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Is dental coverage on your Medicare menu?

Most people are surprised to learn Original Medicare typically doesn't cover routine dental expenses.¹ As many as 47% of adults with Medicare do not have dental coverage.² To protect your oral and overall health, consider an AARP® Dental Insurance Plan, administered by Delta Dental.³

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If you're looking for dental coverage that covers routine needs like cleanings, exams, fillings, crowns or dentures, consider a dental plan. Plans are designed exclusively for AARP members to help provide coverage and cost predictability for dental care needs.

  • Original Medicare may not cover routine dental needs

    Original Medicare (Parts A and B) is designed to cover hospital and medical services, not routine dental care. In most cases, services like exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions and dentures are not covered. Medicare typically only pays for dental services if they are required as part of a covered medical procedure, not for routine dental care.¹

    Some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans include dental benefits, but coverage varies by plan and may have limits. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans help with certain out-of-pocket medical costs, but they generally do not add routine dental coverage. Reviewing your options can help you decide if additional dental insurance makes sense.

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  • Dental care is essential to your overall health

    Good oral health supports more than just your smile. As we age, conditions such as gum disease, untreated tooth decay and tooth loss can affect comfort, nutrition and overall well-being.⁴

    Regular dental visits help detect problems early and may reduce the need for more complex treatment later. Preventive care, including cleanings and exams, play an important role in maintaining long-term health. Having dental coverage in place can make it easier to stay on track with preventive visits and address issues before they become more serious.⁵

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  • Explore AARP Dental Insurance Plans, administered by Delta Dental

    These dental insurance plans are developed exclusively for AARP members and their families. They are plans designed to cover preventive, basic and major dental services. Coverage may include exams and cleanings, fillings and extractions and major procedures such as crowns or dentures. With access to a large network of dentists and plan options for a range of budgets, you can choose coverage that fits your needs and helps make dental care costs more predictable.

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Choose a Delta Dental plan to enjoy these advantages:

FAQ: Medicare and dental coverage

In most cases, Original Medicare does not cover routine dental services such as cleanings, exams, fillings or dentures.¹ Some Medicare Advantage plans may include limited dental benefits, but coverage varies by plan.

Yes. Many people enroll in a standalone dental plan to help pay for routine and restorative dental care, when Medicare may not cover those costs.

Certain plans include coverage for major services such as crowns, root canals and dentures. Coverage details and waiting periods vary by plan. If you’re already enrolled, refer to your plan documents for details.

Delta Dental offers access to a large network of participating dentists, which may include your current provider. Plan networks vary. Visit Find a Dentist to see if your dentist is in-network. 

  1. Medicare.gov, “Dental services - Medicare coverage, 2026"
  2. Coverage of Dental Services in Traditional Medicare, Kaiser Family Foundation, 2024

  3. This oral health information on this website is intended for educational purposes only. You should always consult a licensed dentist or other qualified health care professional for any question concerning your health.
  4. “Oral health: a window to your overall health,” Mayo Clinic, 2024
  5. “Dental care for seniors,” Delta Dental of Washington, 2024
  6. “About Oral Health,” Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024

For a list of providers, visit deltadentalins.com/aarp/find-a-dentist.html. Must be an AARP member to enroll.

© Delta Dental Insurance Company

Where offered, the AARP® Dental Insurance Plan is insured by Delta Dental Insurance Company in AK, AL, DC, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, MS, MT, NV, NY, PA, PR, TN, TX, UT, VI and WV, by Dentegra Insurance Company in AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, OH, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, VA, VT, WA, WI and WY, and by Dentegra Insurance Company of New England in MA. For Texas residents, your Master Policy Form number is TX-AMD-MC-DPO-D-DC(DELTAUSA1-2005). For Idaho residents, your Certificate of Coverage Form Number is COC-DIC-ID-AARP-24.

You may view the DDIC Network Access Plan, as required by the Health Benefit Plan Network Access and Adequacy Act, online at deltadentalins.com. You may also contact us by calling 800-422-4234 to request a copy.

Where offered, the DeltaCare® USA plan is underwritten by Alpha Dental of Arizona, Inc. in AZ, by Alpha Dental of Nevada, Inc. in NV, by Alpha Dental of New Mexico, Inc. in NM, by Alpha Dental Programs, Inc. in IL, KY, MD, MO, OH and TX, by Delta Dental Insurance Company in DC, FL, GA, TN and WV, by Delta Dental of California in CA, by Delta Dental of New York, Inc. in NY, by Delta Dental of Pennsylvania in PA, and by Dentegra Insurance Company in CO, MI and WA. In Florida, Delta Dental Insurance Company provides DeltaCare USA Plan benefits as a Prepaid Limited Health Service Organization as described in Chapter 636 of the Florida Statutes. For Missouri residents, your DeltaCare USA Evidence of Coverage Form Number is EOC-dc-MO-AARP-24. For NV residents, your DeltaCare USA Evidence of Coverage Form Number is EOC-dc-NV-AARP-24.

The plans are administered by Delta Dental Insurance Company. These companies are financially responsible for their own products. Delta Dental is a registered mark of Delta Dental Plans Association.

AARP endorses the AARP Dental Insurance Plan, administered by Delta Dental Insurance Company. Delta Dental Insurance Company pays royalty fees to AARP for use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP and its affiliates are not insurers. 

In VA, this is an excepted benefits policy. It provides coverage only for the limited benefits or services specified in the policy.

290-US-WEB-MED 07/26