Are endodontists covered by medicare?

When it comes to most dental care and procedures, Medicare doesn't offer coverage. This includes cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals and dentures, among other things. Medicare beneficiaries often wonder if their coverage includes dental services. Unfortunately, Original Medicare doesn't cover routine dental care.

Original Medicare doesn't cover routine dental care. Medicare Part A and Part B will only cover dental services if they are required for another medical procedure and a doctor deems them medically necessary. Endodontists focus on caring for complex dental problems that primarily affect the dental pulp (the inside of the teeth). Endodontists don't place fillings or clean teeth, but instead spend their time diagnosing and treating tooth pain.

For serious cases, such as damage to the pulp or roots, an endodontist may be the right person to see. Root canals and crown placements are considered endodontic procedures, but they are sometimes performed by endodontists and sometimes by regular dentists. But there are some situations where even dentists who perform root canals routinely refer their patients to an endodontist.