Dear Marci,

I have heard that Medicare does not cover most dental care. I need to get my teeth cleaned. Will Medicare pay for my routine teeth cleaning?

Dear Betty,

You are correct. Medicare does not cover most dental care. It does not cover routine check-ups and cleanings. Medicare also never pays for dentures.

If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, also known as a Medicare private health plan, your plan may cover some of these dental services. You should check with your plan to find out if and what dental care they cover.

Medicare may cover some dental care if it is for your general health, or if you need dental care in order for another health service that is covered by Medicare to be successful.

Some examples of when Medicare covers dental service include:

• If you have a disease of the jaw, such as oral cancer, and you need certain dental services in order to be able to receive radiation.
• If you have a facial tumor removed and had reconstruction of your jaw as part of the procedure. This is called ridge reconstruction.
• If you have surgery to fix a fracture of your face or jaw.
• If you need dental splints and wiring as a result of having jaw surgery.

While Medicare may pay for these initial services, Medicare will not pay for follow-up dental care after your underlying health condition has been treated.

Medicare may also pay for dental-related hospitalizations if you need observation during a dental procedure because you have a health-threatening condition, or if you develop an infection after having dental work.

If you need dental care that Medicare does not cover, click here for a list of other resources that might be able to help you pay for dental care.

— Marci