Member Benefits

Dental coverage expansion

We offer dental coverage to adults ages 21 and older who have Medicaid coverage, including Healthy Michigan Plan members, ages 19 and older. We’re contracted with DentaQuest to provide your dental benefits.

Blue Cross Complete covers dental care, including dental exams, cleanings and extractions for members. You should visit the dentist every six months, even if you don’t notice any problems or you no longer have your natural teeth. Your dentist will clean your teeth and can point out any concerns they notice. 

Your dental benefits also include:

  • Four bitewing X-rays every year
  • Full-mouth X-rays once every five years
  • One filling per tooth every two years
  • Emergency exams, no more than twice a month
  • Sealants, once every three years
  • Topical fluoride up to age 21, twice a year
  • Fluoride varnish up to age 21, twice a year
  • Crowns, once every five years on the same tooth
  • Root canal therapy
  • Retreatment of previous root canal, once per tooth per lifetime
  • Periodontal evaluation, once every 12 months
  • Periodontal maintenance, once every six months
  • Complete and partial dentures, once every five years per arch

Periodontal services, including scaling and root planing, require the dentist to submit a prior authorization request to Blue Cross Complete. Blue Cross Complete will send written notice to the dentist and to the member if the requested treatment is denied. 

What to expect at the dentist

Visiting the dentist on a regular basis for cleanings, X-rays and other needed services will prevent pain and discomfort in the future when small problems, if left untreated, could turn into larger problems or even dental emergencies.

A routine dental appointment lasts approximately 30 minutes. A dental hygienist will look in your mouth and determine if X-rays are needed. They will gently scrape away any plaque, clean your teeth with an electric toothbrush and apply dental floss. The dentist will take a final look at your teeth and determine if a second appointment is needed to fill cavities or provide other needed services.

Regular dental exams can:

  • Find problems with your teeth and gums before they cause pain and are costly to treat
  • Help you maintain your dental health
  • Spot warning signs of medical conditions in the mouth unrelated to your teeth
  • Establish a place to go if you have a dental emergency

Taking action now may help you avoid major issues in the future. Be sure to schedule your next appointment before you leave the dentist. Add the appointment to the calendar in your phone and block a bit of time before and after for your commute.

You won’t be asked to pay for your dental appointment at the dental office. Healthy Michigan Plan members may be billed a small copayment for their visit through their MI Health account.

For help finding an in-network dentist in your area, visit Find a Doctor, then click Find a dentist.

Form a positive, lasting relationship with your dentist, who is there to support you in maintaining a smile you can be proud of.

Dental Guide

For additional information about your dental services, download our Blue Cross Complete Dental Guide (PDF). The guide provides information about:

  • Dental coverage for members 21 and older and Healthy Michigan Plan members
  • Finding a dentist and scheduling a dental visit
  • Dental emergencies
  • No-cost transportation services 

How to access dental services

Click below to learn how to access dental services.

It’s important to get annual dental checkups for your kids, starting at age 3. These visits will help protect their teeth and keep them healthy.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Delta Dental of Michigan provide Healthy Kids Dental services for children and adolescents through age 20. You’ll be enrolled automatically. You’ll get an identification card from the dental plan. The benefit covers services, such as X-rays, cleanings, fillings, extractions and sealants, at no cost to families.

To select a dental provider, call Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan at 1-800-936-0935 or visit bcbsm.com/healthykids. Or call Delta Dental of Michigan at 1-866-696-7441 or visit deltadentalmi.com. 

To check your dental plan, call Blue Cross Complete of Michigan’s Customer Service at 1-800-228-8554. TTY users, call 1-888-987-5832.

Need transportation to your dental appointment?

If you’re part of Healthy Kids Dental, you can get a ride to and from the dentist. If you live in Wayne, Oakland or Macomb counties, call ModivCare at 1-866-569-1902 to schedule transportation. If you live in any other county, contact your local MDHHS office.

All Medicaid members ages 21 and older and Healthy Michigan Plan members ages 19 and older are covered through Blue Cross Complete. To find a dentist, visit Find a Doctor or call Dental Customer Service at 1-844-320-8465 (TTY: 711). Once you choose a dentist, call their office to see if they cover Medicaid dental services.

You can get transportation to and from your dentist appointments. To schedule a ride, call ModivCare at 1-888-803-4947 (TTY: 711). Or visit our Transportation page to learn how to schedule a ride online. 

Dental emergencies

When you have a toothache or other dental problem, your first thought is to get it fixed — and fast. Fast treatment means the emergency room, right? Not when it comes to problems with your teeth or mouth. The emergency room can handle just about anything, but for mouth-related issues, your dentist is the better option. Dentists have the specialized equipment and training to figure out what’s wrong and how to fix it.

Contact your dental office first and ask what you should do. If your life is in danger, call 911.

If your dental problem is interfering with your comfort and ability to eat, speak and function normally, it may be time to seek emergency dental care.

Call your dentist right away if you think you need emergency dental care. Most dentists set aside time in their daily schedule to handle emergencies — so you may be able to get in for an appointment quickly. Even if your emergency happens on the weekend or at night, try calling your dentist office first. The office’s after-hours message may give an emergency number to call or provide other useful information.

You can also call our 24-hour Nurse Help Line. The nurse line can help you make informed health care choices when your dentist isn’t available. Call 1-888-288-1724 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TTY users should call 1-888-987-5832.

If these options don’t work, you should go to the nearest emergency room.

Here are a few tips from the American Dental Association if you have a broken or knocked-out tooth:

  • Never touch the root of your tooth with your hands. Instead, hold the tooth by its crown.
  • Rinse debris off all tooth pieces using warm water.
  • Insert the tooth back into its socket whenever possible.
  • If you can’t reinsert the tooth, put it in a glass of milk or hold it between your cheek and gums to keep it moist until you can get professional care.
  • Visit your dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups.
  • Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day.
  • Floss daily.
  • Don’t use tobacco and avoid heavy drinking.
  • Eat a healthy diet.
  • Wear mouth guards when playing sports.
  • Replace your toothbrush every three to four months.