Defining missing teeth
When purchasing the Advanced dental plan, one of the questions you are asked is "Do you have any permanent teeth missing that have not been replaced?". This is an important question to answer correctly when signing up, as it may impact your eligibility and coverage for procedures related to tooth replacement.
We define missing teeth as any adult teeth that have been completely and permanently extracted, and not replaced by an implant or other prosthesis.
You don’t need to count the following as missing:
Wisdom teeth, as they are not included in this definition, even if removed
Teeth that have already been replaced
Damaged teeth that are still in place, even if they may require treatment later
Teeth that were taken out as part of orthodontic treatment, as long as the gaps have since been closed
Orthodontic treatment often involves removing teeth to help align the bite or create space. If this was part of a completed treatment plan and you no longer have any gaps, those teeth are not considered missing.
Why this matters
Our Advanced plan offers benefits for tooth replacement procedures, which includes implants, bridges, crowns, onlays, inlays, and medically necessary veneers. There is a combined yearly reimbursable limit for this type of work. Your yearly limit is based on the amount of missing teeth you have (when purchasing the policy) and how many calendar years you've held the policy:
Those with 4 or more missing teeth are ineligible for the Advanced plan. You might still be able to get some support from your statutory health insurance, but this is usually limited. In this case, your best option is to purchase a Basic dental plan. Since the Basic plan does not offer benefits for tooth replacement, missing teeth does not impact the plan's eligibility or coverage.
Not sure what to report?
If you are unsure if you should count something as a missing tooth or not, or have questions about coverage, we recommend booking a call with one of our dental experts to discuss your situation before purchasing the policy.