Insurance & Financing
Dental Insurance Made Simple
We accept many major dental PPO plans and Medi-Cal Dental. Our team is here to help you understand your benefits and make the most of your available dental coverage.
Understanding Dental Insurance
Dental insurance can be genuinely confusing, and you're not alone if you've never fully understood your plan. Every insurance plan is different — even two people with the same insurance company can have very different benefits, depending on their employer group and the specific plan they're enrolled in.
A few things are true across almost every plan: deductibles and annual maximums vary from plan to plan, and how much is covered depends on the specific procedure being done. Just because our office works with an insurance company doesn't automatically mean every procedure under that plan is covered — coverage is determined by the details of your individual policy.
Our front desk team is happy to help you understand what benefits are available to you before treatment begins. That said, your insurance carrier is always the final word on what's covered, so we recommend confirming the details directly with them as well.
Major Dental PPO Plans
We work with many major dental PPO insurance plans and are committed to helping patients maximize their available benefits. Below are some of the carriers we commonly see from patients in our office.
How Dental PPO Insurance Works
PPO dental insurance runs on a handful of recurring concepts. Here's a plain-language look at the terms you're most likely to run into on your explanation of benefits:
Premium
The amount paid (often by you or your employer) to keep the insurance plan active, regardless of whether you use it.
Deductible
An amount you may need to pay out of pocket before your plan starts contributing toward covered services.
Annual Maximum
The most your plan will pay toward dental care in a benefit year. Once reached, remaining costs are typically the patient's responsibility.
Preventive Services
Typically cleanings, exams, and X-rays. Many plans provide a benefit toward these, though the exact amount varies by plan.
Basic Services
Often includes procedures like fillings. Many plans cover a portion, but percentages differ from plan to plan.
Major Services
Often includes crowns, bridges, and dentures. These typically see the most variation in coverage between plans.
Waiting Periods
Some plans require you to be enrolled for a set period before certain procedures become eligible for coverage.
Frequency Limitations
Limits on how often a plan will pay for a given procedure — for example, a cleaning every six months rather than more frequently.
Downgrades
When a plan pays for a less expensive alternative treatment instead of the one performed, applying the cost difference to the patient.
Missing Tooth Clause
A provision some plans use to deny coverage for replacing a tooth that was already missing before the policy began.
Out-of-Network Benefits
Some plans still provide a benefit when you see a dentist outside their network, though reimbursement often works differently.
Pre-Treatment Estimate
A request sent to your insurer before treatment, asking them to estimate what they'll cover — helpful for planning larger procedures.
In-Network vs. Out-of-Network Dental Care
"In-network" means a dentist has a direct contracted agreement with an insurance plan. "Out-of-network" simply means no such contract exists between that specific dentist and that specific plan — it doesn't automatically mean a patient has no benefits available.
Many PPO plans include some out-of-network benefit, though how that reimbursement works can differ from how in-network claims are handled. Because every plan sets its own rules here, the only way to know for certain how your plan treats out-of-network care is to check with your insurance carrier or let our team help you look into it. Contact us and we're glad to help.
Medi-Cal Dental
All Smiles Family Dentistry accepts Medi-Cal Dental, and we regularly work with patients searching for a Medi-Cal dentist in Tarzana. As with any insurance, your specific Medi-Cal dental benefits and which services are covered depend on your individual plan and eligibility, so we encourage you to confirm your current coverage with us or with Medi-Cal directly.
Medi-Cal Dental in Los Angeles County
Medi-Cal dental care in Los Angeles County can be administered in more than one way, generally falling under either Dental Fee-for-Service (sometimes referred to as Denti-Cal) or Dental Managed Care, depending on where you live and how you're enrolled. Because plan options and administration can change, we recommend confirming your specific Medi-Cal Dental arrangement with the California Department of Health Care Services or by calling our office directly, rather than relying on outdated third-party information.
Health Net Dental
We also accept Health Net Dental. Health Net offers a range of dental plan types, including plans connected to Medi-Cal Dental Managed Care in certain California counties, so the benefits available to you depend on your specific Health Net plan. If you have Health Net coverage, contact our office and we'll help confirm your plan and what it covers.
Understanding Your Dental Benefits
Deductible
What you may pay out of pocket before your plan begins contributing, if your plan includes one.
Annual Maximum
Many dental plans cap how much they'll pay in a benefit year — worth knowing before planning larger treatment.
Preventive Care
Many plans provide some benefit toward cleanings and exams, though coverage varies by plan.
Basic Services
Procedures like fillings often see partial coverage, but the amount depends entirely on your plan design.
Major Services
Crowns, bridges, and dentures fall here. We'll always confirm your estimated coverage before treatment.
Waiting Periods & Frequency Limits
Some plans delay eligibility for certain procedures, or limit how often they'll pay for a given service.
Let Us Help Verify Your Benefits
Before your visit, our team can help with:
- Confirming whether we work with your specific insurance plan
- Reviewing your available benefits
- Checking remaining benefits where that information is available
- Explaining how your deductible applies
- Explaining your annual maximum
- Helping you understand your estimated insurance contribution before treatment
What to Bring to Your First Appointment
- Your dental insurance card, if applicable
- A photo ID
- A list of current medications
- Any relevant medical information
- Previous dental records or X-rays, if available
New to our office? Visit our New Patients page for more on what to expect at your first visit.
No Dental Insurance?
If you don't have dental insurance, you're still welcome here. Visit our Financing page to learn about payment options like Cherry and CareCredit, or contact our office to discuss what's currently available.
Ready to get your benefits sorted out?
Or call us directly at (818) 343-2244.
Insurance & Medi-Cal FAQs
Do you accept dental PPO insurance?
Yes, we accept many major dental PPO insurance plans. Coverage and benefits vary by individual plan, so we recommend contacting our office to verify your specific coverage before your visit.
What dental insurance plans do you accept?
We work with many major dental PPO plans, along with Medi-Cal Dental and Health Net Dental. Because plan participation can vary, the best way to confirm your specific plan is to contact our office directly.
Do you accept Delta Dental?
We accept many Delta Dental PPO plans. Since coverage can vary by employer group and plan type, please contact our office so we can verify your specific benefits.
Do you accept Aetna Dental?
We accept many Aetna Dental PPO plans. As with any carrier, coverage varies by individual plan, so we recommend verifying your specific benefits with our office.
Do you accept Cigna Dental?
We accept many Cigna Dental PPO plans. Contact our office with your plan details and we'll help confirm your benefits.
Do you accept MetLife Dental?
We accept many MetLife Dental PPO plans. Coverage depends on your specific plan, so please reach out and we'll verify it for you.
Do you accept Guardian Dental?
We accept many Guardian Dental PPO plans. As always, we recommend confirming your specific benefits with our office before your visit.
Do you accept UnitedHealthcare Dental?
We accept many UnitedHealthcare Dental PPO plans. Plan participation can vary, so please contact us to verify your specific coverage.
Do you accept Medi-Cal Dental?
Yes, we accept Medi-Cal Dental. Benefits and plan participation depend on your individual Medi-Cal coverage, so we encourage you to contact our office to confirm your specific benefits.
Do you accept Health Net Dental?
Yes, we accept Health Net Dental. Because Health Net offers multiple plan types, please contact our office to verify your specific plan and benefits.
Can you verify my dental insurance benefits?
Yes. Our team can help verify your benefits, including plan participation and available coverage. Insurance verification is an estimate, not a guarantee of payment — your insurance company makes the final determination.
What if I don't see my insurance company listed?
Our list reflects some of the carriers we commonly see, but it isn't exhaustive. Contact our office with your insurance information and we'll be happy to check your specific plan.
Can I come to your office if you are out-of-network?
In many cases, yes. Some plans offer out-of-network benefits, though reimbursement may work differently than in-network care. Contact our office and we can help you understand your specific plan's out-of-network benefits.
Does dental insurance cover cleanings?
Many dental plans provide some benefit for preventive care like cleanings, though coverage varies by plan. We recommend verifying your specific benefits before your visit. Learn more about our preventive care.
Does dental insurance cover fillings?
Many plans provide some benefit for fillings, typically categorized as a basic service, though coverage amounts vary by plan.
Does dental insurance cover crowns?
Crowns are typically categorized as a major service, and coverage varies significantly by plan. We can help verify your specific benefits before treatment.
Does dental insurance cover dental implants?
Coverage for dental implants varies widely by plan — some plans offer partial coverage, while others may not cover implants at all. Our team can help check your specific benefits.
Does dental insurance cover Invisalign?
Some dental plans include orthodontic benefits that may apply to Invisalign, while others do not. Coverage depends entirely on your individual plan.
What is a dental insurance annual maximum?
An annual maximum is the total amount your dental plan will pay toward your care within a benefit year. Once that maximum is reached, remaining costs typically become the patient's responsibility until the plan renews.
What is a dental insurance deductible?
A deductible is the amount a patient may need to pay out of pocket before their dental plan begins contributing toward covered services. Deductible amounts vary by plan.
What happens if my insurance does not cover my treatment?
If a treatment isn't covered, or is only partially covered, our team will let you know your estimated out-of-pocket cost before treatment begins so you can make an informed decision.
Curious what other patients say about our office? Read our patient reviews, or explore our full list of dental services.