Original Medicare covers no routine dental care. Most Advantage plans include cleanings and $1,000 – $1,500 caps; Medigap offers any-dentist freedom but zero dental help. Add stand-alone coverage or pay out of pocket.
Because your bicuspids deserve better than "not covered."
Medicare Dental Basics • MA Dental Perks • Medicare Supplement & Dental • Stand-Alone Plans • MA vs. Medicare Supplement • FAQ • Dental Decision Help
If you're new to Medicare, we won't sugarcoat it: Medicare is kind of a letdown when it comes to dental care.
You're turning 65, start figuring out coverage, and realize: wait—no cleanings? No fillings? No root canals? Not even dentures? It's like Medicare assumes you'll stop needing teeth after retirement.
Here's the deal: Original Medicare (Parts A & B) doesn't cover routine dental. At all. But some Medicare Advantage plans do. And if you're considering a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan instead, well...dental's not in that package either. So, what gives?
Let's break it down: what your options really are, what to watch out for, and how to pick what's the right plan for your smile (and wallet).
Does Medicare cover dental care?
Here's the kicker: Original Medicare (Parts A & B) doesn't cover routine dental care. Not even a little. Not even for birthdays.
You read that right—no exams, no cleanings, no X-rays, no filling, no root canals, no dentures. If it's not tied to a medical emergency (like if you break your jaw and they happen to peek at your molars while they're in there), Medicare says, "Good luck with that."
Why? Well, when Medicare was created back in 1955, dental care was considered non-essential. (Apparently gum disease hadn't been invented yet.) And while medical science has moved forward and now clearly links oral health to overall health, federal coverage hasn't quite caught up with the times.
That's where private plans step in to try and fill that cavity (pun intended)—or at least try to.
What dental benefits come with Medicare Advantage (MA)?
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are offered by private insurers and include everything Original Medicare covers—plus extras like dental, vision, hearing, and even gym memberships.
Most MA plans include dental benefits, but what you get depends on the plan.
What kind of dental coverage do they offer?
Expect something like this:
- Preventive care: cleanings, exams, and X-rays (usually covered at 100%)
- Basic services: fillings, simple extractions (often covered 50 - 80%)
- Major services: crowns, dentures, root canals (coverage varies widely, often capped at $1,000 - $1,500/year)
Sounds good—until you realize one crown can cost $1,500. That annual limit disappears fast.
Also, many MA plans are HMOs or PPOs, meaning you'll need to stick to in-network dentists. That can be tricky if you live in a rural area, travel often, or have a preferred dentist who's not in-network.
What are the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage?
The Pros 👍
- Dental is bundled, no extra policies
- Preventive care is often covered in full
- One insurance card for everything
- Some plans have $0 premiums (on top of Part B)
The Cons 👎
- Annual caps on coverage
- Limited provider networks
- Major work may still leave you with high out-of-pocket costs
Do Medicare Supplement (MS) plans include dental?
Medicare Supplement (aka Medigap) plans are add-on to Original Medicare. They help cover out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and coinsurance. But here's the rub: they don't include dental. Yup, if you want dental, you'll need to buy a separate dental plan or pay out of pocket.
Why do people still choose Medicare Supplement?
- No networks—see any provider who accepts Medicare
- Standardized coverage (a Plan G is a Plan G anywhere)
- Predictable costs for medical expenses
- Great for frequent travelers or those with complex health needs
But again: no dental.
How do stand-alone dental plans work with Medicare?
Pair Medicare Supplement plans with a separate dental policy or discount plan: pay a $30–$60 monthly premium (or $100–$200 yearly fee) for preventive coverage and reduced rates or use self-pay dentist membership discounts.
Pros 👍
- Predictable premium covers cleanings, exams, part of fillings/crowns
- Choose plan tier to match your dental history and budget
- Discount plans are cheap to join and require no underwriting
- Some dentists offer 10–30% membership discounts for cash payers
Cons 👎
- Annual caps ($1,000–$1,500) still leave big crown or implant bills
- Savings drop if you go out-of-network
- Adds $360–$720 a year on top of Medicare Supplement premiums
- Discount plans reduce cost but don't eliminate large out-of-pocket payments
Going the Medicare Supplement route gives you control and freedom—but you need to build your own safety net.
How to budget for dental if you choose Medicare Supplement:
- Quote stand-alone plans
- Check dentist network
- Compare annual caps
Medicare Advantage vs. Supplement: Who wins for dental?
Here’s a side-by-side snapshot of how Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement handle routine cleanings, pricey crowns, and dentist choice—plus what happens if you go it alone. Use it as a quick gut-check before you start comparing plans.
| Plan type | Preventive care | Major work cap | Dentist network | Flexibility |
| Medicare Advantage | Cleanings, exams, X-rays usually 100% | ~$1,000 - ~$1,500 per year (varies by plan) | HMO or PPO: must stay in-network for best prices | Moderate: bundled but network limits and annual benefit |
| Medicare Supplement (+ stand-alone dental) | None built in; buy separate dental plan for 100% preventive | Stand-alone plan cap ~$1,000 - ~$1,500 or pay cash | Any dentist who accepts Medicare (for medical) + dental plan's network for teeth | High: nationwide provider choice, but you manage an extra policy and costs |
| Skip coverage/pay cash | Full price (~$100 cleaning) | No cap, pay retail ($2k root canal + crown) | Any dentist | Highest: total freedom, highest financial risk |
Strictly speaking, Medicare Advantage wins in the dental department. You’re more likely to get basic and even some major services covered. But caps and network rules can still make big procedures costly.
That said, dental should be just one factor in your Medicare decision. Ask yourself:
- Do I want to keep my current dentist?
- Am I okay switching dentists to save money?
- Do I need ongoing or major dental work?
- Do I travel frequently or need nationwide flexibility?
- Do I prefer one bundled plan—or building my own with stand-alone coverage?
When it’s time to enroll in a Medicare plan for the first time, these answers will help guide the right choice for you.
The "hidden" costs of skipping dental coverage
New to Medicare and thinking of skipping dental altogether? Totally understandable. Budgets might be tight.
But poor oral health can get expensive fast, not just financially, but medically. Research links gum disease to heart problems, diabetes, and even cognitive decline. And emergency dental work? It’ll cost you.
- Routine cleaning: ~$100
- Root canal + crown: ~$2,000
- Full dentures: ~$3,000+
So that $30/mo stand-alone dental plan? Might actually be a bargain in the long run.
What to do next: Your dental + Medicare game plan
1. Compare local Medicare Advantage plans: Focus on dental benefits and annual caps.
2. Check provider networks: Is your dentist included?
3. Considering Medicare Supplement? Research stand-alone dental plans.
4. Evaluate your oral health history: If you've needed work before, plan accordingly.
5. Talk to your dentist: A licensed professional can provide guidance in finding out the best kind of program and discount for you.
Dental Care FAQ
Does Original Medicare pay for routine dental care?
No. Parts A & B cover dental services only when they are part of a covered medical procedure—never routine cleanings, fillings, or dentures.
What dental costs will a Medicare Advantage plan cover?
Most MA plans pay 100% for preventive cleanings and exams, 50–80% for basic work, and cap major work at about $1,000–$1,500 a year—amounts and networks vary by carrier.
Does Medicare Supplement include dental benefits?
No. Medicare Supplement only fills Original Medicare cost gaps. Because routine dental isn’t covered by Medicare, Medicare Supplement plans pay nothing toward exams, fillings, or dentures.
Should I buy a stand-alone dental plan with Medicare Supplement?
If you need more than the occasional cleaning, a $30–$60 monthly stand-alone plan can save money versus paying the full cost of crowns or implants out-of-pocket.
What happens if I skip dental coverage after 65?
Routine cleanings will run about $100 each; a root canal plus crown can exceed $2,000. Without coverage or a discount plan, you pay retail prices for every procedure.
Smiles are personal—so is your Medicare plan
When you’re turning 65 or close to retiring, picking the right Medicare plan is a lot like choosing a toothbrush. What works for someone else might not work for you. Some people want the electric one with all the bells and whistles. Others just need something that gets the job done.
So whether you go with Medicare Advantage and bundled benefits or opt for a Supplement plan and build your own coverage menu à la carte, the key is to understand what you're signing up for, and what you're not.
Because while Medicare might not care about your molars, you should.
And hey—if you ever need someone to explain Medicare dental coverage again (with a little less dental floss and a little more clarity), ALEX® has your back.
Let ALEX do the drilling (into the details, not your molars) and show you the plan that keeps both your smile and your wallet intact.
Bite into better coverage with ALEX
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