Fear of going to the dentist is relatively common. According to a study from the journal Medical Principles and Practice, dental phobia affects approximately 36% of the overall population. You’re not alone if anxiety strikes when you have a dental appointment.
Dentists understand that patients may experience such fears. Thus, they sometimes offer various ways to help address them, such as sedation dentistry.
Sedation dentistry may be ideal for you if fear of undergoing dental work prevents you from seeking the treatment and care your teeth may need. However, you might be wondering whether insurance covers sedation dentistry services.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry involves providing patients with sedatives before beginning dental procedures to help ease their concerns. Although the strength of these sedatives can vary depending on what options a dentist offers and what options they believe will best serve a given patient’s needs, generally, these sedatives calm patients while not completely rendering them unconscious. As such, patients can stay responsive throughout their procedures.
Some also use the terms sleep dentistry and sedation dentistry interchangeably. As the name implies, sleep dentistry involves sedating a patient to the point of unconsciousness. Your dentist may also offer this option in circumstances when they don’t need you to remain awake throughout treatment.
Average Sedation Dentistry Costs
The cost of sedation dentistry can vary due to a wide range of factors. The breakdown below doesn’t necessarily represent exactly what you may spend on sedation dentistry services. However, it should give you a general sense of how much these services tend to cost patients:
- Nitrous oxide sedation: Nitrous oxide sedation usually costs between $100 and $150 on average.
- Oral sedation: This option may be slightly more expensive, costing between $200 and $300 in many instances.
- IV sedation: Because this form of sedation can require the assistance of an anesthesiologist, it may start at $500 to $1000 for the first hour of a procedure.
Again, this is not a definitive list. Discuss pricing in greater detail with your dentist to learn how much you might spend on sedation dentistry.
Insurance Coverage for Sedation Dentistry: What You Need to Know
Unfortunately, insurance often won’t cover sedation dentistry services. Most typical insurance policies categorize sedation dentistry as a luxury or add-on service and not a medically required treatment. You may thus need to budget accordingly if you wish to receive a form of sedation before undergoing treatment.
That said, there are instances when insurance will cover these services. For example, you may be able to demonstrate that the complex nature of a procedure requires patient sedation. Or, you may already have a medical condition that requires you to undergo sedation before receiving dental care.
Once more, consider talking about this topic with your dentist. If you have a medical need for sedation, they may be able to help you show this. If not, they can help you determine what form of sedation you may be able to afford.
Learn More About Sedation Dentistry in Monmouth County, NJ
At Champagne Smiles, we offer multiple sedation options to help our patients remain calm and anxiety-free during treatment. For more information about what we can do for you, call us today at 732-972-0918 to request an appointment.