to pay for when you bought that insurance. Some insurances will pay a downgraded price for a white filling, the price they would pay if the dentist had placed the silver filling, leaving the difference to be paid by the patient. But others go as far as not paying anything even though a cavity was taken care oWelcome to the world of insurance double talk and small disclaimers.

"Yes, Mrs. Johnson, you have just bought one of the best comprehensive dental insurances on the market and we are here to serve you every step of the way." Is what one insurance agent told my patient. Well, my patient was happy and even felt safe knowing she had just bought her "comprehensive" dental insurance. She never expected to hear from our office that her insurance does not cover a procedure which is one of the most common procedures out there next to exams and cleanings.

I am talking about the pretty white fillings every patient wants put in their mouth instead of the old, but still useful, silver fillings(amalgams). Yes, the ones, that no matter how you slice it, contain mercury. I would have to say that in the last three years not a single patient has come to me and told me they want the silver fillings instead of the white fillings. So, why do we have many insurances that refuse to pay for the white fillings and will only pay for the silver ones?

For the simple reason of MONEY. There is no other explanation. The insurance is only looking at their bottom line and trying to find ways to not pay for the treatment they had agreed to pay for when you bought that insurance. Some insurances will pay a downgraded price for a white filling, the price they would pay if the dentist had placed the silver filling, leaving the difference to be paid by the patient. But others go as far as not paying anything even though a cavity was taken care of

n felt safe knowing she had just bought her "comprehensive" dental insurance. She never expected to hear from our office that her insurance does not cover a procedure which is one of the most common procedures out there next to exams and cleanings.

I am talking about the pretty white fillings every patient wants put in their mouth instead of the old, but still useful, silver fillings(amalgams). Yes, the ones, that no matter how you slice it, contain mercury. I would have to say that in the last three years not a single patient has come to me and told me they want the silver fillings instead of the white fillings. So, why do we have many insurances that refuse to pay for the white fillings and will only pay for the silver ones?

For the simple reason of MONEY. There is no other explanation. The insurance is only looking at their bottom line and trying to find ways to not pay for the treatment they had agreed to pay for when you bought that insurance. Some insurances will pay a downgraded price for a white filling, the price they would pay if the dentist had placed the silver filling, leaving the difference to be paid by the patient. But others go as far as not paying anything even though a cavity was taken care o

nt wants put in their mouth instead of the old, but still useful, silver fillings(amalgams). Yes, the ones, that no matter how you slice it, contain mercury. I would have to say that in the last three years not a single patient has come to me and told me they want the silver fillings instead of the white fillings. So, why do we have many insurances that refuse to pay for the white fillings and will only pay for the silver ones?

For the simple reason of MONEY. There is no other explanation. The insurance is only looking at their bottom line and trying to find ways to not pay for the treatment they had agreed to pay for when you bought that insurance. Some insurances will pay a downgraded price for a white filling, the price they would pay if the dentist had placed the silver filling, leaving the difference to be paid by the patient. But others go as far as not paying anything even though a cavity was taken care o

ings. So, why do we have many insurances that refuse to pay for the white fillings and will only pay for the silver ones?

For the simple reason of MONEY. There is no other explanation. The insurance is only looking at their bottom line and trying to find ways to not pay for the treatment they had agreed to pay for when you bought that insurance. Some insurances will pay a downgraded price for a white filling, the price they would pay if the dentist had placed the silver filling, leaving the difference to be paid by the patient. But others go as far as not paying anything even though a cavity was taken care o

to pay for when you bought that insurance. Some insurances will pay a downgraded price for a white filling, the price they would pay if the dentist had placed the silver filling, leaving the difference to be paid by the patient. But others go as far as not paying anything even though a cavity was taken care of, something that is considered basic in most insurance policy manuals.

They will hide behind the fact that a "silver" filling was not placed so no benefit will be paid even though the real truth is that a cavity was filled, and it should not matter to them what material the patient chose to use in their mouth. "It's a company policy," is all we are able to get when we talk to these insurance companies that don't even pay a downgraded version of the filling. I guess they would rather lose that insurance client that is only paying $30 to $50 dollars extra a month for their dental coverage than to have to pay the several hundred dollars that is their responsibility to the dentist.

It is unfortunate that that when we, dentists and dental staff, break the news to the patient they immediately think we made a mistake (not to say that we don't make mistakes, because we are human and we do.) We are the ones that have to bare the burden of 'Awakening' the patient.

So for all those that have dental insurance or are in process of buying dental coverage, ask your insurance company if they cover white fillings on back teeth or if they are 'downgraded' or not even paid at all. You'll be able to know if you have found a