What dental benefits can private health insurance give you?

Looking after your teeth isn’t about having the perfect smile. All those charming little quirks are what give you character – a gap here, a cutely crooked tooth there. But there’s no better feeling than when your teeth are clean, bright and healthy.

Going to the dentist regularly is the best way to catch things like cavities and gum disease early, before they get too bad. It can help treat ouchy problems like tooth sensitivity, mouth sores and ulcers, swollen or bleeding gums, and jaw pain from clenching or grinding.

And dental health has also been linked to a range of other health issues, from cardiovascular disease to diabetes. So brushing, flossing and getting your check-ups is an essential part of taking care of your overall wellbeing.

What does dental private health insurance give you back?

Medibank Extras cover can be a great way to help manage the cost of some of your dental bills. In fact, cover for dental services is one of the most popular reasons for getting Extras cover to begin with.

Many of our Extras covers give a set percentage (55%, 70%, 85% or 100%) back on agreed prices at Medibank Members’ Choice dentists (up to annual limits). Depending on the level of Extras cover, trips to the dentist, extractions and fillings, right through to major procedures like wisdom teeth removal, root canals and crowns. (Of course, waiting periods and annual limits apply – here are a few of the details you need to know.)

The best news? Medibank members with eligible extras cover can get 100% back on up to two dental check-ups at a Members’ Choice Advantage dentist every calendar year, including x-rays (if clinically required).^*

What’s the difference between general and major dental?

The exact dental services you can claim depends on your level of cover. Dental services are classified into two groups, which you’ll see on your policy as “General Dental” or “Major Dental”.

What does General Dental include?

This is a basic level of dental cover that includes:

• Examinations – When the dentist checks your teeth for cavities and gum disease.
• Preventative treatments – Such as a dental check-up, clean and polish.
• Scale and clean – The removal of plaque and calculus, followed by a clean and polish to leave teeth smooth and help prevent bacteria sticking. Hello, fresh breath!
• Extraction – Also known as having a tooth pulled out; the removal of a tooth from its bone socket (ouch).
• Fillings – A minor procedure to help restore a damaged tooth to its normal function and shape.
• X-rays – To help detect mouth abnormalities invisible to the human eye, like those pesky wisdom teeth causing trouble.
• Surgical removal of wisdom teeth – A procedure to remove one of more of the four adult wisdom teeth, either in the chair under a local anaesthetic or in hospital under a general anaesthetic. Therefore wisdom teeth is typically included as a part of Extras health insurance under General Dental.

What does Major Dental include?

On higher levels of Extras cover, you may be able to claim for services including:

• Endodontic services – Which include procedures relating to the soft tissue of teeth, e.g. a root canal.
• Periodontics – A stream of dentistry that deals with the treatment of periodontitis, also known as gum disease.
• Crowns, bridges and dentures – Crowns and bridges are fixed prosthetics cemented onto existing teeth, and unlike dentures can only be removed by a dentist. Dentures can be taken out daily and are shaped by the dentist from an impression of your teeth and gums.
• Major restorative fillings – Such as veneers, which are thin bits of porcelain stuck to the front of teeth often used as an alternative to crowns.

Finding a Medibank Dentist

You have plenty of choice when it comes to finding a Members' Choice dentist. Just head to our Find a Dentist page to find your nearest provider.