---
title: "What Is DHMO (dental HMO)? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "A DHMO is a dental HMO plan. You pick a network dentist who manages your care, and the plan pays that dentist a set monthly amount."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dhmo-dental-hmo
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Insurance and Billing

# DHMO (dental HMO)

A DHMO is a dental HMO plan. You pick a network dentist who manages your care, and the plan pays that dentist a set monthly amount.

A dental health maintenance organization (DHMO) provides dental benefits at fixed dollar co-payments. You must go to a dentist in the network. The dentists are paid a monthly fee for each person who signs up and selects them, so claims are not filed for each service.

The ADA calls this a DHMO or capitation plan. Patients generally must receive treatment at a contracted office to get a benefit.

The trade-off is less choice of dentist. A [PPO](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/ppo-dental-plan) gives more choice. A [copay](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/copay) schedule lists what each service costs you. A DHMO is a closed panel plan, so check that your dentist is [in network](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/in-network-dentist). See the [insurance and financing page](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/patients/insurance-and-financing) for this office's information.

## Related terms

-   [PPO dental plan](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/ppo-dental-plan)
-   [Copay](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/copay)
-   [In-network dentist](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/in-network-dentist)
-   [Indemnity dental plan](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/indemnity-dental-plan)
-   [Dental insurance](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-insurance)

## 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: Types of Dental Plans](https://www.ada.org/resources/practice/dental-insurance/dental-plan-overview)

## Ready when you are

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