---
title: "What Is Dental insurance? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "Dental insurance is a plan that helps pay for dental care. You or your employer pay a premium, and the plan pays part of covered services under its rules."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-insurance
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Insurance and Billing

# Dental insurance

Dental insurance is a plan that helps pay for dental care. You or your employer pay a premium, and the plan pays part of covered services under its rules.

Dental insurance is a contract in which the insurer agrees to pay some or all of your covered dental costs. You or your employer pay a [premium](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/premium). You may also pay a [deductible](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/deductible), [copays](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/copay), or coinsurance.

HealthCare.gov describes dental coverage as benefits that help pay for visits for basic or preventive services, like teeth cleaning, X-rays, and fillings. In the Marketplace, dental coverage can be part of a health plan or a separate dental plan.

Most plans set limits, such as an annual maximum, a waiting period, and a frequency limit. Plan rules differ, so read your own benefit summary. For this office's details, see the [insurance and financing page](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/patients/insurance-and-financing).

## Related terms

-   [Premium](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/premium)
-   [Deductible](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/deductible)
-   [Annual maximum](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/annual-maximum)
-   [PPO dental plan](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/ppo-dental-plan)
-   [Dental membership plan](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-membership-plan)

## Sources

1.  [HealthCare.gov Glossary: Dental Coverage](https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/dental-coverage/)
2.  [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)

## Ready when you are

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