Are porcelain fillings generally covered by dental insurance? porcelain really looks like that way i'd like to go with a filling i need done, as it seems like it will last the longest, but i'm concerened that my insurance won't cover it.

Composite : Composite fillings (porcelain) are usually covered by dental insurance. It depends on your plan and on which tooth needs to be restored. Consult with the dentist who will be restoring the tooth. They can better advise you regarding the proper restoration for your particular problem.

The : The tooth-colored fillings are typically covered by dental insurance plans; although, some individual plans downgrade the composite fillings to amalgam (silver) fillings. Therefore, the amount they cover will be at a lower amount. A pre-estimate is the best way to figure out exactly how much insurance will cover for a particular procedure.

Whether : Whether or not an insurance company covers tooth colored fillings varies greatly from company to company and depending on how the contract is written. Some exclude them completely, some pay the appropriate percentage and some just use the allowance for silver amalgam. This should not dictate your choice as you and your dentist should be making decisions that affect your dental health not your insurance company. I rarely use silver amalgam for health and esthetic reasons and urge my patients to choose the tooth colored alternatives regardless of insurance coverage.

Every : Every insurance company has its own guidelines about what services are covered for holders of their policies, and they can vary widely. These days its is common for white fillings to be covered as a standard or care. A distinction needs to be made however about the different materials that might be called porcelain. A filling can be of silver (not often today in the usa), composite resin, which is tooth colored, or of porcelain. The last option, porcelain, is not placed into the mouth and shaped there, but is fashioned in a laboratory from an impression, is a harder material, and is brought back to the mouth and bonded into place. This last is a more expensive and time intensive procedure and it may not be covered by insurance unless it is demonstrated that the nature of the required repair is extensive. I hope this helps! dr. Neil mcleod dentistry that lasts - quality that counts.