---
title: "What Is Annual maximum? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "An annual maximum is the most a dental plan will pay toward your care in one plan year. After that, you pay the rest of the covered costs yourself."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/annual-maximum
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Insurance and Billing

# Annual maximum

An annual maximum is the most a dental plan will pay toward your care in one plan year. After that, you pay the rest of the covered costs yourself.

An annual maximum is the most a dental plan or policy will pay toward the cost of your dental services in a year. After the plan pays that amount, you pay the full cost of further care, though it may still be at the discounted rate if your dentist is in network.

The ADA notes that many dental plans have this limit even when the patient's costs exceed it. It can be set per person or per family. The limit applies to the plan year, which may not match the calendar year.

If you need larger treatment, the maximum can matter. Ask your plan how it counts [basic](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/basic-services-benefit) and [major](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/major-services-benefit) services. A [pre-determination](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/pre-authorization-pre-determination) may show what the plan expects to pay. See also deductible.

## Related terms

-   [Deductible](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/deductible)
-   [Dental insurance](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-insurance)
-   [Pre-authorization (pre-determination)](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/pre-authorization-pre-determination)
-   [Frequency limit](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/frequency-limit)
-   [Coinsurance](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/coinsurance)

## Sources

1.  [National Association of Dental Plans: Glossary of Dental Insurance Terms](https://www.nadp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GlossaryInsuranceTerms_updated_12_31_20.pdf)
2.  [ADA: Typical Dental Plan Benefits and Limitations](https://www.ada.org/resources/practice/dental-insurance/typical-dental-plan-benefits-and-limitations)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)