Find a Delta Dental Dentist in Millbrae, San Bruno, Burlingame, San Mateo
Delta Dental is one of the largest dental insurance providers in California. Delta Dental also has dental insurance plans in almost every state in the US. If Delta Dental is so large, then why do patients have a hard time finding a Delta Dental Dentist that is in their network? Probably because there are a few kinds of Delta Dental insurance plans and they are usually not explained well. This page should help you determine what kind of Delta Dental insurance you have and if we are in your dental network.
There are two basic types of Delta Dental insurance that your employer may offer - PPO and HMO. Where many patients get confused is the different plans that fall under these two types. In general, there are three major Delta Dental plans that we have worked with over the years:
Delta Dental Premier PPO is, as its name implies, Delta Dental's higher level plan. It is a PPO plan, which means you can see just about any dentist you like. However, in order to get your full benefits (discounted insurance prices, full coverage on treatment, etc.), you need to see a Delta Dental Premier dentist (in-network). Typically this plan requires you to pay more per month or out of your paycheck. However, the good news is Delta's dentists on this plan are able to provide you with better benefits such as night guards for patients who grind their teeth at night, dental sealants, orthodontics or invisalign, and dental implants. Premier plans rarely cover all expenses in full, but they generally have great benefits for our patients.
This is where the Delta Dental plans get a bit confusing. The more common Delta Dental Preferred Option or Delta Dental DPO is also a PPO plan. Similar to the Delta Premier plan mentioned above, the DPO plan allows you to see almost any dentist you choose. However, the big difference between the Premier PPO plan and the Delta Preferred Option (DPO) plan is in category coverage. While Delta DPO plan may get you significant savings on more common procedures like replacing metal fillings with tooth-colored fillings, cleanings, exams, x-rays, crowns, bridges, etc, the trade-off is that DPO plans usually don't cover the more expensive procedures like dental implants, invisalign, etc. However, some do cover these procedures also, so be sure to ask us to get your insurance coverage breakdown.
Delta Dental also has a DHMO or HMO Dental plan called Delta Care (DeltaCare). This is a very low level and low cost plan that is good for emergencies and basic cleanings. It is not ideal for crowns, bridges, root canals and other major dental work. The unfortunate thing about HMO or DHMO dental plans is they have a financial incentive in place that puts pressure on your dentist to avoid giving you the right treatment. For example, most DHMO dental plans will pay your dentist a low flat fee ($5/month) whether or not she sees you in her office. Thus the dentist would rather delay or avoid treatment than help you out. For this reason, our office does not participate in any HMO or DHMO dental plans like Delta Dental's DeltaCare. If you would like a free second opinion on a dental implant that your DHMO dentist is not treating properly, please give us a call. We'll take a look for you.
Looking for a Delta Dental dentist or Have questions about Delta Dental Insurance Plans? email or call us: (650)-583-5880
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