Does Medicare Cover Dental Care?
Key takeaways:
Original Medicare typically does not cover cosmetic dentistry or routine dental services, such as fillings, tooth extractions, or preventive cleanings.
However, there are some situations in which Medicare may cover dental services, such as when they are medically necessary and directly linked to the success of certain Medicare-covered procedures.
Many Medicare Advantage plans offer dental coverage, but it's important to review specific plans to understand which services are included and what out-of-pocket costs you may be responsible for.
Table of contents
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that provides coverage for hospital services like lab tests and inpatient stays. It also provides coverage for outpatient care, such as visits with healthcare professionals, and durable medical equipment. However, when Medicare was established in 1965, dental care was not included under the list of covered services.
Finding affordable dental care can be challenging, and many older adults skip regular trips to the dentist as a result. According to a November 2023 report from the American Dental Association, only 50% of older adults visited a dentist within the past year. Although Medicare doesn’t typically cover dental services, there are some exceptions if you meet certain eligibility criteria. You may also be able to get dental coverage with a Medicare Advantage plan.
Does Medicare cover dental services?
Medicare typically doesn’t cover dental services, but there are some exceptions.
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Under Section 1862(a)(12) of the Social Security Act and 42 CFR 411.15(i), Medicare explicitly excludes payment for services related to the care, treatment, filling, removal, or replacement of teeth or structures directly supporting them. However, inpatient dental services may be covered in situations in which hospitalization is necessary due to:
The complexity of the dental procedure
A serious medical condition or health issue that requires hospital care
Still, most dental services are not covered under Medicare, so you’ll have to pay the full cost of services unless you qualify for an exception.
What dental services are covered by Medicare?
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) covers a wide range of medical services and procedures, including home health care and hospice care. But if you need routine dental care, Medicare most likely won’t split the cost of the bill with you.
As mentioned, there are some exceptions to this. Medicare Part A covers dental procedures only if they’re directly connected to treatment for an accident or a larger health issue, such as tooth removal associated with oral cancer treatment. Other situations in which Medicare may cover dental services include:
If jaw reconstruction is needed: If you have facial injuries after an accident and a healthcare professional determines that you need jaw reconstruction, Medicare may cover the associated dental services.
Before an organ transplant: If you are scheduled to receive an organ transplant, you may need a dental evaluation or treatment to remove any potential sources of oral infection beforehand. Medicare may pay for more than one dental visit if needed.
Before a heart valve replacement: If you are preparing for a heart valve replacement, you might need an oral exam and dental treatment to address any oral health issues. Medicare may cover these services to reduce the risk of complications during your surgery.
Surprising Medicare-covered items: Beyond the extensive list of common services and supplies that are covered by Medicare, there are some, like acupuncture and nutrition therapy services, that may surprise you.
Medicare does not cover everything. From weight-loss medications to routine dental care, here are surprising things not covered by Medicare.
What does Medicare Part B cover? From mental health support to preventive services, here are examples of what Medicare Part B covers.
Medicare can also make payments under Part A and Part B for ancillary services and supplies associated with covered dental services, such as:
Administering anesthesia
Diagnostic X-rays
Operating room use
Medicare will only cover dental work if it is deemed a medically necessary part of treatment you are required to have.
What types of dental procedures aren’t covered by Medicare?
Original Medicare typically doesn’t cover routine dental care or cosmetic dentistry. Some common dental procedures and services that are not covered are:
Dental checkups
Dental X-rays
Exams
Periodontal scaling
Preventive cleanings
Do Medicare Advantage policies cover dental care?
Yes, many Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans cover dental work. Medicare Advantage plans are private policies that bundle Parts A and B together and often include extra coverage for things such as dental work, vision care, and hearing aids.
But not all Medicare Advantage plans cover dental care and those that do offer varying levels of coverage. Most plans that include dental care cover all or most of the costs for checkups, cleanings, and fillings. According to a 2021 report from KFF, more than 9 in 10 Medicare Advantage enrollees had plans with some dental coverage. Of those enrollees, 86% had access to both coverage for preventive services and more extensive dental benefits. However, most Medicare Advantage plans cap their annual benefits at around $1,000 to $2,000.
Does Medicare supplement insurance cover dental care?
It’s rare that Medicare supplement insurance covers dental care. Medicare supplement insurance plans — also known as Medigap plans — are private policies that Medicare beneficiaries can buy to cover out-of-pocket expenses from Medicare Parts A and B. There are 10 nationally standardized Medigap plans. Their purpose is to cover any deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance amounts enrollees may incur when using original Medicare. (You can’t get a Medigap plan if you have a Medicare Advantage plan.)
The overwhelming majority of Medigap plans don't cover dental work. But a few “innovative” Medigap plans may offer extra benefits, such as coverage for dental care, at no extra cost. The most likely candidates are Medigap Plan G policies, according to an analysis from The Commonwealth Fund.
You can search for Medigap policies in your area with Medicare’s Medigap finder tool. You also can ask an insurance agent or a counselor with your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program office for details.
Private dental insurance options
If you don’t want to get a Medicare Advantage plan with dental benefits, you could choose to buy an individual plan directly through a private insurer, such as:
With an individual policy, you likely will get coverage for preventive cleanings once every 6 months. But be aware that you could face waiting periods to get coverage for more expensive services. You may need to wait 6 months to receive coverage for basic services such as fillings and simple extractions, for example.
A waiting period of 12 months or more isn’t uncommon for major dental work such as:
Bridges
Crowns
Dentures
Root canals
Oral surgery
The good news: Sometimes, an insurer will waive or reduce the waiting period if you can prove you had continuous dental coverage for the past year. Some dental plans don’t have waiting periods. So it’s important to shop around and compare plans.
Does Medicaid cover dental care?
Medicaid coverage for dental care varies from state to state. Medicaid provides comprehensive dental benefits for children across all states, but coverage for adults varies widely and often comes with limitations.
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health insurance for people with low incomes. If you qualify for Medicaid, you might be able to get coverage that greatly reduces or eliminates how much you pay for dental care. But your Medicaid benefits depend on the state where you live. Most states at least offer coverage for emergency dental care for adults, but you’ll have to contact your local Medicaid office to see if extensive or limited dental coverage is offered. There are no federal requirements for adult dental coverage, leaving states to decide what benefits to offer.
It’s possible to have Medicare and Medicaid at the same time. If you’re one of the 12 million people in the U.S. who are eligible for both programs (known as being dually eligible), Medicare is typically the insurer that pays first, and Medicaid acts as a secondary payer.
Frequently asked questions
When Medicare was established in 1965, it focused on providing hospital insurance (Part A) and medical insurance (Part B) to cover essential healthcare needs. The program was created because older people in the U.S. lacked adequate protection against high healthcare costs. President Lyndon B. Johnson made this a top priority, and shortly after he took office, Medicare was introduced as part of the 1965 amendments to the Social Security program.
While Medicare has gone through many changes since then, routine dental care remains outside the scope of what it covers. Although there have been proposals to add dental benefits to Medicare plans, no significant changes have been made to include coverage for these services.
Medicare generally does not cover routine dental care but may reimburse for dental services that are medically necessary and directly linked to the success of certain Medicare-covered procedures. Examples include dental exams or treatments to address oral infections prior to organ transplants, cardiac valve replacements, and cancer treatments. Medicare may also cover dental services to address complications from head and neck cancer treatment, reconstruct dental ridges during tumor removal surgery, or stabilize teeth after a jaw fracture. Ancillary services, such as anesthesia, diagnostic X-rays, and operating room use, may also be covered if they are part of these medically necessary dental treatments.
Since Medicare's dental coverage is limited, many older adults opt to get additional dental insurance through private providers or Medicare Advantage (Part C). Most of these plans fully cover preventive services like cleanings, X-rays, and exams if you stay in-network.
However, coverage for more comprehensive services — such as crowns, fillings, and extractions — varies by plan. So you may need to pay a portion of the costs out of pocket. Reviewing your specific plan details is essential to understanding your coverage and potential expenses.
The bottom line
Traditional Medicare and most Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) plans don’t cover dental care, but many Medicare Advantage plans do. But you’ll need to check which preventive care and advanced treatment services individual Medicare Advantage plans cover
A private dental policy may also be an option if you need dental insurance. Though, these policies typically come with waiting periods for coverage. You may be able to reduce or eliminate waiting periods if you had prior coverage.
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References
Ali, R., et al. (2021). Small share of medicare supplement plans offer access to dental, vision, and other benefits not covered by traditional Medicare. The Commonwealth Fund.
American Dental Association. (2024). National trends in dental care use, dental insurance coverage, and cost barriers.
Anthem. (n.d.). How do dental insurance waiting periods work?
CMS.gov. (2025). Medicare dental coverage. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Code of Federal Regulations. (n.d.). 411.15 — Particular services excluded from coverage. National Archives.
Freed, M., et al. (2019). Drilling down on dental coverage and costs for Medicare beneficiaries. KFF.
Freed, M., et al. (2021). Medicare and dental coverage: A closer look. KFF.
Freed, M., et al. (2024). Coverage of dental services in traditional Medicare. KFF.
Kwak, E. J., et al. (2020). Importance of oral health and dental treatment in organ transplant recipients. International Dental Journal.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Seniors and Medicare and Medicaid enrollees. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Dental services. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). What’s Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap)? Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
U.S. Social Security Administration. (n.d.). Exclusions from coverage and Medicare as secondary payer.
U.S. Social Security Administration. (n.d.). History of SSA during the Johnson Administration 1963-1968.
