What Original Medicare won't pay for
Medicare.gov is plain about it: Medicare doesn't cover dental services like routine cleanings, fillings or tooth extractions, and it doesn't cover dentures or implants. You pay all costs for those services.
That applies to Part A and Part B. A Medigap policy follows Medicare's rules, so it doesn't add routine dental either.
The narrow exceptions
Medicare may pay for dental care that is needed for a covered medical treatment to work. Examples on Medicare.gov include an oral exam and treatment before a heart valve replacement or transplant, a tooth extraction to treat a mouth infection before cancer treatment, and dental exams before and during dialysis for people with End-Stage Renal Disease.
Some dental services during an inpatient hospital stay may also be covered. For covered Part B dental services in 2026, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the $283 deductible.
| Service | Covered? | What you pay in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Cleanings, fillings, extractions | No | All costs |
| Dentures and implants | No | All costs |
| Dental care needed for a covered treatment (e.g., before a heart valve replacement) | Sometimes, Part B | 20% after the $283 deductible |
| Some dental services during an inpatient hospital stay | Sometimes, Part A | Part A costs ($1,736 deductible per benefit period) |
Where dental coverage comes from
Many Medicare Advantage plans include some dental benefits, and limits vary a lot from plan to plan. Our county guides, such as Duval County, list every 2027 Medicare Advantage plan there.
If you keep Original Medicare, a stand-alone dental plan is the other route. Our dental cost savings calculator compares a year of premiums with what you expect to spend. See our dental and vision service to talk it through.