Preventive / Basic Services

Preventive and basic services cover routine and common dental procedures that maintain and restore oral health. Preventive services include cleanings, X-rays, and exams, while basic services include fillings, extractions, and simple restorative work.

These services form the foundation of most dental plans and are usually covered at higher percentages, between 70 and 100 percent. Many plans provide immediate access to preventive care and impose short waiting periods for basic treatments.

Example:

If a filling costs $200 and your plan covers 80 percent for basic dental, the insurer pays $160 and you pay $40.

What to Watch For:

Annual or combined maximums may limit how much you can claim in total for preventive and basic services combined.

Related Terms

Paramedical Disciplines

Paramedical disciplines refer to regulated health professionals who provide therapy or rehabilitation services outside of hospital settings. Common examples include physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, naturopaths, osteopaths, psychologists, and speech-language pathologists.

Pay-Direct card / Drug card

A pay-direct card, also known as a drug card, is a plastic or digital card issued by your health insurance provider that allows pharmacies to bill your insurer directly for eligible prescription drugs. Instead of paying the full cost upfront and submitting a claim later, you pay only your portion - such as a deductible or coinsurance - at the point of sale.

Per Incident

Per incident refers to the way certain insurance benefits are calculated or limited based on each separate event, illness, or accident rather than by year or lifetime. When a benefit is paid “per incident,” it means you are eligible for reimbursement each time a new, distinct occurrence happens, up to the maximum amount specified for that type of claim.

Per Person / Per Family

Per person and per family describe how benefit limits, deductibles, or maximums are applied within a health or dental insurance plan. A per person limit means the specified amount applies individually to each insured member, while a per family limit represents the total combined coverage for all members under one policy.

Per-Practitioner Annual Maximum (Paramedical)

The per-practitioner annual maximum is the total amount your plan will reimburse for services from one specific type of provider in a single benefit year. For example, if your plan pays up to $500 for massage therapy annually, once that amount is reached, additional treatments from that provider type are no longer covered until the next year.

Have questions about your insurance coverage?

Our licensed advisors can help you understand your options and find the right plan for your needs.