People often underestimate some expenses when planning for retirement. In my conversations with older adults about their in-retirement finances, they’ve repeatedly mentioned the cost of dental care. The reasons are straightforward: Our teeth get worse as we age, and yet dental care isn’t covered by Medicare (except for emergency dental procedures for people who are hospitalized).
There are three main avenues to covering dental costs during retirement: dental insurance, a Medicare Advantage program that covers dental care, and paying out of pocket.

Older adults can purchase stand-alone dental insurance with monthly premiums typically around $25 to $50. Coverage varies widely, however, with plans typically capping the dollar amounts they’ll cover in a year. Annual caps range from $1,000 to $2,500, providing scant protection against extensive and costly procedures. Many plans impose waiting periods that prevent you from receiving major procedures such as crowns or root canals within the first six to 12 months of coverage.

Dental insurance will often entail using specific providers. Dental health management organizations are the most restrictive, though they’re also the most economical.

The bottom line: The insurance premiums plus the annual coverage limits don’t point to a great economic case for carrying dental insurance into retirement. One countervailing argument is that people without dental insurance are more likely to go without dental care, according to data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

Many Medicare Advantage plans include dental care, along with vision care and hearing aids. Medicare Advantage is the managed-care, private-insurance version of Medicare; enrollees have to choose from a list of providers, so this won’t be a great option if your favorite provider isn’t on the list.

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