Today when I was claiming a dental expense, I was asked that whether the dental service is “basic” or “major”. I totally had no idea, so I googled it and get the following result from here.

Dental plans usually group the procedures they cover into three categories: 1. Preventive, 2. Basic and 3. Major dental services.

Preventive dental services

• examinations

• cleanings (prophylaxis)

• bitewing x-rays

• periapical x-rays

• full-mouth, panorex x-rays

• fluoride treatments (age limitations may apply)

• space maintainers (may be a Basic service, age limitations may apply)

• tooth sealants (may be a Basic service, age limitations may apply)

Basic dental services

• emergency care for pain relief

• amalgam fillings

• composite fillings (white fillings)

• sedative fillings

• routine tooth extractions - (Details about insurance coverage for pulling teeth.)

• root canal treatment - (may be Major service) (Details about insurance coverage for root canals.)

• periodontal scaling and root planing

• periodontal surgery (may be Major service)

• recementing dental crowns

• stainless steel (prefabricated) crowns

• non-routine x-rays

Major dental services

• dental crowns (may be a Basic service) - (Details about insurance coverage for dental crowns.)

• inlays and onlays

• bridgework

• tooth implants

• impacted wisdom teeth removal (may be Basic)

• complex oral surgery procedures

• anesthesia / sedation

• removable partial dentures

• complete dentures

• denture relines and rebases

• denture repair

• orthodontic treatment