Dental benefits 101
At Delta Dental, we’re here to make it easy to use your dental plan. This page will help you grasp how dental benefits work, understand the difference between our plans and networks, and learn common terms and programs that are available to you to keep your smile healthy.
Unsure about certain dental words? See our glossary.
How dental insurance works
Unlike other insurance, with dental insurance you start with a set amount of pre-paid dollars to use throughout the plan year. This amount is called your annual maximum. You will pay out of pocket for any costs that go beyond your annual maximum. It’s important to know our plans and networks, and how choosing different dentists can affect your coverage and out-of-pocket costs.
Our networks
Delta Dental PPOTM plan and network
With a Delta Dental Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan, you get the most savings by choosing dentists in one of the nation’s largest PPO networks, where fees for services like routine checkups and fillings are lower. You have the flexibility to choose any dentist you prefer, but when you choose a PPO dentist, you’ll stretch your benefits further and you’ll have more dollars left for unplanned or emergency services throughout the plan year.
Delta Dental Premier® plan and network
With a Delta Dental Premier plan, you can save when you choose dentists in one of the nation’s largest dental networks. While service fees are not as low as PPO dentists, choosing Premier dentists can save you money compared to non-Delta Dental providers, who may have higher costs. Keep in mind that Premier dentists may have coinsurance, which can increase what you pay out of pocket.
Delta Dental PPO Plus PremierTM plan (or Passive PPO plan)
With a Delta Dental PPO Plus Premier plan, you have the flexibility to choose dentists in our PPO or Premier network. This means you can save money on quality dental care locally, and anywhere you travel in the United States. Choosing PPO or Premier dentists will save you money compared to non-Delta Dental dentists, which charge higher service fees and coinsurance, resulting in higher out-of-pocket costs for you.
Watch this video to learn how choosing a Delta Dental provider can help you get the most out of your Passive PPO dental plan.
Delta Dental EPO plan
With a Delta Dental Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) plan, you must choose a dentist in the PPO network to receive the full benefits, which include lower fees for services like routine checkups and fillings. Services performed by non-Delta Dental PPO dentists are not covered, meaning you will pay out of pocket for these services. Choosing PPO dentists will stretch your benefits further, and leave you with more dollars for unplanned or emergency services throughout the plan year.
Dental terms
To learn about these and other common dental terms to make the best decision for your oral care check out our glossary.
Find a dentist
To access our online dental directory, go to our Find a Provider page. Under the Online tools option, select Find a dentist and start searching the PPO or Premier network for a local provider. For national searches, please visit DeltaDental.com.
Commonly asked questions
Have a question? We’ve compiled some of the most commonly asked questions about our dental benefits.
Check out our dental insurance 101 library on Delta Dental's national website for answers to many important questions.