Does Insurance Cover Teeth Whitening Gel Costs?

Questions involving teeth whitening gels and insurance covering them come up very often through potential whitening patients. The fact is, most people cannot afford extra cosmetic type procedures done to them in the hopes that their physical appearance will be changed for the better. This is especially true of those who are living in today’s rough economy, as many people are feeling the sting of the unfortunate financial crisis occurring at the moment. Due to this, there are many people were wondering if the dental insurance covers teeth whitening procedures, allowing them to get the results they desire in their mouth without paying through the nose.

Unfortunately, the answer is in most cases, no. The simple and quick answer is no, your dental plan isn’t likely to cover whitening procedures, and the reason for that is because insurance typically only covers the “needs” of your body, and enhancing your physical appearance is simply a “want.” For instance, if you had a cavity and were in pain, your insurance would likely cover that cost for the most part. But when you only want too whiten your teeth as a way to look better in public, they classify that as a “want” and will decline it.




There are some cases where you can get certain “cosmetic” type dental procedures covered by insurance, but only with the caveat that they are lumped into the restoration category which can help prolong or maintain the health of your teeth or dental area. This includes certain types of braces, as well as special types of porcelain veneers, but very, very rarely will they include a straight whitening session for your teeth.

However, there are certain exceptions that can be made into the dental coverage aspect of insurance. For instance, there are certain dental plans which provide financial assistance for these cosmetic procedures, allowing you to receive money off the whitening process despite the fact it is cosmetic and not an emergency health operation. There are some plans that will allow you to receive discounts and percentages off of routine cleaning, as well as some types of x-rays and checkups, etc.

When it comes to finding out whether or not your insurance plan will cover a teeth whitening procedure, it is in your best interest and highly recommended that you speak personally with your insurance provider in an effort to find out specifically what you are covered for. It is highly recommended that if you were looking to purchase an insurance plan specifically for dental, you ask many questions specifically about why tuning and other dental procedures before committing to that particular plan. There are many different variables and facets which come into play, making this a tricky subject. It is best that you talk specifically with your current or potential insurance companies to receive a specific answer immediately.