Insurance and Billing
Treatment plan
A treatment plan is the dentist's written list of the care you need, in what order, and often with the steps and visits that each part involves.
A treatment plan comes after an exam and any X-rays. Dental care includes actions to reduce disease risk, and the formulation and execution of a treatment plan when disease is present. Your dentist explains what was found, the options, and the order of care.
A plan may include urgent work first, then repair, then follow-up. It often lists the CDT codes the office will use for billing. Your dentist can send the plan to your insurer for a pre-determination, so you know what the plan expects to pay.
Ask questions and ask for options. You can say no to part of a plan or ask for time to think, unless there is an urgent problem. Your dentist will talk with you about what to expect. See the insurance and financing page and dental insurance.
Related terms
- Pre-authorization (pre-determination)
- CDT dental code
- Insurance claim
- Dental insurance
- Recall visit (checkup)