Short Description

A group of dentists who have contracted with an insurance company to provide services at discounted rates to insured members.

Long Description

A network refers to the dentists and dental specialists who have an agreement with a dental insurance provider to offer services at pre-negotiated, reduced fees. Networks are designed to lower costs for insured patients by encouraging them to visit in-network providers.

Types of dental networks include:

  • PPO (Preferred Provider Organization): Allows both in-network and out-of-network visits, with lower costs for in-network care.

  • DHMO (Dental Health Maintenance Organization): Requires members to use only in-network dentists to receive benefits.

Seeing an in-network dentist results in lower out-of-pocket expenses, while going out-of-network may lead to higher fees and balance billing. Patients should check their insurance provider’s network directory before scheduling treatment.