Physicians Mutual Insurance Company®
Why you need dental insurance in retirement
Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage for their entire working life, through employer-provided benefits. When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out of pocket can come as a shock, leading people to put off or even go without care.
Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care.1
That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it was never meant to cover everything. That means if you want protection, you need to purchase individual insurance.
Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones.
The best way to prevent large dental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice a year.
Previous dental work can wear out.
Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t take your dental health for granted. In fact, as you get older, your mouth gets drier and your odds of tooth decay go up.2
Treatment is expensive — especially the services people over 50 need.
Consider these national average costs of treatment... $222.05 for a checkup... $256.04 for three surface fillings... and $1,109.31 for a root canal.3 Unexpected bills like this can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.
Sources:
- “Medicare & You,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2025
- “How Teeth Change With Age,” Medically reviewed by Alfred D. Wyatt Jr., DMD, WebMD, March 6, 2024
- American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute, 2020 Survey of Dental Fees. Copyright 2020 American Dental Association.
In the market for dental insurance?
If you or a loved one are shopping for dental insurance, look for coverage that:
- Has no annual maximum on the cash benefits you can receive
- Has no deductible
- Gives you the freedom to see any dentist — and enjoy savings from network providers
- Provides immediate benefits for preventive and basic care
- Pays benefits for a wide range of dental procedures … from cleanings and fillings, to crowns, root canals, and dentures
- Has guaranteed acceptance regardless of your dental health