorizing the dental plans, there are of two types:

Open Panels and Closed Panels

1.Open Panels: These do not have specific dentists in their network. They do not recommend or give preference to treatment from particular dentists. You can get yourself treated by the dentist of your choice and the insurance company will pay for the part of the treatment as according to the rates in the dental plan. Note that some treatments might be covered completely where as no coverage will be provided for treatments like teeth whitening. It is hence essential to look for a dental plan specific to your needs.

2. Closed Panels: These recommend you to a group of dentists that are affiliated with the insurance company. These are of two types.

2.1 Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO): They will only provide coverage if you get treated from the dentists in their network. If you seek dental care from a dentist out of their network, be informed that they will not cover any costs. There might be exceptions such as emergencies and while you are traveling.

2.2 Preferred Provider Organization (EPO): These are quite popular in current times. They have a group of dentists affiliated to the insurance company and will cover your incurred costs by a specified percentage. When you get treatment from a dentist outside their network, you still get the coverage but at a lower percentage.

How Dental Plans reimburse?

Dental plans reimbursement is specific to different kinds of procedure. Some procedures might be covered completely (you pay nothing!) and some procedures might not be covered at all which means you have to bear the entire cost.

The Dental Plans generally reimburse like the following

Class I : The procedures that fall in the category are covered completely and you have to pay nothing. Basic diagnostic and preventative Dental Care Procedures such as cleanings and X-rays tend to fall in this category.

Coverage: 100%

Class II: Common treatments such as RCTs, Extractions and Tooth Fillings tend to be covered by this procedure

Coverage: 70-80%

Class III: This includes treatments such as Crowns, bridges and dentures

Coverage: 40-50%

Class IV: These are not covered at all by the insurance company and you need to incur the costs completely. Cosmetic procedures such as Veneers, Lumineers, Tooth Whitening fall in this category. Although, the insurance company might not tell you all what they don’t cover, you should make it a point to read the fine print and ask them directly.

Note: The above figures are based on speculation and are stated as an example. Different companies have different coverage plans and hence coverage may fluctuate accordingly.

Choosing a Dental Health Plan

There are plenty of things to consider when choosing a dental health plan and mainly depends on your requirements. It is essential that you get the right which is suited for your needs else you might be wasting a lot of money on a plan that you don’t need.

First ask yourself the reason for getting a dental plan. Is it a specific procedure you want to undergo? A specific problem? Or for basic dental care.

If you are getting a dental health plan for basic requirements such as cleanings, you should not waste your money on an expensive dental plan. You could choose cheaper alternatives which cover basic dental care completely.

If you have a specific condition that you want to get treated, it might be worthwhile to note that most companies do not cover pre-existing conditions. Other conditions such as not covering anything up to a year might also be present.

Some Tips for choosing a Dental Health Plan

Determine your needs and choose a plan accordingly
Don’t go for dental plans if you want to get cosmetic procedures done. They are almost never covered.
Read the fine print and ask the company questions on specific procedures.
Ask around, getting feedback from existing customers is the best way.
Ask your dentist, although he might be biased if he is associated to a particular Insurance company.
Get dental insurance quotes from different companies and compare them before making a decision.

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Dental Insurance

What exactly are inlays and onlays?