Does Medicare Cover Dental? What's Included, What's Not & Workarounds

Is dental covered by Medicare? The answer is mostly no because original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover routine dental care such as cleanings, fillings, extractions, dentures or root canals. The dental work that is medically necessary as an ancillary procedure (oral surgery prior to heart surgery or in the course of cancer treatment) has narrow exceptions. On the contrary, dental care is frequently provided as an included benefit of Medicare Advantage plans, and this is one of their principal selling points.

The present guide explains what actually exists in medicare dental coverage, the gaps that new beneficiaries are caught up in, and the workarounds to bridging the gaps. The source of information is Medicare.gov, CMS, KFF and the American Dental Association. 

Does Medicare cover dental work?

Original Medicare was created in 1965 with an explicit statutory exclusion for dental care. The exclusion still applies today. According to CMS, Original Medicare does not cover the following routine dental services:

• Cleanings, exams, and X-rays

• Fillings, crowns, and root canals

• Tooth extractions

• Dentures (full or partial)

• Dental implants

• Orthodontics

It is the best-known shock among the new Medicare beneficiaries. In 2024, about 24 million Medicare beneficiaries were not covered by any dental care that year, according to KFF research, and about half of them did not see any dentist that year.

Exceptions do exist but they are very limited. Part A of Medicare includes the dental care which is a part of the inpatient hospital stay in case it is directly related to the covered medical procedure. Examples are jaw reconstruction due to an accident, oral surgery due to oral cancer, or dental work that must be done before heart valve replacement to minimize the risk of being infected. The dental procedure per se is not covered. It is the hospital stay, in which the dental work occurs, which is paid by Medicare.

Part B of Medicare provides a limited amount of dental care in equally limited circumstances: a dental check-up prior to kidney transplant, oral surgery to extract infected teeth before chemotherapy. These exceptions will never be utilized by most beneficiaries. 

Medicare dental coverage gaps: what to expect

What does Medicare cover when it comes to dental? Almost nothing on its own. The gap is one of the biggest in U.S. senior healthcare.

The annual dental costs Medicare beneficiaries pay out of pocket include:

KFF research found that the average annual out-of-pocket dental spending for Medicare beneficiaries was about $922 in 2018 dollars (closer to $1,200 in 2026 dollars after inflation). For beneficiaries who needed major dental work, the figure was several times higher.

For low-income beneficiaries who also qualify for Medicaid, state Medicaid programs may cover dental for adults. Coverage varies dramatically by state. See our Medicaid dental for adults state-by-state guide for the full breakdown.

Medicare Advantage and dental coverage

Best Medicare dental coverage for most beneficiaries comes through Medicare Advantage. About 97% of individual Medicare Advantage plans included some dental benefit in 2024, per KFF Medicare Advantage research. The depth of coverage varies significantly.

Typical Medicare Advantage dental coverage:

• Preventive care: Most plans cover cleanings, exams, and X-rays at $0 or very low cost

• Basic services: Many plans cover fillings and extractions with copays or coinsurance

• Major services: Some plans cover crowns, root canals, dentures, but often with annual maximums ($1,000 to $3,000 typical) and waiting periods

• Implants and orthodontics: Rarely covered

AARP Medicare Advantage and Aetna Medicare Advantage are two of the most popular carriers offering dental coverage as part of Medicare Advantage plans. Coverage details vary by plan and state.

The biggest Medicare Advantage dental gap is the annual maximum. Many plans cap total dental benefits at $1,000 to $2,000 per year, which is enough for routine care but disappears quickly with major work. Beneficiaries with anticipated major dental needs (multiple crowns, implants, full dentures) often need stand-alone dental insurance regardless of which Medicare path they choose.

Best Medicare dental coverage workarounds

If you're on Original Medicare and want dental coverage, four workarounds exist:

1. Stand-alone dental insurance. Private dental policies typically cost $25 to $60 monthly, with annual maximums of $1,000 to $2,500. Best for beneficiaries who want predictable preventive coverage. Look for plans with no waiting periods if you need care soon. Stand-alone plans pair with Original Medicare or a Medigap plan.

2. Dental discount plans. Not insurance. These are membership programs that give discounted rates at participating dentists. Annual fees run $80 to $200. Discounts of 10% to 60% on services are typical. Best for occasional users who don't want monthly premiums.

3. Medicare Advantage with dental. Switch to a Medicare Advantage plan during your next Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) to get bundled dental coverage. Read the dental benefit details carefully because annual maximums and exclusions vary widely.

4. Medicaid (if eligible). Adults dual-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid may have full dental coverage in some states. Coverage depends entirely on your state's Medicaid program. See our Medicaid dental coverage by state guide.

A fifth option for routine care: dental schools offer cleanings and basic procedures at significantly reduced rates, performed by supervised students. Wait times are longer but cost savings can be 50% to 80%. Find your nearest accredited dental school through the American Dental Education Association.

Does Medicare cover dentures?

Is denture covered by Medicare? Generally no. Original Medicare doesn't pay for dentures (full or partial), denture fittings, or denture relining or repair. This is only an exception where dentures are necessary under an otherwise covered jaw surgery which is a rarity.

Most Medicare Advantage plans include dentures as a dental benefit as it is very common in most Medicare Advantage plans, and mostly has annual minimums of 1,000 to 3,000. This may not cover the entire cost of high-quality dentures, which can be as high as 4,000+ per arch.

In the case of beneficiaries who require dentures, typical cost-cutting options include dental schools (much lower cost), Medicaid (when you are both dual-eligible and your state covers it), local nonprofits serving seniors, and non-dental insurance with denture cover.