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Medicare is a unique health insurance plan which covers various health care medical checkups and treatments including dental problems. Medicare is highly beneficial for patients undergoing various treatments either from hospitals or at homes. There are different types of medicare plans and the purchasers are required to conduct researches regarding the coverage and premiums of these plans before choosing them. The coverage is in the form of financial assistance which is paid after analyzing the medical reports from the concerned doctors. As per medicare plans the coverage offered to dental procedures are very limited. This will not include either routine dental checkups or common dental care treatments.

Medicare and dental procedures: - In general, medicare does not cover the usual dental caring like teeth cleaning, cavity filling, dental extractions, implantations, crowning etc. But certain other dental health care policies cover routine dental treatments and checkups. In ordinary health care plans, dental care also will be taken up if certified by the physician as necessary along with other ailments. In addition, there are medicare dental coverages at reduced cost for the convenience of patients. Of late, basic dental care treatments such as yearly dental checkup and teeth cleaning are included in the medicare coverages. As per this plan, once in a year, the dental patients are charged only at 50 % for one cavity filling, one root canal treatment and crown repairs. The medical savings account as per the medicare plan is another alternative to cover the dental expenses. The deposit to this account is made from the medicare account of the policy holder.

Occasions when medicare covers dental services

1) During kidney transplant or heart valve replacement surgeries, if a patient requires dental treatment, the same will be covered by the medicare policy.

2) If a patient having dental problems has to undergo jaw surgery, the medicare policy holder will be compensated for both the treatments.

3) During accidents, if gum and dentals are damaged, the cost of treatments required will be met by the medicare.

4) After tooth extraction certain patients may be affected by infections. The expenses for such treatments will be paid as per the coverage.

5) If patients suffering from major ailments require dental extraction or surgeries as per the clinical observation, the cost of the same will be covered by the respective medicare policies.

6) Senior citizens of the nation are offered medicare coverage at reduced cost, or free of cost according to circumstances.

Medicare dental plans do not cover the routine dental checkups and common dental treatments. They are covered only if these treatments are inevitable as a part of treating other major ailments. In accidents, the cost of treating the damaged teeth, gums and jaws are met by the existing coverage along with other treatments. In general, the medicare dental plans are inadequate for satisfying the common requirements of dental patients. Hence, it is high time to modify the dental plans offered by medicare.